Why Blog About Wallbeds?

Why Blog About Wallbeds?

Blog type

Because, people looking for wallbeds or Murphy Beds can find us pretty easily.  It is reaching the people who DON’T KNOW they need us that is the trick.

Many times while working at our display in Costco, we would hear, “I didn’t know they still made those!” “What is that?” “I never thought about that.”

These are who we are trying to reach with our blog:

• People who are frustrated with their current unused guest room.
• People who are downsizing and can’t see having a bed take up so much space 24/7.
• People who live in studio apartments and want it to feel like a one bedroom.
• Retirees.  Students. Newlyweds.  Single folks.
• For occasional use or daily use.

We have been getting pointers from both The Sales Lion and The Story of Telling.  We are trying to balance informative with anecdotal entries in order to answer those “out there” kind of questions. Let us know if there is anything you would like us to answer…in regards to wallbeds or Murphy Beds.

Now you see it. Now you DON’T!

We are the Great American Wallbed Co. in Bellevue, WA.

The Economy of Space

If you are looking for a wallbed or Murphy Bed in the greater Seattle area, it is pretty easy to find us.  The challenge we face in our business, is making ourselves known to folks who DON’T KNOW they are looking for a wallbed! One of our main purposes of blogging is to try to stimulate discussions and get people thinking about how their space is being utilized. Once the evaluation starts, questions and solutions are going to follow.

I love Make: magazine. Their projects are always interesting and they are famous for “hacking.”  Hacking is where you take something (i.e. an old TV console) and turn it into something new or more efficient (an aquarium). Last week they presented an over-sized example of a fabulous hack.  The town of York, Alabama lacked an outdoor community space.  The town had many abandoned houses and overgrown lots.  One of these houses was chosen, materials were salvaged to reuse in the rebuild, and a design was picked. They built a new little house, in the same style as the other houses in town but here is the cool part: It UNFOLDS into outdoor seating for 100! Here is the video:

And here is the article: http://makezine.com/2013/08/19/open-house-no-really/

When the seating is not needed, the house folds back up and tucks away!!  The lot it sits on, is now a park and enjoyed folks daily.  Much more so, than if the seating was taking up the space all the time! This is Economy of Space applied!  It is not complicated to operate. The footprint when it is closed vs. when it is opened is about 1:5.  It can be used as often or seldom as needed. Wait…are we talking about a Community Center or a wallbed?! Can you see how that way of thinking: breaking down the functions within a set space; can help revise how you see and use your own space?

Another way to look at the Economy of Space is through the actual costs. How much does your home cost to run every month (mortgage+insurance+electricity+repairs+gas…)? Divide that by the square footage of your home. That gives you the “$/sq. foot/ month” ($) value of your space. Now, measure your guest room in square feet (g).  Here’s where it gets interesting. Multiply ($) x (g) x 12= the cost of your guest room per year ($Y). NOW, divided that by how many days a year that room is used (U). The cost per day of use will be ($Y)/(U) Let’s say it costs $1.25/sq. foot; and your guest room is 11’x8’ or 88 sq. feet;  and there are 12 months in the year; and guests stay there 11 days a year: ($1.25)x(88)x(12)+=($Y)=$1320… $1320/11=$120!

Let me explain that to you: you are spending $1320 a year for a room that is used 11 times. Every time it is used, it costs $120! Now let’s change one thing: the configuration of the room into home office/ reading room. Let’s swap the regular queen sized bed, which takes up a huge part of the real estate of that room, for a wallbed. Set up the office and cozy chair. Now, how often will you use this room? In a year, let’s say 243 days. Our ($Y)/(U) equation now becomes: $1320/243= $5.43!!  Doesn’t that make more sense (or cents)?? Welcome to the Economy of Space!

A writer was talking about storing things in their home and wrote this: “…but that got me thinking about how much our space costs us. I figured that we pay approximately $1.65 per square foot per month for our space. This means that if something is taking up 1 square foot of space but it’s value is low, over time we basically lose money because the value of the item taking up the space is worth less than what we pay for the space. Additionally, the more efficiently we can use the space the better value we are getting for our money.” –shannonkay from gspn.tv forum

So there you go- hacking, math and economics! Mr. Z was right! Story problems are everywhere!

Now you see it. Now you DON’T!

We are the Great American Wallbed Co. in Bellevue, WA.

What is Particle Board?

Particle board has gotten a bad rap over the years and is commonly thought of as sub-par or inferior to “real wood.” Guess what particle board is made of…..ready?….Real Wood!

