Arts and Crafts Bed
I have finally completed my Queen sized bed. Regrettably, the light was not ideal for photography with my dated digital camera. I have incorporated several ideas that I liked from a number of other beds that I had seen, to arrive at this one. I used SketchUp 7 to draw it. I also don’t have room to assemble it and take a picture of it at the same time, so the SketchUp generated image will have to do.
The material is cherry with ebony pegs. The inlay is dyed epoxy with Inlace granules added for color. The inlay cavity was excavated with a dremel class tool and a flex shaft, then filled, and then scraped and sanded flush.
The mattress support is 2 large sections of plywood with three 4″ high slats (T-shaped cross section) for support across the middle. There are a number of 1″ diameter holes drilled into the plywood for mattress ventilation.
The mattress support area is 82″ x 61″ which is the recommended size for a queen set, but because the mattress sits high in the support rails, it seems too small for the area. If I had it to do over again, I would reduce the dimensions by 1″ all around.
The finish is 1 coat of Minwax antique oil and then 2 coats of Gloss Minwax wipe-on Poly, scuffed and then waxed. The support platform is shellacked
Comments
Looks great! Love the inlaid gecko(?)
This turned out great! When I saw your SketchUp plan in Knots I saved it to my computer and studied it because I'm smack dab in the middle of building a A&C bed. Thanks for the tip about the dimensions. I was worried about that but your comment puts me at ease since I went for tight dimensions around the mattress.
This is really a nice piece of work. I, too, like the gecko inlay. The whole bed really works, as an overall design and in all of the details. Thanks for posting the photos and the sketch. Well done!
Mike, very clean joinery and I love the inlay. One question: are using InLace epoxy or anotherr brand? When I have used epoxy in the past for inlays I discovered, to my chagrin that you must ude thickeners to prevent the epoxy from saturating the the surrounding wool cells. How do you handle this?
Nice work -
DOug
I really like your design here. It is a nice interpretation of the Greene and Greene style, without being too strict. Its roots are clear but the piece has some nice new twists on the theme. For example the upward slant on the tops of the legs and the Stickley/prairie-esque slats.
This is really lovely Mike - i am about to build a bed and I would love to start with your sketchup plans if you don't mind. MBerger above mentioned "Knots" Is that something I have access to? If you don't mind contacting me I am [email protected]
Thanks
Hi -- Great design I REALLY like it. Can / will you make the plans available? Normally I make plans from pictures but since you've done the heavy lifting already I thought you might consider sharing. I'm planning build a bed very soon. Your design is currently my top choice. (please :) ) and thanks a bunch!!
Hi Michael, I'm planning build a bed for my parents soon. I would like to known if you can share the plans from this bed. joel.listas (a) gmail.com
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