Bouncing back: Once-comical Murphy beds now space-saving must-haves

By: MAREN DOUGHERTY - For the North County Times | Thursday, October 5, 2006 7:42 PM PDT ∞

Murphy beds ---- once surefire fodder for physical comedy in TV sitcoms ---- are becoming increasingly popular pieces of furniture for local homeowners. As population growth continues and space becomes tighter in North County, store managers say that Murphy beds, also called wall beds, are now seen as viable options for everyday use.

Gary Pavitt, chief financial officer of Classy Closets in Escondido, said that he's doubled his sale of Sico wall beds this year. Last year he sold about one per month; this year, he's already sold 14.

"More and more people are working from home and turning guest bedrooms into home offices," Pavitt said. "Probably 80 percent use the wall beds for their offices."

Pavitt said that most of his other wall bed customers use the beds in their second homes. Many of those second homes are coastal vacation rentals without much square footage. With the installation of the wall beds that his store sells, customers can opt to add bookshelves, drawers, closets and decorative finishes on the sides.

"There are cheesy shifties out there that are not particularly functional," said Pavitt, adding that the Sico beds start at $2,700. "With these, you can build custom cabinetry around them."

Murphy beds have existed for more than a century. Inventor William L. Murphy applied for a patent for a folding pivot bed around 1900.

Newer wall beds can accommodate all mattress sizes and thicknesses, and can usually be finished in a variety of finishes, from mahogany to alder wood. Add-ons include bookcases, cabinets and more. Retailer Hammacher Schlemmer even sells handcrafted wall beds with foam mattresses for dogs and cats.

Space San Diego Inc. features a wall bed that incorporates a fold-down table. Use the table by day, then bring down the whole bed for nighttime. That model in queen size retails for about $3,595, said Phil Feinberg, co-owner with wife Beverly Feldman of Space San Diego. The company's beds start at about $2,495 for a twin-size wall bed, he said.

Lynn Smith, a Realtor and broker for La Costa Sales & Rentals, said she has many listings with wall beds. She is currently selling a studio condo in Carlsbad that includes a queen-sized wall bed. Smith said it's important to examine the beds, as the quality can be inconsistent from property to property. If they're not well-maintained, the mattresses inside can be especially uncomfortable.

"Some of them are very old and unattractive," she said. "Newer ones have electric controls that work very well, and most people don't even know those are Murphy beds."

Vikki Kuick has a three-bedroom town home in Carmel Valley that she once lived in but that she now uses as a rental. For a room on the main floor, a previous owner had installed office furniture and a bed that folds and stores like a wall bed.

"I was single when I purchased this condo," Kuick said. "I liked the idea that the office could serve as extra guest sleeping."

She said that renters generally see the folding bed as a positive aspect of the property. Most of her tenants have smaller families and would rather have the extra floor space.

"They don't have a lot of children where they need three traditional-use bedrooms," Kuick said.

Where to Buy


Classy Closets, 2180 Chablis Court #108, Escondido

(760) 735-2545; www.classyclosetssandiego.com

Org San Diego, 1040 S. Andreasen Ave., Suite 110, Escondido

(866) 936-7426; www.org-sandiego.com

Space San Diego, 1531 Pacific Highway, San Diego

(619) 237-0727; www.spacesandiego.com

Murphy Bed Company, nationwide

(800) 845-2337; www.murphybedcompany.com

The Wall Bed Shop, nationwide

(800) 987-2818; www.beddingfactory.com

The Cost


Custom wall bed cabinets can cost upward of $4,000, but it's also possible to buy just the mechanisms and mass-produced cabinets separately.

Sample prices for mechanisms from the Murphy Bed Company (do not include mattresses):

Econo Twin ---- $625

Deluxe Double ---- $760

Deluxe Queen ---- $830

Styleline King ---- $1,110

Sample prices for bed cabinets in birch, cherry, cedar, maple or mahogany woodtones:


Twin ---- $705

Double ---- $805

Queen ---- $905

King ---- $1,020

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