Have you ever wondered who Murphy of the Murphy Bed is? Okay, neither have I, but I am interested in Murphy Beds, or hide-a-beds, since they seem like they would fit so perfectly into contemporary home environments. They are space efficient and the design lends itself to so many modern home aesthetics. This is what I usually think of when I think of Murphy Beds.
Murphy Bed from the 1920's
But, the Murphy Bed has grown up and looks very different. Below are some of the newest designs in what was once seen only on the I Love Lucy show. Check out some of the more contemporary versions. I’m glad to see that Murphy Beds are making a comeback.
Contemporary version of the Murphy Bed
Murphy Bed that pulls down from the ceiling
I’m surprised that IKEA has not yet come out with one of these. In terms of design, it seems that these space-saving wonders would have a larger presence on the market.
The "Tale" computer bed from Flying Beds
The computer bed, “Tale Bed”, manufactured by Euro Flying Bed company, is considered one of the best designs out there. When you pull out the bed sideways, the stuff on the desk stays flat so it won’t be dumped onto the floor.
The coolest looking Murphy Bed is one from Boxetti. I’m sure they are crazy expensive, but this is the one I want. The other shapes on the side of the bed house a closet and drawers.
Boxetti Bed
Boxetti Modular Environment
The Boxetti reminds me a lot of Vernor Panton‘s ideas back in the 60s and 70s. The Danish designer was the master of fluid, futurist design.
Verner Panton
Verner Panton Phantasmagoria
Unfortunately, the Murphy Bed had many disadvantages. The greatest of Murphy Bed shortcomings is that it’s nearly impossible to change the mattress without ordering an entirely new bed. Another is that most people don’t want to put the Murphy Bed away when they wake up. Laziness aside, I still think the Murphy Bed is a great space-saver and now, with the new styles, it can also be an asset to the look and feel of a room.
Next week I’ll be talking about the Airstream motor home. Laters.
Crane Design for Better Living 
Another Murphy Bed option is Zoom-Room, the electronic, remote controlled, retractable guest bed. Just press the wireless remote and it glides into the room. You can even put a flat screen TV or bookshelves in front – no one knows theres a bed in there! Check it out at http://www.Zoom-Room.com.
Thanks Peter. You are the lucky first person to comment on the blog. Thanks and good luck with Zoom-Room. Mr. Murphy would have been proud.
My friend Ann, who recently moved to Eugene, Oregon and for whom I wrote this post since she was moving into a vintage apartment with a real Murphy Bed wrote:
Murphy was born in Stockton, California in the late 1870’s, he moved to San Francisco at the turn of the century. He met a lovely woman named Gladys that he was quite taken with. He was so fond of Gladys that he wanted to begin courting her, the problem was that in those days it was not permissible to have a lady enter a gentleman’s bedroom. William lived in a one-room apartment which had a bed taking up most of his floor space which meant that courting was out of the question.They say that necessity is the mother of invention and Williams actions seem to support that. He began experimenting with a folding bed; and created the Murphy-bed. You could say that indirectly William invented the Murphy-bed because of love.
With his new invention he safely stored away his bed, and transformed his one-room apartment into a proper parlor where he was free to court Gladys whom he married in the early 1900’s.