With help from Sug and my son I have started to build a bed nook on the upstairs landing at the shore house.
The landing area is 114″ long on the window wall and 106.5″ wide.
After taking measurements I redrew my ground plan of the upstairs with more accurate (but not exact) dimensions so I could create a building design for the bed nook.
My preliminary working drawing is very basic.
I’m not really a carpenter but I thought this would be an easy enough project for a beginner.
The supply list:
- 2 by 4s
- 4 by 8 sheets 1/2″ plywood
- Long brads for pneumatic nailer
- Pocket screws for Kreg jig
Here’s the original plan with the finished items highlighted in pink font:
- Choose a paint color for the ceiling and walls. The trim will be Simply White semi-gloss to match the rest of the house.
- Wash the windows and clean shades. Measure to see if shutters would work.
- Buy paint and prime and paint ceiling and walls.
Painting the room made it appear bigger and brighter.
- Measure the room.
- Draw a plan for the bedframe and nook frame.
- Purchase and assemble under bed drawer from Ikea.
- Purchase lumber for the project.
- Build the frame and facing. Remember to move the electric outlet.
- Paint the facing and visible frame.
- Make the bed with fresh linens.
- Hang art inside the nook.
- Add a lamp to the nook — wall sconce or small brass lamp.
I bought an under-bed drawer unit from Ikea.
The Hemnes 2-drawer set comes ready to construct.
Sug and I worked together to build the kit.
These drawers went together easily especially with 2 builders as called for in the instructions.
When assembled we used the two drawers to give us the dimensions of the bedframe which we made from 2 by 4s held together with 2-inch pocket screws. I drilled the holes using my Kreg jig and my son screwed it together.
Pre-drilled pocket-screw holes provide a stable framework.
After the frame was built we added 4 legs to raise it above the top of the drawers.
The bed frame and accompanying draws fit nicely against the wall under the window.
We added 3 bed slats to support the boxspring and mattress.
So far the measurements have worked to create the beginning of a bed nook.
The next step is to add a shelf and headboard at each end of the bed. Then we’ll encase the entire project in a frame much like the one below.
I plan to raise the headboard to the height of the first shelf in the above inspiration picture then have a shelf for a lamp, books, clock, etc. at both ends of the bed.
This project is a little more involved than I expected but we are making progress.
Jo
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