Leigh Robinson, Author at Wall Beds Melbourne & Geelong

Melbourne & Geelong Top Wall Bed Agency

We are now becoming the top wall bed agency here in Melbourne and Geelong not only is this due to our great products and service (of course) but also due to greater demand across the board. People are really making the effort to review their space and come up with solutions that are permanent and driven by quality.

In the last 6 months here are 7 most popular questions we get asked by clients.

How Good Are Our Wall Beds? – Our wall beds are top of the range. One of the key concerns with a wall bed is the mechanism that allows the wall bed to be used without issues. The cheaper wall beds don’t have a spring loaded mechanism and are difficult to manage. Your wall bed choice must be sturdy and last so don’t penny pinch on such an important investment as this will back fire on you.
Can I install the bed myself? Yes, you can and we do provide instructions and you can get Uncle Ernie to help as you will need two people but we don’t advise this at all. Our installers are qualified cabinet makers and are expert at this type of work. Quick and efficient, in and out, job done professionally is what we recommend – for yours and our peace of mind.
How long will it take? We are working at a 6 week lead time currently from the bed being delivered to installation. COVID 19 has delayed everyone but we are working as fast as we can to accomodate everyone.
Which is the right bed for me? This is based on installation – whether it will be mounted to stud work (Alpha Bed) or to the skirting/floor (Next Bed). If you’re in an apartment then the Next bed will probably suit but in a normal home then the Alpha bed will work best.
Alpha/Next – What other differences are there? With the Alpha bed you have shelf and cupboard access on either side of the bed all the time but with the Next bed you don’t (when the bed is in use.)
Can you do special requests? Most of the time we can extend shelving or manipulate cabinetry to a certain degree as I mentioned our installers are qualified cabinet makers so can come up with solution to suit. We get many requests from people with unconventional homes and weird spaces. The best thing to do is of course discuss all your installation requirements with Leigh Robinson. (Don’t forget we also have a walk in wardrobe division if you’re completely redesign any bedroom space?)
Can we use our own mattress? Our wall beds fit most standard mattress sizes the key here is the thickness. If your existing mattress is too thick it won’t work properly so you may need to buy one from us or get one locally. Our mattresses are incredibly comfortable and well made but its up to you.

Often times a wall bed is an investment for your home and a convenient addition to your lifestyle. Choose wisely or “cry once” as my father use to say and buy quality!

Creating A Bedroom

December 14, 2020 by Leigh Robinson

Here’s How We Are Creating A Bedroom With A Wall Bed And More!

A client recently came to us looking to create a bedroom as well as installing a wall bed. One of our sister companies (roomdividers r us) provides room dividers both fixed and moving so we can divide up space in your home. The room dividers come in various colours and combinations to match your existing decor.

Check out the start of the project below you can see a big cumbersome bunk bed in the open taking up all the floor space. This area is at the top of a landing in a townhouse and very open so there is no noise control or privacy. The client has a relative coming to stay for an extended period so it’s important that this space is closed in.

Not only that the client wanted to get the floor space back to double up as a TV room or bedroom and so is getting a wall bed installed.

We are getting more clients coming to us to “create” bedrooms or home offices as people try to utilise the space in their home a lot more effectively.

Our room dividers are easy to install (for our installers) in most areas of your home and can partition off areas helping you to control noise, temperature and privacy.

Next year (2021) we will have an update on this project.

In the meantime if you have an area in your home that you want to use more effectively give Leigh Robinson a call. Ph: 0412 525 137

Of course if you’re looking for a wall bed he can help you there as well. In fact there are options so the wall bed’s look can match the room divider so everything works well together and is pleasing on the eye.

More to come.

Alpha & Next Bed Examples

December 17, 2020November 17, 2020 by Leigh Robinson

Alpha & Next Bed Installations In Bells Beach & Highton

Its not often we install an Alpha Bed and Next bed all in the same week but this has just happened recently. The good thing about this is we can do a quick comparison between the two dealing with “real life” situations.

Alpha Bed

A retired couple in a three bedroom town house in Highton (Geelong) wanted a wall bed installed. The installation included book shelves cupboards and draws to fit along one of the walls of their spare bedroom. The Alpha Wall Bed was an ideal solution for them and the bed was to be used for visiting guests and relatives.

Most installations like these used standard cup board and shelve sizing and we have to install these to fit the space effectively. We can customise the width of the cupboards and shelves to a degree but this generally incurs extra costs. In this example the cupboards and shelves required a small “filler” either side so the installation width-wise fitted their space perfectly.

