I can confirm

that the new sofabed works as a chaise longue and a single bed.

I was down on the boat to destroy some of the storage in the bedroom as I had originally planned it to double up as office and bedroom but found that I preferred to work in the saloon area as it was brighter.  (Bedroom has no skylights so is nice and dark - good for sleeping not so good for working).

The plan was to demolish it completely and build a free standing wardrobe but I have compromised.
I removed the drop down desk, sawed off the corner upright, taken out the side and door of the hanging space (originally accessed from the corridor - which was awkward) and put in a hanging rail going across the space.  I will see how this works over the summer and maybe over the winter revert to plan A and dismantle the rest of it.   (I may put a curtain up in the meantime so it doesn't look quite so messy)

Below how it was

desk open

desk closed

The spare bedding/towels can now go in boxes under the sofabed I think.

I also feel I need to 'prune' my clothes.

The finished article in situ

Currently laid out as a chaise longue because that is mostly how it will be used!

The footstool is there for when we are two and need to get our feet off the floor.

It is also an essential part of when it becomes a full length double together with the brown metal box.

My feet will be toasty warm as I watch TV.

A homemade sofabed

How to make your own sofabed

9mm plywood sheet – get cut into shapes by the lovely people at B&Q, 

namely 

1 of 600 x 1700, 

2 of 250 x 1700. 

(then cut the excess into a top for the desk and a piece for the footstool)

pva and sand smooth, hinge together and use bolts for extra strength.

Base Board – get cut into shape 18mm 1 of 800 x 1700

Pva and sand smooth

Attach metal strip to back edge to support upright.

Drill holes in correct place for doorstops on seat base such that they clear base completely when in bed mode (and also holes for cabin hook catches)

Attach 8 legs (bolted)

Infill under bedbase using the spare strips of the 9mm (glue and screw) so that it supports the thin back boards when in bed position (because metal strip stands proud and would put too much pressure on the hinges)

Upholster the seat base – care around the hinges.

Upholster the back pieces as one.

Attach the cabin hooks

Cover foam with ‘underwear’ using ex duvet set bought for a £1 from charity shop.  This makes it much easier to put the outer covers on and off.

 

Detail of back support showing cabin hooks

When it all lays flat the seat/back sections overlap the baseboard by 5"

Other people without the restrictions I had could have the back as one piece leaning against the cabin sides.

9mm pieces hinged together

upholstered

without cushions but showing footstool under.

There is a knee roll on the seat cushion

Pieces of foam in their underwear

Sofa

With cushions in their bright covers

 (not complete because I was waiting for the zips to arrive.

As a single bed for anyone 5' 8" or prepared to have feet hanging over the end

As a double - full length.

this is achieved using the footstool and the metal box I have on the boat that I use to hold the ash from the fire. These are cunningly the same height  

The extra piece of foam sits across these and extends the length of the sofa.

We have got the wooden sections of the sofa on the boat now and once I have finished the cushions and they are on the boat as well I will put up a picture of it in place.

The legs on the sofa are 12" high so plenty of storage underneath in plastic storage boxes etc.

The cover on the footstool is held in place with velcro.  (stapled to the wood and sewn to the material)

Fingers crossed it all works as it is supposed to!

I had an IKEA sofabed on there before and it was a right royal p in the a because it had to be turned 90 degrees to be turned into a bed and it was too wide to leave in that position.

Still it has kept me entertained over the holidays.

I've been busy

over the holidays and the project is nearing finalisation.  Hope it works as planned.  Once complete I will post pictures and details but for now it is a



SECRET

Hee hee