Particle board is maybe from the byproducts of wood used in the timber industry. It is shredded and dried then mixed with adhesives.  This mixture is rolled out and pressed under great force and heat into long sheets of standard thicknesses.  The sheets are cut to length then stacked and ready to be used.  In the past, formaldehyde was a key ingredient in the adhesive but that is no longer the case.

Particle Board Examples

The pressing of the material is varied to create different densities of material. Think about those Space Bags which are used for storing clothes. Put a sweater in one and seal it up. Measure the thickness and feel how floppy the bag is.  Now, open it up and fill it with 4 more sweaters. Vacuum the air out until it is as thick as the bag with one regular sweater.  As you pull the air out, the sweaters compress and the contents become denser.  Pick it up now.  It is the same thickness as the other, but I bet it is not as floppy as the uncompressed single sweater.  The same goes for particle board.  We use a grade which is denser than regular-use material.  This makes for a stronger wallbed cabinet for our customers.

After the particle board is ready it is covered, repressed and heated with decorative papers and come out looking like a whole forest of wood varieties.  Or they can be solid colors, patterned… the possibilities are endless!  These finished boards handle a lot of wear and clean up easily with mild soap and water.

Many advances have been made across the industry to insure the product is durable and safe.  We use products which have been certified by FSC- The Forest Stewardship Council.  The FSC, ”sets standards for responsible forest management. A voluntary program, FSC uses the power of the marketplace to protect forests for future generations.”  (https://us.fsc.org/index.htm)

Now you see it. Now you DON’T!

We are the Great American Wallbed Co. in Bellevue, WA.

Why Should You Drive to Our Place to Buy a Murphy Wallbed?

Why?

This will be a short blog about WHY.  Have you ever been warned about asking “why questions?”  Do you know why?  Yeah, you may get an answer you don’t want to hear…

So, why would you buy from us and from nobody else?  Well, I wish you could access the exuberant responses from hundreds of satisfied customers from our time at the Special Events/Road Shows, (you know what I’m referring to?)

• not only do we offer just what a slew of other wall bed companies offer
• not only do we make Murphy and Panel wallbeds, Vertical and Horizontal, like everyone else (See this blog)
• not only do we offer cabinets, desks and fold-out tables like the rest of ‘em
• we are just not that spectacularly different.

EXCEPT! we have NO cancellations! And we have NO complaints!

Think about it!

Now, three more questions:

• Why would you NOT buy from us?
• Why would you NOT buy from us?
• Why would you NOT buy from us?

We are The Great American Wallbed Co.

Now you see it. Now you don’t.

Isn’t it Cheaper to Use an Air Mattress in a Murphy Wall Bed?

The short and sweet answer to this^ question is: Yes. However, the questions should have been: Why can’t I use an air mattress in a wallbed?

Several times at Costco we were asked about using air mattresses in our wallbeds. In fact, when we had our very first Special Event there, we used air mattresses for our display… for ONE day! We thought it would be a great idea and quickly realized it was not! The “queen sized” mattress was actually a few inches shorter than a proper mattress and shifted in the frame. The vinyl mattress smelled of…vinyl! and the sheets kept slipping off (even though it was a velour one). And then there were the noises!! Every time we raised and lowered the beds, the mattress would burp and squeak and make other totally inappropriate sounds! It was a nightmare!

We understand that many times the questions came from an economical position.  You want to invest in a wallbed, but want to be frugal and smart, especially if it is only for occasional use. In a way, an air mattress is similar to a wallbed: when you are done, you fold it up and tuck it away! But wait! You want an extra bed for the occasional night when YOU might need to sleep there (instead of the doghouse perhaps?). Do YOU want to spend the night squeaking, slipping and sinking (what is that hiss?!?) or do you want a good night’s sleep?

A decent mattress is not very expensive and you can probably find a good one on Craigslist for very little. We like to send people to Mattress Depot because their prices are fair and they don’t sell them like a used car. When you go for the wallbed, take that last step and use a real mattress with it.  Our wallbeds are designed to work with the weight of a mattress so make sure it is on site when we install yours.

Your guests will thank you and you will pat yourself on the back when you end up there one night.  And here is a tip: mark anniversaries and birthdays on new calendars as soon as you get them.

We are The Great American Wallbed Co. in Bellevue, WA. Check here for pricing, dimensions and product info. Thank you!

Image by Wally Torta.

Can My Murphy Wallbed be Moved to a New Location?

The other day a homeowner called with this concern, “I own a Vertical Wall bed, and I really would love to move it into my new home.  Is it possible, or must I sell it with this home and buy a new one?”

