Replies

1. 
   bill_1010 | Apr 12, 2003 04:19pm | #1

   I know There are two sizes of King beds.  Regular King and California King.

   A place to look about sizing is from places like Lands End that sells bed sheets.  Also remember that kings use two single beds for box springs.

2. 
   RW | Apr 12, 2003 06:35pm | #2

   Queen = 60 x 80, Olympic Queen = 66 x 80, but the box springs are the same size, the mattress overhangs and sits on a flat support. Really only matters in design - if you have a four poster, you're pretty much OK, if you have a sleigh and the sides curve in, they could be too narrow for the oversize mattress. A King is 76 x 80, DK what the California adds to that.

   "The child is grown / The dream is gone / And I have become / Comfortably numb "      lyrics by Roger Waters

1. 
   woodshoplast | Apr 14, 2003 03:38am | #7

   Actually I made this bed for my Grandson. It's a freebie, so I'm not furnishing the mattress. He'll have to use his existing matterss, springs, etc. I like to climb up into bed also, our bed is so high the wife has been asking for a footstool. Thanks much, agriffee

1. 
   jackiechan | Apr 14, 2003 04:45am | #8

   Agriffee,

   Regarding your wife's request for a foot stool - you might consider building some under-bed storage drawers with one on your wife's side actually being a pull out foot stool (camouflaged to look like the other drawers).  It looks good, and rolls in out of sight during the day.Dan Kornfeld, Owner/President - Odyssey Wood Design, Inc.

3. 
   SgianDubh | Apr 13, 2003 12:27am | #3

   Why not just buy the mattress and simply build the bed around it? No other method of work makes any sense. Forget box springs or divan sets (UK terminology) as needed parts of the bed. Neither are important. The mattress just needs a flat surface to sit on.

   Allow about an inch of space either side of the mattress, and about three to four inches of space in the length. You will need a stop in the length to prevent the mattress drifting down, but that's an extremely elementary need within the design. Slainte. 

   Website                                   The poster formerly known as Sgian Dubh.

1. 
   Jamie_Buxton | Apr 13, 2003 02:34am | #4

   Richard --

      Like you, I can't see any need for box springs.   I've been building beds for thirty years without them.   In fact -- and this is my question to you -- have you ever heard of any reason why box springs exist?   They have so little function that I can't understand why they're still sold, or why they were conceived in the first place.

            Jamie

1. 
   SgianDubh | Apr 13, 2003 04:08am | #5

   You pose an interesting question, Jamie. I've found in the US that there is an inordinate affection for the box spring set with metal frame and wheels under. It's like the darned thing is a 'must have' item for a bed. I see a lot of bed frames built around a box spring and mattress, and the need to accomodate the box spring thing within the design causes a lot of ugly design compromises.

   People have this funny idea that box springs add an element of comfort, via cushioning, which for a normal person, is twaddle-- I can sleep perfectly comfortably on a floor for example, and modern mattresses are more than capable of providing all the softening and support needed. Exceptionally, I suppose, grossly obese people of 300 - 500 lbs. may find the slight softening of a box spring useful under a mattress, but I don't design furniture for abnormal people-- except as an extra cost custom order.

   The box spring serves no useful function that I can see, except to provide a base upon which the mattress is set. I'd say its only function is to raise the mattress off the floor, but how high the mattress needs to be is down to personal preference. I like the top of the mattress to be about 700- 800 mm (~27" to 32") off the floor-- I like to climb up into bed, and climb down out of bed. Other people prefer a low set mattress. For years I slept happily on a mattress set on the floor, and I'd be more than happy to do it again-- except for that fact that I really do prefer the climbing up and down thing, ha, ha. Slainte.

   Website                                   The poster formerly known as Sgian Dubh.

1. 
   jackiechan | Apr 13, 2003 07:22am | #6

   Richard,

   I have heard it said before that the purpose of a box spring is to reduce the wear and tear on the mattress - basically working as a shock absorber for your spring mattress.  Hello!  Redundancy is best left to the adage of measure twice and cut once!

   Another school of thought, is that a box spring allows air to circulate around the mattress thereby keeping it more fresh (from smells and fabric breakdown and the like.)  I have used mattresses on the floor and in alone in every variety of bed imaginable (e.g. sleigh, box, platform, etc...) I can honestly say that none of those mattresses have ever suffered from any sort of odiferous malady!

   I concur with your previous recommendation - purchase the mattress, design the bed around it, support it well, and possibly move on to fabricating the new chest of drawers, matching night stands, and reading chair that you will soon be told that you need!

   Dan Kornfeld, Owner/President - Odyssey Wood Design, Inc.

   Edited 4/13/2003 12:23:17 AM ET by Jackie Chan

   Edited 4/13/2003 12:24:12 AM ET by Jackie Chan

   Edited 4/13/2003 12:25:19 AM ET by Jackie Chan

2. 
   GrouchieGrum | Apr 14, 2003 09:40am | #9

   OOoooh, you struck a nerve... hehehe just to steal the post...  I am 6'4 and 260+lbs, although NOT up to your "grossly obese people of 300 - 500 lbs", I do take exception to the statement... but with humor and just want to give you some grief......  I will say though, that I have a brother in law who is 6'5" and 300ish pounds, and is not obese at all.. he played professional football and is mainly muscle.  but I digress, since I know that there is always an exception to every rule.... but your generalization is a bit more noted.. hehehe 

   I can hear my wife now to my statement of "The worst drivers are always in dark colored Camry's!" and her reply of "Are you making a generalization again?"... and my response... "well, its MOSTLY true!!"...

1. 
   SgianDubh | Apr 14, 2003 07:06pm | #13

   Ha, ha, Grouchie. Pretty big, but not exceptional then. Slainte.Website                                   The poster formerly known as Sgian Dubh.

4. 
   user-17340 | Apr 14, 2003 01:19pm | #10

   Hi

   I work for the second largest furniture making business in Canada, and we sell mostly to the US and the free space that we must leave for the matress in beds are the following

   Quenn 60 1/2 x 81

   King 77 x 81

   California king 73 x 85

   Bob in Sherbrooke, Province of Québec

1. 
   woodshoplast | Apr 14, 2003 06:47pm | #11

   Thanks Bob. Someone told me the California King was the largest. Doesn't matter either is big enough. Thanks again, agriffee. Since you build beds, is it alright to use 1" plywood for the side frame?

1. 
   user-17340 | Apr 14, 2003 06:59pm | #12

   Do you mean the rails ?? If so, yes, it is more than adequate. We use 3/4 mdf with a veneer on each side, that give us 13/16 thick.

   Bob in Sherbrooke, Province of Québec