Uffizi Bunk Bed by Argington

Having been in the furniture business for quite some time now, I often find myself admiring and in-aw of many products that are being produced today. Despite the great number of new modern designs out there, one area in the furniture industry that you rarely see a fresh modern design is in bunk beds. Sure, bunk beds are made more specifically for the purpose of function rather than fashion, but who said we can’t have both?

Surely, Argington Design shares my feelings. Within the hundreds and thousands of bunk beds out there, the designers at Argington, Jenny Argie and Andrew Thornton have managed to design and produce the Uffizi bunk bed, which truly provides function without having to sacrifice an ounce of modern fashion.

Not only does the Uffizi provide the best of both worlds, but Argington has taken further steps in providing consumers with 100% sustainable, eco-friendly material.

Design these days isn’t just about providing customers with flashy and colorful themes, but design in whole represents the purpose and what the product stands for; and Argington is definitely not new to this notion.

Having reviewed and seen possibly thousands of bunk beds, yours have obviously stuck out as something of a rarity to the folks at Bunkbeds.net. The design is completely different from what many consumers see when they shop for bunk beds. What was your inspiration behind the Uffizi bunk bed?

From the inception of the development of the Uffizi , we had every intention of doing something really different.  This was our biggest design challenge yet, so we really wanted to break the conventional perception of what a bunk bed should be or how it should look.  Breaking the bunk over bunk design would be a good place to start, so being inspired from Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling water house design, we incorporated a cantilever for both the top and bottom bunks (creating an offset condition).  We also made it possible to reconfigure the bottom bunk to be positioned perpendicular in orientation to the top bunk.   Furthermore, instead of using the conventional means to support the bed which usually entails using posts in the corners, we thought of using supporting “planes” instead of using posts.  This would provide opportunities for window like openings and also would provide cross bracing in both axes making and incredibly sturdy design….and when we say sturdy, it is the only free standing bunk bed then when I lean on it with all my weight….it doesn’t budge.

Eco-friendly and sustainable material products are all the rage these days! Unfortunately, you do not see too much of it in the furniture industry, let alone the bunk bed industry. What made you take that next step in producing a green bunk bed?

Our foundations lay in wood production, so to produce a green wood product is fairly easy given that material in and of itself is green to start.  So, we make sure to choose wood that comes from Sustainably managed forests and use energy efficient manufacturing facilities and techniques.  The bed entirely produced from solid birch wood and birch multiply wood.  The veneer core birch ply we use is rated as E1 plywood which means that the resinous glues used to bind the layers of wood to create the plywood container little to no formaldehyde as a bonding agent in the glue thereby virtually eliminating any off-gasing by the plywood.  The core of the plywood is also solid wood.  The solid wood layers are rotary cut from farmed trees and then glued together while cross laminating the grain to produce a very strong efficient material.  We don’t use any MDF, particle board, flake board or other composite sheet material in the production of the bed.  The finishes we use are low VOC and completely non-toxic.

I noticed from your website that you are a big fan of traveling all around the world! Can you explain how the Uffizi was directly influenced by or reflected upon from your travels?

When we started producing children’s modern furniture several years agao, we decided we would call it the Wonders Collection.  This is in reference to Seven Wonders of the world, so our original line contained seven pieces.  However, we then discovered that there are also many other “wonders” so the line extended beyond the wonders of the acient world.  All the pieces get name for one reason or another after either a man made or natural wonder.  We see the process of naming each of furniture we design as a great opportunity to introduce something new to children.  A new piece of art, architecture, or natural phenomenon to help them to understand their world.  We see the Uffizi as architectural, so it seemed appropriate to name it for a famous architectural work.

With so many bunk bed manufacturers producing some of the most bizarre and fun themed bunk beds to attract children, what do you do to stay on top of the curve as far as your furniture goes?