Well, happy day!  This owner had bought the wallbed from us a couple of years ago at one of our Costco Special Events/Road Shows! Since it was one of our own wallbeds, we could confidently take the bed apart and reconstruct it in her new home. We charge a fee for this service but it is very reasonable and will be done quickly. If you are moving far away (we sent one to Singapore!) we can pack it up with all the parts, and give you instructions so you can re-install it yourself.

When you check out my blog about the integrity of the material used in our Murphy Library Beds and Vertical and Horizontal Panel beds you’ll understand why.

As long as the material used in the construction of a Murphy Wallbed is of furniture grade, and is not glued together, your wallbed can absolutely be moved from its existing space till a new location! This is why wallbeds are great solutions for RENTERS as well as HOMEOWNERS!

But wait, there’s another way of looking at this.  If you choose to leave your Murphy Wallbed behind, it will add value to the sale and benefit to the new owners.  Furthermore, you can go shopping for a new Murphy Wallbed!  Think about it;   a change of color, or some added cabinets that fit snugly into your new home will transform an ordinary room into fabulously functionally chic (French for stylish) space!  In fact, the result may be so satisfying that you never want to move again!

But if you must move, remember: Yes!  It can move with you!

What are the Differences Between Murphy Beds, Wallbeds, and Pull-Down Beds?

This question: What are the differences between Murphy Beds, Wallbeds, and Pull-Down Beds came up often in the years we displayed our wallbeds* in the different Costco warehouses around Puget Sound, aka the Greater Seattle Area.

The bed is named for William Lawrence Murphy (1876–1959). According to legend, he was wooing an opera singer, but living in a one-room apartment in San Francisco, and the moral code of the time frowned upon a woman entering a man’s bedroom. Murphy’s invention converted his bedroom into a parlor. Although wallbeds were offered in the Sears and Roebuck Catalogs before this, Mr. Murphy improved on the design and mechanism and obtained patents over the next several years. In 1989, the Court ruled that the term Murphy Bed was no longer eligible for trademark protection.

Traditionally, a Murphy Bed is a wall or floor mounted mechanism, with lifting springs along the bottom, which raises and lowers a mattress. The leg deploys automatically when the bed is pulled down. It can be free-standing, installed in a closet, or hidden within a large cabinet. A Murphy Bed is separate from what encloses it.

A Wallbed is different from a Murphy Bed. It too, raises and lowers a mattress with the help of springs, but in this case, they are on the sides of the bed cabinet. A wallbed consists of a frame, mechanisms, leg and cabinet. The cabinet and frame TOGETHER make a Wallbed. The face panels are connected to the frame. The frame is connected to the spring lift mechanisms. The spring lift mechanisms are connected to the shoulder bone. The shoulder bone is connected to the neck bone. Oops! We got a little lost there! (Back on track now!) One other difference between Murphy Beds and most wallbeds is the leg is operated manually.

The term: Pull-Down Beds is used mostly in moments of total brain-lock, when we resort to hand motions. (Again, that is from my Costco Special Event “Experiences List.”)

Murphy’s original designs and materials are up-graded by modern designers, materials, and techniques, but the basic aim is the same: Disguise a bed where space is limited, attractive solution desired, and need for a good night’s sleep is great. Needs have always been the mother of inventions, right?

It appears that Mr. Murphy actually got married to the dame he desired to woo. Whereas we cannot promise you that marriage proposals will come as a result of buying and installing one of our Great American Wallbeds, we can promise you this – a comfortable night’s rest, in a bed attractively disguised in a wall, until you pull it down.

*The Great American Wallbeds LLC

Can I Keep my Bedding on My Wallbed or Murphy Bed When it is Closed?

First:  let’s cover the mattress, (pun intended.) The mattress on a Murphy Bed is held in place with a strap, so that when closing, the mattress stays in place.  We have found that you do not need the strap around the mattress while sleeping on it; your bodyweight, in addition to the weight, of the mattress will pretty much insure that it is not going anywhere.  Wink, wink! Nudge, nudge!

On a Wallbed unit (read about the difference in Blog # 1) the hardware that you swing down, to be used as legs, is also used to keep the mattress in place, when you swing it up, before you close the unit.  No strap is needed on this Wallbed.

Second:   bottom sheet, flat sheet, blankets, and certain comforters can all stay on the Wall Bed/Murphy Bed when the unit is in a closed position.  However, the pillow is usually is too puffy for the space between the mattress and the wall, and will most likely NOT close the Wall Bed/Murphy Bed securely.  A comforter up to a certain thickness will work, but all’s relative to the space between the unit and the wall.  It has its limits.

