So, as time goes on, our boys get bigger… which in turn makes our cottage feel smaller, I am starting to learn more about what it takes to function in a 900 sf space with a family of four. While we are working on the addition which will more than double our living space, we aren’t there yet! If you are familiar with Alberta winters, you would know that it is not always conducive to sending your 3 year old out to play. We have about a -15 limit. After that the boys just don’t seem to have fun. So while it’s fall {still in denial} I know that we need to make some plans to help us with our space issues. I don’t know if I’ve ever shared pictures of the boys room… currently it does nothing to utilize “small space” living tips.
We currently have a double bed (which was previously in our guest room in our old house) and then a small bed for G, kind of like a toddler size bed. Originally I thought they could share the double, and it it could double {punny} as a guest bed when needed. Which has worked great. Except they don’t share. So their 9×10 room is pretty much bed. Last year G was just too small for me to feel comfortable with having bunk beds, but now that he is 3.5 he really has grown up leaps and bounds! Which is exciting and sad, because my boys aren’t babies anymore.
The catch about bunk beds is… well. They aren’t cheap. Or they are. If you know what I mean. If you don’t want to spend what I consider to be a small fortune on bunk beds, you aren’t really getting great quality. I am so non-commital when it comes to furniture… I feel like our house is more of a “Well we need to store things somewhere until we have more space” then actually working to make it function and be a little bit beautiful at the same time. I just don’t want to invest in things for this space, when I know we will be moving our living room, the boys will soon have a lot of space to spread out, and we will have so.much.more.storage.
The one thing I feel we will use in the new space though, are bunk beds. The boys are thrilled about the idea. So Matt and I talked about it, and he decided we should just build some. {I know, we DIY everything, which Matt calls DIA {do it all}} The catch, it has to be simple, because Matt is in a race against time to finish our siding before snow. I love that Man. He is kind of amazing. He might be the real life old spice man… but so much better. He cooks and builds me kitchens… and houses… and soon! Bunk Beds! In all honesty, I will probably help with a lot of the work, and if I was feeling a bit more up to it, would tackle this myself. But, I want it done quick. So, yay Matt!
I did a search through Ana-White’s plans, which was very easy to do. Thats where I got the plans for our kitchen bench. Which I still haven’t shown you…. ahem. And I have settled on 3 plans which would work for us. I have to say I feel a kinship to Ana… I mean, I am a wannabe carpenter at this point, but… they built their house, and now are building the mom-plex (Mom, move here and we’ll build you a house} and they generally figure how to do things themselves… DIA.
Here are the plans, and their originals:
Inspired by this Land of Nod Set:
Inspired by a Pottery Barn Set similar to this loft bed (I’m not sure if PB still sells the original bunk from those plans)
And finally,
Inspired by this Land of Nod Set
I do like that the last set can be split up into 2 twin beds… but I think based on simplicity I like the first set. I can tell that the “Classic Bunks” will definitely be the cheapest to construct. So, I guess I will chat it over with Matt, and let you know what we decide! I am excited to give the boys some play space that isn’t the kitchen table or our living room! And I have to admit, I love how excited they are about the whole idea. Maybe, just maybe, this will keep G in his own bed for a few more hours a night.
Any building projects happening around your house? Do your kids share a room? I’d love to hear how you make it all work!
-Mizz Ash
Excited to see the finished product!! Ours have had bunks for a year now, but we had some secondhand ones (wooden) and my mum (DIY Queen) cut it down to size so that the bottom bunk is sooo low (no use for storing anything but rolling off the bed isn’t an issue!), so that the bottom bed is SO low and the to one is too! Brilliant for their ages (they were 4 1/2 and 2 1/2, now 5 1/2 and 3 1/2|) Good luck!! xxx
That is a smart idea Jodie! Glad to hear that it is still working well after a year. 🙂
My four kids share a room so we have 2 sets of bunk beds. I feel blessed because my dad is a great woodworker and built them for us, simple and solid.
It is so nice to have handy men in our lives isn’t it! I love that your four kids share a room- as more kids join our family, we plan on keeping them together as long as possible 🙂