If you look at the photo below you can barely notice the filler on the right hand side of the installation.

Next Bed

The next installation example was a Next Bed installed again for a retired couple in Bells Beach. They too needed a wall bed for visiting guest and relatives. This wall bed was installed in a room that doubles as a home office. The finished was a dark walnut wood grain.

Wall Bed Comparison

With these two installations its easy to see the differences between the two types of beds

It’s not so easy to see but the Alpha Wall Bed is attached to the houses stud work whilst the Next Bed is attached to the floor and skirting.
The Alpha bed has “dummy” doors that are hidden underneath the bed when it’s being used allowing cupboards, draws and shelves immediate access. The Next Bed has doors that open when the bed is in use restricting access to the shelves.
The Alpha bed has a metal frame system to hold the mattress , the next bed has slats.Find out more of the differences between the two bed types here.

For more information contact Leigh Robinson today! Ph: 0412 525 137

Space Saving Murphy Bed Installation

October 28, 2020 by Leigh Robinson

Here Are Our 5 Top Reasons People Get A Murphy Bed Installed

Many times we espouse the virtues of our wall beds or murphy beds and the functionality of them but with our clients they have their own reasons.

Here are our last five clients and why they got a wall bed installed.

Ocean Grove elderly couple had down sized and regularly had their daughter come to stay. They installed a wall bed with a desk so the room was an office by day and a bedroom by night (only when the daughter visited.)
Portarlington client needed a wall bed with side shelving to extend the potential of her AirBNB property. The more beds the more income. She managed to change her home from a two bed property to a three bed property by adding an extra wall bed in one of her living areas. Very smart.
Grovedale install in a garage? One lovely client converted a garage into a bedsit for herself with a single wall bed so her a daughter and her grandchildren could use her home.
Music studio to a bedroom in Lara. In most cases a wall bed is used to free up space in a bedroom so the bedroom can be used as a music studio, office or play area. In this case our client practised violin during the day and needed the space.
Torquay wall bed installation was a holiday home install. Again it was a space saving idea so more family members could stay at the holiday home at any given time.

When you think about it a bedroom containing a standard bed is an under utilised area that could be put to good use or you get more beds in a home that won’t clutter up the place. If you are looking to save space or use your bedroom as more than a room to sleep in then a murphy bed or wall bed is a practical solution and its not that expensive.

Talk to Leigh Robinson – the wall bed expert in the greater Geelong area (including the Surf Coast) – about any of the applications mentioned above whether its the more basic wall bed or a more comprehensive install with cupboards and shelving. Ph: 0412 525 137

How To Measure Up For A Wall Bed

October 28, 2020September 19, 2020 by Leigh Robinson

Wall Bed Measurements – Will It Fit?

Most people have never bought a wall bed at any time in their life and more than likely this is you. If you’re going through the lockdown and looking for more room at home then a wall bed in a home office, exercise area or even in your meditation room could be the answer.

Let us begin with measuring the area that you have for a wall bed and making sure you have allowed for everything.

Measurement #1- The Height

Height maybe important if you have ceiling fans to dodge. You don’t want to touch the blades as you pull down the bed ready to used. This also goes for lighting that might be hanging down. Safety first eh?

Wall bed height sizes.

If height is an issue don’t forget about a horizontal Murphy bed. This makes it easy to use the top of the bed as a shelf or for storage. Please note there is no king size available for a horizontal bed.

Single	2087mm
Double	2087mm
Queen	2215mm

Horizontal wall bed height sizes.

If height is an issue don’t forget about a horizontal murphy bed. This makes it easy to use the top of the bed as a shelf or for storage

Single	1187mm
Double	1565mm
Queen	1565mm

Measurement #2 – The Width

It’s a good idea to allow for the width of your bed so it’s easy to make or tuck in the kids goodnight.

Wall bed width sizes.

Single	1123mm
Double	1380mm
Queen	1658mm
King	2066mm

Horizontal wall bed width sizes.

Single	2028mm
Double	2028mm
Queen	2155mm

Measurement #3 – The Length – How far will the bed stick out?

When a wall bed is down and ready to be used and slept in you will need to allow for the protrusion of the bed. That is from the bed head or wall bed cabinet to the end of the bed where your feet will be.

