A UNIQUE SOLUTION TO OPTIMIZE YOUR SPACE

By Elizabeth Shane

As summer approaches, now is the perfect time to update your home! By modernizing outdated features or rearranging spaces like redesigning the bonus room, expanding the workout area, or embracing an open-concept living layout, you can optimize space and create the extra space needed for your lifestyle. Whatever your home improvement goals entail, Nashville Murphy Beds offers meticulously crafted custom solutions that will help maximize space in almost any room and elevate its aesthetic appeal.

Serving Middle Tennessee for 10 years now, Nashville Murphy Beds specializes in crafting functional, high-quality furniture that includes a Murphy bed. These beds can be accompanied by additions like desks, shelves, or cabinets to enhance functionality and versatility, and are a perfect alternative when changes in family size or lifestyle preferences necessitate adjustments to your living space. A carefully designed cabinet with a Murphy bed provides an ideal solution for maximizing room space and your guests will never suspect it’s a bed.

A Murphy bed, also known as a wall bed or pull-down bed, offers a clever space-saving solution and has an interesting history. It was invented by William Lawrence Murphy, an American entrepreneur while he was living in a one-room apartment in San Francisco during the late 19th century. At that time, social norms frowned upon entertaining guests in the bedroom. Murphy, who was courting an opera singer, sought to create a more inviting space for her visits, however, space was limited. To solve this problem, Murphy developed the idea of a bed that could be folded up into a wall or cabinet when not in use.

Fast forward when Billy Simon, the visionary founder and co-owner of Nashville Murphy Beds, embarked on a path that intertwined his artistic background with the realm of craftsmanship. In the early 1980s, Simon carved out a noteworthy career as a songwriter. However, in the early 2000s when free music downloading shook the music industry, Simon sought alternative avenues to supplement his income.

Amid Simon’s quest for employment, memories of Murphy beds featured in sitcoms from his youth resurfaced in his mind. The notion of a space-saving yet stylish bedding solution intrigued him, and he began his search across Nashville to find them. It didn't take long for him to notice the absence of Murphy beds within traditional furniture stores, sparking an idea that would reshape his path.

Simon took the initiative to establish a workshop in his backyard marking the pivotal moment when he transformed from seeker to creator and crafted his very first Murphy bed. The transformation was profound, not just in a practical sense, but also as a catalyst for an emerging business. It was in 2014, while working with a trusted friend and co-worker, Pete Strayer, that the two of them began laying out a business plan for Nashville Murphy Beds, during coffee breaks.

Word of Simon’s innovative creations began to spread, driven by the genuine interest and curiosity of his friends. Requests for his unique beds started pouring in as people’s needs for spare bedrooms were being solved consistently by their stylish quality Murphy bed solutions. A few years later in 2019, another trusted friend, Allan Hicks, on a similar path was leaving his corporate past behind for the scent of sawdust and fulfillment of craftsmanship. With his business acumen, Hicks joined forces to help take Nashville Murphy Beds to the next level. Today, Simon remains a co-owner of Nashville Murphy Beds but is no longer actively engaged in its day-to-day operations.

Presently, the business moves forward with its dedicated team of skilled craftsmen, Allan Hicks, CEO and co-owner, Ethan DuBois, and Lucas Grimaud who all share a profound love for woodworking. Their creations are more than just beds; they are top-notch, handcrafted functional solutions that optimize room space and allow customers to infuse their unique style into each design. “Right now we are seeing a trend. We have a lot of people calling us for a Murphy bed in the Nashville area and we are grateful to be able to provide a solution for them,” Hicks said.

The team works with clients to select the best size bed, twin up to a king for the space, blending inventive design with personalized elements, such as tailored color schemes, stains, and trim choices, along with versatile features like cabinets, shelves, drawers, and fold-out desks. Every piece is carefully crafted from authentic wood with great attention to detail.

“The entire process is custom, from the free consultation to the furniture designs and colors. One of our popular styles is a Murphy Bed with symmetrical shelves on each side, but from order to finish it is approximately three weeks for a bed alone and five to six weeks if cabinets or a desk is included,” explained Hicks.

Nashville Murphy Beds provides a brilliant answer for maximizing space during any home update without compromising comfort. They continue to solve space challenges for their customers by better utilizing space and helping homeowners tailor their living space to better suit their lifestyle preferences with an aesthetic appeal. Discover for yourself why this ingenious solution is taking Middle Tennessee by storm.

Visit nashvillemurphybeds.com for additional information or, to book a free consultation, call (615) 939-5028. Follow them on social media at @nashvillemurphybeds and see how a customized sleep solution can help create extra space in your house!