9 minute read
Pandemic-era design solution from the past: The Murphy bed
By MELISSA RAYWORTH
Associated Press
When the vast majority of your life is happening within the four walls of your home, every square foot counts. So the past two years have inspired some serious, space-saving creativity.
“Everybody all of a sudden was just surrounded by their environment, just sort of thinking, “If I'm going to be spending this much time here, I really want it to be great quality space,” says interior designer and HGTV host Vern Yip.
Oddly enough, one popular strategy for creating multipurpose spaces at home in 2022 is an innovation born more than a century ago: the Murphy bed, a fully made bed emerging from a wall to instantly transform a living room into a bedroom.
New Jersey-based interior designer Karen Topjian remembers seeing Murphy beds in old black-and-white Hollywood movies and thinking they looked wonderfully glamorous. It seemed almost magical, she thought. Unlike a sofabed that requires moving cushions and some degree of assembly, Murphy beds have the superpower of transforming a space with just a single motion.
Of course, the spring-loaded metal bed that nearly destroyed Charlie Chaplin in his 1916 short film “One A.M.” appeared pretty uncomfortable. Even the World War II-era models probably weren't especially cozy, Topjian says, no matter how chic they looked in the movies. But technology has improved dramatically.
Today, she says, high-quality Murphy beds open easily and can be outfitted with high-end mattresses and lush bedding.
So when a client with a New York studio apartment challenged her to create a space where he could eat, sleep, live and work, Topjian designed a Murphy bed built into custom hardwood shelving, giving the compact living space plenty of storage and flexibility.
And the appeal of Murphy beds is moving beyond those who live in apartments. As the pandemic lingers, even people with larger homes are facing “small-space living issues,” says Heather Higgins, another New Jersey interior designer.
Whether elderly relatives are moving in or adult children are returning home, many people are puzzling over how to add extra sleeping space to existing rooms. Depending on the circumstances, a Murphy bed can be the solution.
Among its best uses:
Whether elderly relatives are moving in or adult children are returning home, many people are puzzling over how to add extra sleeping space to existing rooms. Depending on the circumstances, a Murphy bed can be the solution.
See MURPHY BED, page 20
Murphy bed From page 21
Making guests at home -- without sacrificing a room
Interior designer Gonzalo Bueno has a meticulously planned home office in Dallas. Behind his desk, a dramatic black-and-white painting extends from floor to ceiling, flanked on both sides by builtin shelving.
For 90% of the year, he says, his office is laid out in exactly this way. But when relatives visit from Mexico, his desk is moved forward and that painting is pulled down to reveal a Murphy bed.
Its a better option than even the highest quality sofabed, he says: “This is a queen-size bed — a real bed. So it's heaven” for visitors. “But for my 90% of the year, it just looks like a beautiful built-in with an art piece.”
Bueno created a similar design for clients who needed a playroom for their children and a guest room for visiting grandparents. They didn't want older relatives sleeping on a sofa bed, but also didn't want to lose an entire room to a queen-size bed.
One end of their playroom now houses a Murphy bed concealed within built-in storage.
Murphy beds can also be practical for single parents whose children don't live with them full-time. Bueno has a client who uses a spare bedroom primarily as a meditation space. But when his child lives with him, a Murphy bed is kept open and the room feels entirely like a bedroom.
Hybrid homes
Higgins says the pandemic is inspiring some city dwellers to shift to a smaller apartment so they can afford a second space outside the city. In cases like this, a Murphy bed can make the city space more manageable.
Topjian recommends mapping out the room with the bed open to make sure it won't feel too crowded. Make sure any furniture you'll need to shift out of the way isn't too heavy or awkward.
If you'll be using a Murphy bed as your primary sleeping space and opening it frequently, it helps to choose a lightweight memory foam mattress rather than a conventional model. And look for a goodquality one that lowers slowly and “makes a soft landing,” Topjian says.
Make sure your Murphy bed comes from a reliable manufacturer, the designers emphasized. The name was once trademarked, but has been used by a wide range of retailers since 1989.
Home office in a spare bedroom
For those who have converted a spare bedroom into a work-from-home office, it can be challenging to create a space that looks professional on video calls while still keeping a bed there.
“People are paying a lot of attention to what their background is” on video calls, Yip says. “That little portion of your living environment that you're sharing now with the rest of the world -- what does it say?”
A Murphy bed can offer the elegant appearance of wooden doors, rather than a view of a bed laden with pillows and blankets.
Beyond creating a workfriendly Zoom background, that can also help you concentrate.
“You wouldn't want to be working all day seeing a bed next to you,” Bueno says. “It will just be too too tempting.”