Single	2150mm
Double	2150mm
Queen	2285mm
King	2066mm

Horizontal wall bed length sizes.

Single	1258mm
Double	1637mm
Queen	1791mm

A good idea is to use masking tape to map the outline of the bed so wardrobe doors and bedroom doors don’t get in the way. A little bit of preplanning will certainly stop any annoying mistakes after installation.

Whether it’s a vertical or horizontal bed the cabinetry containing the bed when it’s hidden away protrudes from the wall at 410mm – about the size of a standard cupboard.

Any more size issues contact Leigh Robinson today. Ph: 0412 525 137

Wall Beds Adelaide

July 7, 2020July 5, 2020 by Leigh Robinson

We Supply Wall Beds To Adelaide

We supply wall beds to Adelaide with installation instructions so here is how you can order a wall bed if you live in South Australia.

Measure the area of the room that you want the wall bed installed into and choose an appropriate size wall bed. Either single, double, queen or king.
Order your bed from Leigh Robinson: Ph: 0412 525 137 – you can pay online. Leigh will also make sure you will receive installation instructions.
We highly recommend you organise a cabinet maker, carpenter or builder to install the bed for you as normally it takes two people to install the bed safely.
The cabinet maker or carpenter may also help you with side book shelves and cupboards flat packs – check out our gallery for examples that you can show your installer.

We don’t have installers to recommend as we are Melbourne based and it’s much better if you have control of the installation in Adelaide. The wall beds are not that difficult to install for a professional cabinet maker and should only take a few hours.

Be aware of accessibility especially if you live in an apartment complex. The wall bed will fit in a standard lift and the mattresses are vacuumed sealed to make them easier to transport.

Australian Bed and Mattress sizes

Bed Type	Metric Measurements (cm)	Imperial Measurements
Single Bed size	92 cm x 187 cm	3’0″ x 6’2″ (36″ x 74″)
Double Size	137 cm x 187 cm	4’6″ x 6’2″ (54″x 74″)
Queen Size	153 cm x 203 cm	5’0″ x 6’8″ (60″x 80″)
King Size (Alpha Bed Only)	183 cm x 203 cm	6’0″ x 6’8″ (72″ x 80″)

Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery once payment has been received.

Geelong Wall Bed Installation

September 30, 2020June 18, 2020 by Leigh Robinson

Supplying Wall Beds To Geelong, Ocean Grove & Torquay

As we are based in Geelong but supply Wall Beds throughout Victoria here are the 5 most popular questions we get asked from local residents.

Are Wall Beds as comfortable as standard beds?

A good night sleep is based on the mattress and our wall bed mattresses are superior and made to be slept on all year round not just for occasional guests. You can fit a mattress of your choice especially if you have special needs or use your existing mattress. Regardless there is no difference in comfort between a standard bed or a wall bed.
Can I install the wall bed myself?

You can install the wall bed yourself but we don’t recommend it unless you are a carpenter or cabinet maker. It’s a two person job so you will need to organise a helper. Our installers do this type of work all the time and are also expert with installing shelves and cupboards. There are too many tricky variables for a do-it-yourselfer.
How much does it cost?

Wall beds vary in price depending of course on size but also on any extras you may want such as a fold down desk attachment, shelving or cupboards or even library shelving. If you are looking for a wall bed and are working on a budget email or call Leigh and he’ll give you an idea of costings.
How long does it take to install and when can I get my wall bed installed.

It only takes a few hours or a morning to install most wall beds. Allow 4 – 6 weeks for delivery and installation. If you do need your wall bed sooner often we can organise this for you but we will need plenty of warning.
Can you deliver to apartments?

Yes we have done many apartment installations. The delivery can be challenging going up lifts but we have many successful installations, mostly in Melbourne as there aren’t too many apartments in Geelong, Ocean Grove or Torquay. Interestingly enough we do many local wall bed installations in converted garages.

If you are in Geelong or greater Geelong we can help you with a wall bed and also with measuring the area you have if you are unsure. Call Leigh Robinson today Ph: 0412 525 137

Wall Bed With A Desk

April 13, 2020 by Leigh Robinson

Wall Bed – Murphy Bed – With Studio Desk Installation

Here is a great testimonial from a happy client with their wall bed with a desk.

“I just wanted to send you a quick email to say thank you for all your help in getting our wall bed installed earlier this year. We initially wanted to make a small room more functional for our daughter but this room has now become her classroom while schools are doing remote learning.