We don’t really focus on staying “one up” on the other manufacturers….we are not quite that type of company.  We design what we want to and try our best to keep outside influence at bay.  We operate more like designers and engineers injecting our ideas of what should be in the market place….hoping that the public enjoys, accepts, and appreciates the design.  In terms of function, we make sure that our products are comparable to that of our competitors, however when it comes to design, this is our opportunity to set ourselves apart.

Many private bunk bed manufacturers focus strongly on strength and quality. What measures did you take to ensure that your bunk bed will hold up to high safety standards?

We use the highest quality materials, hardware, paints, etc, so we know the quality will be there.  Also, when designing the bunk bed, we followed closely the constraints provided by the ASTM – they have volunteer standards that exceed those provided from the CPSC (consumer product safety council).  So, we know that if we follow these design criteria, we will end up with a safe bed in the end that will exceed any safety standard out there.  We also have all our pieces independently tested at a laboratory to make sure they do meet the safety standards set forth by the US.

There have been a recent number of news articles regarding statistics on bunk bed injuries. How do you feel about more and more parents shying away from the use of bunk beds for their children due to safety issues?

We really haven’t noticed any decrease in sales of our bunk bed due to these reports.   Under the right supervision and creating the right conditions for using the bunk bed, we think many and all injuries can be avoided.  Please make sure that no children under the age of 6 use the upper bunk, make sure that at least 5” to 6” exist between the top of the rail and the top of the upper mattress.  Also, it is best to avoid openings that can potentially entrap a child’s head or other appendages.  Kids LOVE to play on bunk beds…they are like castles to them, so one should take extra care in selecting a well designed and manufactured bunk bed in order to avoid any injury.

With a very beautiful collection of children’s furniture out, do you plan on producing more bunk bed designs in the near future?

We have never limited ourselves in what we will do next.  If we are lucky, and the resources and time exist, we have other designs we would love to bring to the market, so it is just a matter of time, but I wouldn’t expect anything in the next year.  Perhaps at the end of 2009 or early 2010 we will introduce our next bunk design.  We design and produce loads of the other types of furniture, all of which also require new models to introduce so we will most likely introduce new models for those things before launching more bunk bed products.

How long could you survive chained to bunk bed with a velociraptor?

I scored a little over a minute, but I don’t have much experience wrestling.  If only I’d punched him in his velociraptor balls…

Bunk beds have long earned the title for the best furniture to maximize space. With its ability to fit two beds in the space of one, bunk beds has furniture has developed into an entire industry. With hundreds of manufacturers designing thousands and thousands of bunk beds, customers are demanding more!

So why are more and more customers looking to purchase a bunk bed? Well, to simply state, bunk beds offer much more than two beds for your children. With a combination of great prices, its abilities to save space, add classic beautiful aesthetics to your bedroom, as well as add multiple functions and amusement to your bedroom, it is no wonder why bunk beds are so popular in modern ages. Let’s explore more in depth to why these reasons alone are worth buying bunk beds!

Upon browsing many bunk bed retailers, I am sure you will be taken back by a seemingly high price. To be fair, bunk beds range anywhere from a couple hundred to thousands of dollars! While these high numbers may seem daunting at first, lets do some quick math! A typical twin size bed for one typically costs anywhere around $200 to $500 without a mattress. Of course this seems much cheaper than a bunk bed that is $800! Two twin size beds alone can cost much more! Why spend the extra money when you can spend less and get two quality beds in the shape of a bunk bed?

Moreover, it is no question that bunk beds can save tons of space! Common twin over twin bunk beds fit two beds into the space of one. Other variations of bunk beds such as L shaped bunk beds and T shaped bunk beds save space in other ways. While it may seem to not save as much space, it still creates extra space for storage as well as additional furniture. Which brings us to our next reason, functionality.

Many bunk beds such as loft beds and L shaped beds take your bunk bed’s functionality to a whole new level! With loft beds, you can add various furniture pieces such as desks, dressers, and drawers under the lofted bed for maximum function and practicality. Instead of just a bed, you can create an entire furniture system around your bunk bed!

