They have a contact and design assistant. Had you thought of contacting them to ask? It looks like a great idea. c

yes
sent email last night when I had so much trouble finding specific drawings/diagrams
I don't know what they might say
I am just trying to get idea for amount of materials--this is not something my husband would really attempt
and I am very curious as to the type of wall/murphy bed actually intalled
the type that works the best seems to be the one bolted into the slab--but that means cutting away part of the carpet and pretty much making this a permanent installation
we plan on staying in this house for many years so if it is done correctly might not be a problem at all...
this room would be more for me to use as library--love to read and house we bought has limited bookcase space especially in master bedroom...

I know that to actually use the bookcases for book storage would mean having well-constructed cases and some heavy duty tracks to support them but it just seems to be very functional --
the ones I have seen on line that are nicely built are like 3K or more--but I would not really want to buy something on-line that is basically a custom build if you understand what I mean
we have friend who is builder and I am sure he has trim carpenters who could build something like this if they had a good set of documents...
lot depends on the type of bed frame installed and the mattress you want to use because that accounts for the depth of the deeper bookcases...and they would definitely have to be attached to the wall studs for safety...

we would have to measure the wall it would go on and check closet door swing and window to see if width of unit could be balanced evenly--just saw the photo yesterday--
most other Murphy beds have a flat panel for the bottom of the mattress and that is just wasted space to me--being able to have even some limited shelf space would be great--

with the type of foam mattresses available now--you don't really need to have a box springs to have comfortable sleeping...

From a storage perspective, I don't think you gain much from having moving bookcases. You will still need the necessary space to slide the bookcases into, so why not just have stationary bookcases on the outside?

I assume the wall you will install it on is flat, so murphy bed cabinet will extend into the room at least 12". This will leave natural alcoves on the sides, sort of like a fireplace.

All the mechanisms I've seen will be required to be mounted to the floor. I made acustom cabinet for mine, so I'm aware of the needs. I'll try to post pictures of my setup.

I can say that my DB got a special air mattress for his fold up sofa bed to replace the one that was to have been on it. It is so comfortable and would allow you a more flexable plan as to depth and weight of the whole apparatus. I am not sure of the brand but it has a pump and inflates /deflates in seconds. Very comfy too. I can find out what brand if you like. c

Here is a picture of my unit.

Mechanism $275
Doors $80
Hardware $100
construction materials $50.

Sold this photo to the hardware company for $100.

what mechanism for the bed did you order from
how big a mattress does it take
it looks nicely done but basically unless you are using the bed to sleep you aren't getting any other use out of it...that is what the bookcases provide--permanent functionality
each of the two center bookcases slides in front of the those on either end--so you have 4 useable bookcases all the time

the bookcases have two different depths from the photos on Southern Living--the center ones are maybe 10 inches deep and the rear are more like 15 for the depth of mattress/bed unit.
I think you gain a lot of book or curio/photo shelf storage because nothing has to be taken out to use the bed portion

and I think it would be possible to add some puck lights on the board running across the top of the bed frame unit and put switch on each side of the bed to allow for reading in bed...

because of the sliding feature you could not just put a lamp on a shelf in the bookcase

yes--that is a good point about expense of this unit vs other options--but would like to get idea for what it WOULD cost to build and need some better specifics than just that photo...

putting a sofa in this room and some pre-fab bookcases on couple of the walls would be less expensive and still address our desire to use it as more a reading/computer room for me
but my husband would not want his 70 yr old sister to sleep on a fold-out couch no matter how comfortable the mattress might be...and this is the extra bedroom downstairs...more convenient for me as well rather than using one of the two bedrooms upstairs on day to day basis...

we are planning on being here for long time--right now we don't have any bedroom furniture for this room because we have single/trundle beds in two bedrooms that we aren't going to be using in this house
we are upgrading our daughter and her husband to real queen mattress vs their double--and taking their full-size mattress which is still in good shape for the 4th bedroom upstairs...
some of the furniture in our master now will probably get moved up to that room since our new master is really too small for probably anything but the king bed and bedside chests--maybe room for double dresser under the wall-mounted flat-screen tv going opposite the bed--but just have to see how narrow the walkway past the bed is...

like I said the new master is not that large but my husband really liked the back yard/other features of the house...he says we don't really spend any time in master except to sleep now (basically true) and the new master closet has built-in chests and shelfs to help with clothes storage...
we can even move in some ready-made chests if we need too

Here is the company I got the mechanism from Murphy bed mechaism.

If you limit the bookcase to lightweight items like curios, you could probably get by with sliding door/wall hardware. These can handle 300lbs.

THANKS Chris
do you use your bed every day--had any problems with the mechanism working/sticking?

I've had no problems with the mechanism, in the year and half we've had it. It is a queen size and we paid $270 in May 07 (prices have gone up). We've used it approximatley 30 times. Its in our recreational room and the kids always use it for sleep overs. I don't think they would have a problem with everyday use, the mechanism is pretty simple.

Pay attention to the maximum thickness and weight of mattress you can use with the mechanism. Then go to a bed store and get a sense of what that thickness of mattress will feel like.

With the two I used, I never had a problem with the mechanism.

I was suggesting the air mattress for the Murphy bed not a fold out couch. My DB has it on a fold out couch...which my 88 yr old mother slept on....

Air mattresses have come a LONG way . This one was very expensive. It would lighten the weight that the mechanism would have to deal with. Just trying to be helpful. c

I didn't read all of the thread, but thought I'd throw this out there. HGTV had an episode on one of its shows that included directions for building exactly what you are talking about and a link to where you can purchase the Murphy Bed "Kit". I've included the link. Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Murphy Bed installation & kit

yes --I saw that link after I posted the questions--they installed a queen size bed...but frankly units on that site in finishe we want are expensive--might as well have it custom made...

sorry Trailrunner
I thought you meant to just use an air bed or substitute for like a fold-out couch mattress--my daughter has one in her condo for guests who come--
I can see that using one for the mattress part of the murphy bed would help with the weight on the mechanism...but hers keeps bleeding air out and has to be pumped up during the night--but it was not that expensive either...