So what are some ways of dealing with this creatively?

I belong to the fortunate ones who have a tall and wide wall, and ordered extra tall cabinets on either sides of the Murphy Bed so I could have a top shelf connected, big enough to accommodate pillows and winter comforters.

For those of you who have a standard 8 foot wall, the best advice I can give is to have (or buy, see our units online) a side unit with doors in which a pillow and comforter can fit inside.  If this is not an option, I would be sure that the bedding I buy would be warm enough for the nighttime needs as well as compact enough for the wallbed unit to close securely.  For example, check when BedVoyage has a Road Show at your nearest Costco, scrape your money together, RUN there and buy these sheets.  We have talked with the owner in person at times when we displayed our Wallbeds and Murphy Beds at the Costco Road Shows and can recommend her products.

There is also a Pacific Coast Down Blanket Satin Trim (pictured to the left). This is nice and warm, but not bulky.  It is also available in Costco in season. Check, of course, also with your local merchants, like Macy’s.

You will be able to find a product to satisfy your particular need.

A point to ponder:  If this were a guest bed that is only used a few times a year, I would not keep bedding on since it could get kinda stuffy and stale in there over time.

If you have any questions, please, call, email, text, or drop by.  We will be happy to help you!  We are The Great American Wallbed Co., in Bellevue, Washington!

Photo courtesy of http://www.PacificPillows.com .

“Murphy Beds/ Wallbeds vs. Sleeper Sofa” or “Comfort vs. Misery”

I visited my family in Washington D.C. during this week’s East-Coast heat-wave, (July 2013). I can personally attest to several down sides of having to resort to a foldout sleeper sofa I would have MUCH preferred the instant comfort of a pull-down Murphy Wallbed.

Water from the overworked air conditioner poured through the plastered ceiling in the quaint, old brown-stone three-level home. The unit decided to quit as the temperature peaked well past perspiration glow – we were in full-blown dripping sweat mode!  The upstairs bedrooms were sweltering. We needed to change sleeping quarters. This meant resorting to the hide-a bed sleeper sofa in the daylight-basement. Since the mattress is only a miserly 2-inch pad, the metal frame  support underneath creates ongoing misery for the average-size adult who tries sleeping both lengthwise, diagonally, and even crosswise. Sound sleep is hard, (ooh, ohhh, oww!) and nearly impossible to achieve. (Hint: A better solution would be sleeping on the floor on top of the cushions.)

On the other hand, a Murphy Wallbed has up to a 12 inch mattress, of your own choosing! No cushions to stack on the floor and re-position in the morning; no metal bar pressing into your spine or lower back or legs; and no need for tossing, turning, or ending up crosswise; or, for that matter, cross!

Once you wake up from a comfortable night’s sleep, simply get up, and close the wallbed with one finger- instantly creating an ordered environment.  If you have the additional feature of a fold-out table on the front of your Platform Wallbed, you can set up your home-office while the coffee is brewing.  Voila! (French for ta-dah!) It’s gonna be a gooood day!

Visit us at The Great American Wallbed Co. for more info or give us a call 866-284-4994 for more information.

(Awesome Pros and Cons of Sleeper Sofas article HERE.  The comments are priceless!!)

Image thanks to cheezburger.com.

Breaking News!! REDUCED PRICES!

At The Great American Wallbed Co. we believe in being trustworthy and honorable. Everyone should, right?

Lately we took a good, hard look at our pricing and went back to square one. We examined the different costs – hardware, material, delivery etc… We discovered that we could do something unusual and refreshing! We could REDUCE the prices of our wallbeds and still be profitable! Some of our costs had changed in a favorable direction and so we are passing those changes on to YOU – our reason for being in business!

We are here because we like to be helpful.

We are here because we enjoy creative solutions to challenging problems.

We are here because we understand the value of your hard earned money and want to help you save it.

We are here because of YOU.

How, you may ask, does spending a couple thousand dollars help SAVE money? Check out our blogs about the real cost of homes here and here for some answers. Aside from the cost per square foot of your home, if you are renting, have you priced the cost and hassle of MOVING lately?? By adding a Wallbed or Murphy Bed to your home, it can turn a studio into a one bedroom, a one into a two and so on!

See? We just helped you with your limited space problem and saved you money at the same time!!!

Keep in mind, this is not a SALE.  These are new, lower prices and will only go up when material and production costs make a big leap.

Thank you for letting us stay in business!