It Came From Out of the Wall

Many years ago, in another life, I lived in Montreal, Quebec. New to the city, I looked high and low for the perfect apartment.

And I found it. It sat in a place called Square St. Louis, directly across from a fountain in a park.

As I strolled through this perfect new home, I looked into the bedroom, where something seemed amiss.

“Where’s the bed?” I asked.

That’s when the landlady reached over to the wall, pulled down a handle, and like a 747 coming in for a landing, a full-size bed emerged, its legs touching down softly on the floor. I don’t think I’ve slept that well since.

It was my first experience with a wall bed, also known as a “Murphy” bed, and for that time in Montreal, it became my favorite place in that picturesque apartment.

For the uninitiated, the bed is named for William Lawrence Murphy (1876–1959), who according to legend, was dating an opera singer, but living in a one-room apartment in San Francisco. In those days, a woman did not enter a man’s bedroom. Murphy’s idea converted his bedroom into a parlor, hiding the bed from sight, and enabling him to entertain.

Now, wall beds are used for space-saving purposes, and are popular in small homes, apartments, hotels, mobile homes and college dormitories. The more advanced models also offer options like lighting, storage cabinets, and office components.

They’ve naturally become more popular with more and more children moving back in with their parents, and families choosing to renovate homes rather than purchasing larger ones.

Pasadena has its own outlet for the unique, space-saving beds— Wall Beds “n” More, on Walnut Avenue.

Owner Stephanie Saunders was working in commercial construction with her husband until the economy began beating down on the industry.

“Our business was struggling,” recalled Saunders, “and a friend of mine was working at a Wall Beds and More store in Culver City. She called one day, and asked if I wanted a part-time job.” Since Saunders lived in Orange County, the two worked out an arrangement for Saunders to work both at home, and in the office, handling appointments. After three months, in 2011, the owner of the Pasadena store left and the Pasadena store needed a new manager.

Saunders took over the store, made it profitable, and when the store became available as a franchise, Saunders and her husband did the math and realized that the store could be a perfect compliment to their construction endeavors.

This was a year and half ago, and the store has been successful ever since Saunders first walked in the front door.

The hardwood beds range from simple floor models which look like a davenport or dresser, and then open up like flowers to reveal full or queen size beds, to full wall models which also have built-in lighting as well as shelves and cabinetry. There are also a host of styles, finishes as well as cabinet options. Prices generally range from $1600 to $4200, or thereabouts. The beds can be completely customized and are installed in homes by trained professionals.

One particularly impressive bed actually features a full size desk with a wall portion that, in one quick tug, descends down, hiding the desk, and providing a full size bed.

And with the popularity of the beds comes a new change in the customer, says Saunders.

“Our clientele used to be upper income, maybe retired adults with grown children. But recently a man came in with his young son, and the son was driving the bus,’ she laughed. “He had gotten online, done all the research, and found us.

“They had moved into a new home, and he had gotten the smallest bedroom. So Dad promised him a new bed. The son had already selected the model, the style, the color, everything. Dad was just there to hand over the credit card, so now I say that the new buyer is everyone from 14 on up!”

Whether building a new home from the ground up or remodeling the kid’s rumpus room back into an actual bedroom, wall beds make sense space-wise and economically. And they make great desks.

Wall Beds “n” More is at 1382 East Walnut Street, Pasadena. By appointment only. (626) 233-8544. www.wallbedsnmore.com.