(BPT) - Many changes come with age, but one thing most people agree they don't want to change is where they live. Aging in place is important to many people, and fortunately, some updates to frequently used rooms such as the bathroom can make a big difference in helping people stay safe and secure.
Data shows that 77% of adults 50 and older want to stay in their homes long term, according to the AARP Home and Community Preferences Survey. This number has been consistent for over a decade, showing that adults prefer to age in place.
When updating a home for aging in place, the bathroom is one of the most important spaces to focus on. Because so many activities happen in this room, it needs to be updated to be safe, secure and functional for people with varying physical abilities.
The most important bathroom updates for aging in place include:
Non-slip flooring
Fall prevention is essential in the bathroom, and a good place to start is by looking at the floors. Tile is popular in bathrooms but can be slippery. Eliminate rugs and mats that may be a tripping hazard. Then assess current flooring and consider adding non-slip mats or other non-slip features inside and outside the bath or shower. Finally, if flooring is too slippery, updating to a slip-resistant linoleum or other option might make sense.
Taller toilet
As you age, it becomes more difficult to sit down and get back up. A taller toilet can help make using the bathroom easier. For example, the Highline Tall Toilet is Kohler's tallest toilet to provide ultimate accessibility and ease of use. Additionally, it has a clean, simple design and efficient performance featuring an innovative 1.28-gallon flush setting. If you'd prefer not to replace your existing toilet, swap out your current seat for the Hyten Toilet Seat that adds 3 inches of height to your toilet bowl and looks just like a normal toilet seat, only taller.
Good lighting
Proper lighting enhances the functionality of any bathroom and is especially important for older adults with vision impairment. Overhead lighting as well as task lighting by vanities is important for all grooming activities. Make sure to use LED bulbs that tend to be brighter and more energy effiSee AGING IN PLACE, page 28
Non-slip flooring, good lighting and grab bars are among the things that can make a bathroom safer.
(BPT) - Environmental protection is always capturing headlines, but you might wonder what you can do as an individual to make a difference at home. Do your small efforts even matter in the big picture of a greener world?
The truth is every eco-minded effort counts, no matter how small it may seem. One of the best places to start is at home in your very own kitchen. Some of the simplest, most costeffective changes can have the biggest cumulative impact in the new year.
Looking for ideas? These simple, everyday habits will help you create a greener kitchen and eco-friendly household:
Prevent food waste
Food waste is estimated at between 30-40% of the food supply in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Billions of pounds of food is wasted every year, often due to spoilage, which is why preserving food properly is essential. Dry goods should be sealed air tight and out of sunlight, ideally in a cool and dry location. Fresh foods can spoil, so it's important to store produce properly. Look for storage options created specifically for fresh foods to keep the proper air and moisture ratio for optimum freshness. Most produce should be stored in the fridge, but some items like bananas, pears, avocado, melons and tomatoes last longer when not refrigerated. When it comes to food waste, consider composting at home or through a curbside program, which creates a trickle-down effect that can benefit you as well as the environment. When in doubt, do your research to understand the different options.
BRANDPOINT New habits will help you create a greener kitchen and more eco-friendly house.
Get trash bags made with less plastic
While reducing waste is important, you probably will still need to use trash bags in the kitchen. Research options and find a greener bag. Glad's drawstring kitchen trash bags use less plastic than leading competitors* without sacrificing performance. Glad's ForceFlexPlus Recovered Materials Bag is the brand's most sustainable bag. They have the same trusted Glad strength you can depend on but are made with 50% recovered plastic - 20% recycled plastic, 30% reclaimed plastic - and are made with 100% renewable energy (in Glad's North American plants) and come in 100% recyclable packaging (in Glad's North American plants). Learn more at Glad.com/Sustainability. *Ranges from 7% to 22% less plastic vs. top 10 competitors
Opt for the dishwasher
If you wash dishes by hand instead of in the dishwasher thinking you're saving water, you may be mistaken. This is particularly true if you're like most people and run the hot water for rinsing continuously as you do dishes. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, newer EnergyStar dishwasher models use 6 gallons or less per wash cycle, plus save on electricity. You can maximize savings further by only running the dishwasher when it's full.
Recycle
Last but not least, prioritize recycling throughout your day. Know what can be recycled in your area and be sure to place those items as indicated in the recycling bin rather than the trash. Unsoiled paper products can typically be recycled, as well as many glass containers, metal lids and plastic containers that have been rinsed well.
Whether you live in an urban setting or far out in the country - or one of the many places in between - Mother Nature serves an important role in your life. These simple steps that you can do in your very own kitchen make a big difference.
