Once upon a time, Murphy Beds used to be built into apartments, just like ceiling light fixtures, radiators and the kitchen sink. That was when space was a premium. People had to be creative if they wanted a place to sleep and a place to socialize. There were several variations and many even pivoted! If you have ever visited an apartment from the 1930’s you may have seen a large brass ring in the floor and in the ceiling. These were leftover hardware from the pivoting beds. Many times they had wardrobes hanging from the back. A catalog from 1925 can be found here. The drawings are WONDERFUL!
Along the way, people wanted more space and walled-in bedrooms became the norm. Then the thinking continued- if there is a bed, it must be in its own room, and that room must just be for the bed. As people spread out and built bigger homes that seemed to work. We became accustomed to having single purpose rooms and eventually had rooms that were only used a few times a year. The problem became obvious when people started to economize and realized that while they only used the room a few days a year, they paid for it EVERY DAY! with heating, mortgage, cleaning… What to do!?
RE-ENTER the Murphy Bed. Instead needing to move because you want a home office and a guest room and place to work out, make your investment work for you! You already have the space in that lonely guest room. Install a wallbed, add a built-in desk to the corner, and bring in the treadmill! The closet can be used for storing weights, office supplies and bedding. You may have to push a couple things to the side when folks come to visit, but when they leave again, you have room to work!
The story told by Murphy wallbeds is this: Be practical. Multi-use is smarter than single purpose. What’s old is new again. Even the Wall Street Journal thinks so!
“Now you see it. Now you don’t!”
We are the Great American Wallbed Co. of Bellevue, Washington!