We are so pleased with the bed and now more than ever really glad we decided to buy this product (especially with the desk).

Thanks again for so patiently answering all my questions!”

Regards
Suzy Dailey – Parkville

During isolation many of our clients come to realise their old bed takes up way too much room and the space is under utilised especially if their bedroom is small. A wall bed or Murphy Bed with a desk attachment is a great solution and adds functionality immediately to the bedroom.

The wall bed with a studio desk doesn’t need to be cleared off when you wish to pull the bed down. The desk stays parallel to the floor so nothing will fall off the desk when you need to use the bed. The desk attachment is not available with our horizontal bed.

If you have purchased an Aplha Wall Bed from us previously you can buy the complete studio desk separately from us. Or you can buy just the mechanism and fit your own desk top to it. Remember there will be an installation fee if you aren’t comfortable fitting it yourself.

The studio desk is a fantastic accessory to your wall bed purchase. You get more space and you can use that reclaimed space with a desk for study or a home office. Call Leigh today for more information and he’ll answer any questions you may have. A big thank you to Suzy for her kind words.

Wall Bed Studio Desk Measurements

Bed Size	Desk Width	Desk Depth
Single	1036	560
Double	1415	560
Queen	1568	560
King	1973	560

Corona Virus & Installations

April 6, 2020March 12, 2020 by Leigh Robinson

We Are Currently Open For Business

The corona virus has sent many businesses into a spin but because of the nature of our business we are still trading. If you are ordering a bed without book cases or shelves then a visit from our sales consultant might not be necessary.

Here’s how we operate during this crisis

For quoting and measure up we arrive at your property and use hand sanitizer and don’t touch any of your surfaces by hand. We keep at least 1.5 metres away from you and if you can also engage with us from a safe distance then it all helps.
If we do touch any surface such as walls or skirting then we will endeavour to wipe them clean.
Measuring and quoting will be done as quickly as possible.
From there we can email you a quote.
Upon accepting the quote an installation time will be booked with Leigh and his installers. Installation in most cases can be done with one installer and Leigh present but if it’s a complex install them two installers maybe required. Installers will be using hand santisers and cleaning up after them. Please keep a safe distance from everyone and our team will do the same. This may seem a little bit silly but we will work with you to make sure the end result is perfect and we all remain virus free.
We do suggest you clean all surface with a mild disinfectant just to be sure after our team have left.
No one will enter your property if they have been infected with the virus.

There are no guarantees in life but if we all act as if we are in isolation then we can reduce any chances of accidentally spreading the virus.

If you do require a wall bed especially if you feel cramped then call Leigh Robinson today! Ph: 0412 525 137

Our Top Five Murphy Bed Questions Answered

Is A Wall Bed Comfortable?

This is by far one of the most popular questions we get. A Murphy bed or wall bed with a standard size mattress (ie thickness approx. 30 cm) is as comfortable as a normal bed. Its much better than a thin futon mattress or lumpy trundle bed. In fact you may be able to use your favourite existing mattress but you’ll have to check first. We do supply fantastic mattresses in case you need a new one.

Do I Have to Have A Tall Ceiling?

Our wall beds fit in any standard size home with ceilings approximately 2.4 metres high. The average size of our wall beds plus the surrounding unit is just over 2 metres so there is normally plenty of room.
The only thing to watch out for are ceiling fans and lights that could get in the way of the bed’s operation.

How Strong Do You Need To Be To Operate A Murphy Bed?

Our wall beds are easy to operate and don’t need a lot of muscle power to open or close as they have a spring loaded mechanism that is counterbalanced.

How Long Does It Take To Install?

It takes between 3- 6 hours to install a bed depending on the following four criteria:

1. The type of wall bed chosen. A wall bed with a desk or our library wall bed might take a little longer to install.
2. How much cabinetry is required. Remembering you can have as many book shelves and cupboards that will fit your space.
3. How level your home is – there are installation techniques that we use to make absolutely sure the wall bed is level.
4. How easy is it to access your home. Loading takes a lot longer if you’re on the top floor of an apartment block for example.

Can I Buy A Bed A Get My Cabinet Maker To Install It?

Yes we supply the bed without installation. Make absolutely sure your installer =understands how the bed needs to be installed and the importance of getting the bed level.

Can I Pay By Credit Card?

Yes you can pay by credit card or bank transfer.

If you have any more queries contact Murphy Bed expert Leigh Robinson directly Ph: 0412 525 137