(source here)
I am a transplant.
Which, loosely interpreted, means that all of my family (and my husband's) lives more than three hours away from us. So, when they come and visit they are in need of a bed...or two. And we don't have a guest room...
In the past, they have rested their weary heads on our futon, a cot, Sophie's bed or ours. It all winds up feeling like a serious case of musical beds, and it really wasn't working very well for anyone.
The handyman to the rescue!!!!!!
(This is the handyman):
He is also my husband, for those who might have been
wondering.
Anyway, he is very handy. He buys us coffee:
He fixes things and, more importantly, builds me things:
And he is a very good father:
But don't go getting the idea that he is perfect.
He is very messy, and he can never find anything!
Can yours?
Well, this handyman is also a problem solver and to solve our lack of a guest room issue he has built us a Murphy bed!!
From Wikipedia: A Murphy bed (a North American term only), also called a Pull Down Bed, is a bed that is hinged at one end to store vertically against the wall, or inside a closet or cabinet. To achieve this, the mattress is attached to the bed frame, often with elastic straps.
I have secretly always wanted a Murphy bed. After seeing them on television shows in the late Seventies, I hankered for one of my own. And a futon just didn't cut it!
If you search Murphy beds on Google images you won't find anything all that inspiring. Because, let's face it, they are a hulking piece of furniture, aren't they? On a recent episode of HGTV's Bang for Your Buck, the homeowners spent more than $10,000 on making one that more seamlessly blends in to the room, mimicking an armoire/entertainment unit.
Well, ours is costing decidedly less than that (we purchased the mechanics at Lee Valley), and the handyman is going to do his best to make ours looks as handsome as possible. We hope to have it completed within the next two weeks and I will reveal the final product then. This is the only example that is appealing to me at this point:
(source here)
After costruction is totally complete, I will just have to paint it, dress it in pretty bedding and tell some guests to...
"Come on Down!"
When space is at a premium, having a home office can seem like a pipe dream. However, if you give up the notion that your office needs four walls and a large desk, you just might be able to squeeze one in. If you can spare it, empty out a little used closet and install shelving, a small work surface and a task light, and you will have the perfect place to catch up on emails, do online banking, or read...blogs!! If every closet is in use, then start tapping! Investigate whether there are any recesses that can be hollowed out (not a technical term) and retro-fitted with your future office space! The photo below best illustrates just how great an idea this is. I love the use of curtains on a simple cafe rod to hide computer guts, filing cabinets, and the inevitable jumble of electrical cords that come with the territory. Simply pull up a stool, and get to work. A similar set-up can also work well as a craft/wrapping area, child's homework station, or message center for a busy family.
In this example, a hallway or pass-through serves as a very useful command central for all the members of this family. Remember, when space is limited, go up! Use the vertical spaces in your home to your advantage. In this case, books, photo albums, photos, and magazines are neatly tucked away, but within easy reach when needed.
Another great example of how hidden storage areas are lurking within one's walls is shown over at Chris' Just Beachy blog.
Chris 
