LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

Project Information

I just completed this asian looking platform bed inspired by a couple of beds I've seen in a couple of places:
http://lumberjocks.com/projects/22165
http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/5928/tatami-style-bed
http://www.workbenchmagazine.com/main/wb309-bed01.html

The first time I saw the basic design was on the fine woodworking gallery and the lumberjack project confirmed my will to build the bed. Although these two projects were certainly awesome, I wanted a headboard. I searched for many hours for inspiration and I finally found something that could work with the workbench magazine slat headboard and incorporated it into the design. The 15 degree cut found in the legs is replicated in a few locations such as the rails and the headboard. On the headboard, there is a 15 degree under-bevel on the entire top piece.

This bed has been over a year in the making due to many projects taking priority over this one (including some that I posted). The bed is made of african mahogany and walnut. The two side rails include a ribbon look that rivals some of the nicest boards I've seen in african mahogany. Since I didn't have access to 8/4 lumber long enough for my side rails, I had to rip a 4/4 board in half, fold it on itself and laminate it. Although not ideal, the glue line is almost invisible. The legs were build with three pieces of 8/4 laminated with the centre piece lower than the rest for the "dados". I then cut the other centre "dado" with a band saw and cleaned it with a chisel. This was certainly the most time consuming part of the build and the most frustrating. If I had to rebuild this piece, I would glue 9 pieces together with the proper height and not worry about cutting that other centre section. I almost scrapped the legs and started them all over with this alternative solution.

The headboard fits quite well in the side rails and leg dados and it surprisingly stable for such a high and top heavy piece. The horizontal slats on the headboard are glued with dowels. I have two per slats and should be quite strong. My current bed includes a box-spring (as you can see) but underneath, I include a slatted frame that could support a bed. I may eventually decide to get rid of the box-spring and simply put the bed on the slats. If I do so, I'll cut the legs of the headboard to adjust the height accordingly. In the future, I may include some LED lighting on the back of the headboard.

The bed is finished with my own mixture of BLO-Varnish-Mineral Spirits. I have 2 or 3 coats depending on the location and I sanded the finish smooth at the end.

Finally, I plan on building a full bedroom furniture set based on this design. My next addition will be two nightstands / night tables. I have yet to finalize the design but I have a pretty good idea of what I want. If you have any ideas for nightstand designs that could go well with this, they would be appreciated!

Comments, suggestions, questions and complaints are all welcomed!

Gallery

Comments

· Registered
Joined
·
1,819 Posts
Very fine work, the headboard has a torii gate look. Are there fasteners anywhere in the frame or do the rails just un slip and it is apart? Great start to your set.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
6 Posts
Thanks. There are no fasteners in the bed, only wood and glue. As you said, the rails slip together and when assembled, the whole is quite sturdy. Individually, each piece has a little bit of slack but together, they fit well.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
193 Posts
Awesome, this style of bed has been on my todo list for a long time.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
0 Posts
I've seen this type of bed before and love your version of it! I had a question regarding the headboard. Would you be willing to explain how the headboard fits onto the rest of the bed? I've been interested in making a bedframe like this forever, but I could never get a notion of how to add on a headboard, aside from maybe making a metal collar to fit over where it attached.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
6 Posts
Thanks for the kind words.

@longinquous
By the way you worded your question, I imagine that you know how this type of bed goes together. If you take a look at the headboard picture (the one in the shop without any finish), you can see that the two vertical pieces are attached on the back horizontal rail. I think I used dowels, but dominos or mortise and tenons would work too. The headboard is the last piece of the puzzle to get assembled in the bed. The two giant lap joints (if you can call them like that) are sized with the bottom lap of the two side rails. The headboard just slips in the back legs and with the bottom lap joint of the side rails. Because my tolerances are relatively tight, the headboard rests well in the legs and doesn't move. If that doesn't answer your question, just let me know with the details you are looking for and I'll try to answer your question in a clearer way.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
0 Posts
That answers the question perfectly, thanks. So you sacrificed the knockdown-ability of the bed entirely, or is it still able to disassemble with ease? That was one of the features that attracts me to these beds. Those half-laps are such an elegant solution, y'know?
 

· Registered
Joined
·
6 Posts
The bed is still able to be disassembled provided you have the strength to lift the headboard (which is actually not that bad). To put the bed together, I roughly place the legs in place. I then add the front rail which fits in the 2 legs. There is a bottom half lap in which the side rails will "lock". I then add the side rails and finally the headboard. The headboard "locks" in the legs and side rails.

To disassemble the bed, I take it apart in the opposite order, headboard, side rails, front rail, and finally legs.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
118 Posts
I absolutely love the design. I was wondering if the joinery is really solid. My wife said she doesn't want another bed squeaks every time one of us turns over :).
 

· Registered
Joined
·
6 Posts
ChipByrd,

I haven't used the bed much myself. I put it in the guest bedroom. What I can say though is that every time I slept in it, it was quiet, stable and confortable (as much as my mattress is!)
 
Top