Review on Queen Size Deluxe Murphy Hardware Vertical by Erika Martinez

It was a fun project that allowed us to turn a grown child's bedroom into a home office where they can receive guests. The biggest lesson I learned from this is that you MUST "read and follow directions", which isn't easy for me as I usually pick up a leaf and go. But when it comes to reading plans AND watching the video, that's important advice as I've found details missing from the plans that were in the video and vice versa. Sometimes the order of the steps in the plans is different and the video shows why the order of the steps is important. They really need plans and videos and a lot of attention to detail to make sure the gear is installed exactly where it's supposed to be. I found it easiest to convert DVDs to video on my iPad and have it handy in the workshop. PROS: Easy-to-follow plans when accompanied by a video. Quality equipment that is easy to install if you follow the plans. Works perfectly and looks great! Lots of customization options. CONS: One of the downsides of the kit is the fact that it shows options with no details or dimensions. For example, you can make decorative picture frames on a plywood face to mimic doors and drawers. But you must leave a space of 1/2 to 3/4 inch between the bottom of the picture frame and the baseboard, otherwise it will get stuck when opening. MODIFICATIONS: I have found that it is possible to lengthen the vertical supports to create a taller bookshelf closet as long as strict attention is paid to the mechanics. Just make sure you keep a header that is securely attached to the wall studs. We added a light bridge/shelf and installed Rockler Murphy's bed light kit which is available on their website but for some reason not available from Revain. There's a 12-inch, 60-pound limit for mattresses, and after checking with the folks at Create-a-Bed, I learned that a horizontal bed is much more forgiving of weight when the mattress is hinged on a longitudinal axis, rather than horizontal. Murphy's traditional upright bed. We used a 78lb hybrid internal spring memory foam mattress, which is VERY comfortable, inexpensive, and works great on a flat bed. I am attaching some photos showing the basic bed I built. It lacks a matching bookshelf and a crown molding to tie them together, but you get the idea. (The mattress looks a bit lumpy in the photo because it just came out of the box and is still inflating. In a few hours it has grown to a full 12" pillow and looks amazing!)