Last but not least, we all know how important it is to have furniture that are simply beautiful. A beautiful bunk bed can add sophistication and class to your bedroom as well as some fun spunk to your children’s bedroom. Fun bunk bed themes can create highly creative imaginative environments for your children to play around!

So why hesitate? The answer to all your questions can be answered! Bunk beds are fun, cheap, and practical!

Additional Resources

Beds with Add-ons

Breakdown of Different Bunk Beds

So now that you’ve decided on buying a bunk bed for your children, where do you even begin to look? If you are like most consumers, the first place you would look are local stores around your neighborhood. While this is a completely valid way of finding the right bunk bed, there are much easier and more efficient ways of doing it! If you are reading this article, you are probably already familiar with what I am talking about. I am talking about shopping for bunk beds online! Online bunk bed retailers offer so much more than simply a selection of bunk beds! With excellent customer service and great benefits such as free shipping, buying bunk beds online is the best option around!

First and foremost, one of the greatest benefits of shopping for bunk beds online is that you have customer service at your reach literally 24/7 through email. Unlike local retailers, online stores do not have specific work hours. This means you can browse through their selection day and night if you’d like! Have a question about an item? Why not email a customer service representative? Most bunk bed retailers will get back to you within a 24 hour period.

Another great benefit is that online retailers typically have product information on each bunk bed. This way, you can learn as much as you want about a certain bunk bed at the tip of your finger! Go ahead, do some research! You’ll find much more information from people all around the world instead of one salesman who can tell you the wrong things!

Furthermore, online bunk bed retailers offer great benefits such as free shipping and oftentimes discounted prices. Many bunk bed retailers offer free shipping so you don’t have to pay an extra hefty amount! They will deliver the bunk bed itself to your home so you don’t have to worry about hauling and loading on and off your car. You’ll find that this alone is very helpful if you do not have a truck or a large car.

Discounted prices are fairly common for online retailers as they have to compete with other retailers. In order to beat the prices of competitors, online retailers will often price match and drive the price down! You may find the perfect bunk bed for a much cheaper price!

Lastly, the selection of bunk beds you can choose from is tremendous! Differing from local retail stores that typically carry a rather small selection, online retailers carry dozens of different manufacturers. With that said, you literally can browse through hundreds and thousands of bunk beds! Intimidating? No worries! You can narrow your search through filters to find that perfect bunk bed for your family.

So why hesitate? Online retailers are perfectly safe and offer great benefits that will only make your life easier!

Additional Resources

How to Choose the Right One

Why Choose Bunk Beds

Once in awhile, a bunk bed model comes out and it absolutely leaves me in admiration. The perfect combination of space optimization, function, and aesthetic, this bunk bed is just that! This loft bed features a lofted twin size mattress but it is what is featured under the lofted twin size bed that is so amazing.

Below the bed, there is a nice small desk for your student to study at. The desk also includes small drawers to the side for them to store all their school accessories. On the other side, there are drawers and shelves for them to store away all their toys and various things! Talk about function! The great thing is that even with all these great add-ons, there is still space available below for use! The space can be used for some popular options such as a small couch, a small table, or how about another desk?

Aesthetically, this loft bed is beautiful. Adding bits of fun child-friendly accents such as cut out rocket ships, your child will definitely not have a hard time falling asleep in this bed! There are nice bright accent colors to accompany the beautiful natural wood finish of this bunk bed. Overall, looks beautiful!

Additional Resources

Types of Bunk Beds

Why Choose Bunk Beds?

For as long as I can remember, bunk beds have always been around. Loft beds, bunk beds, and futon bunk beds are nothing new to me as I have heard and seen such beds growing up. While this is nothing new to most people around the world these days, how exactly did the concept of bunk beds come about? Furthermore, how has this concept evolved into what bunk beds are now?

After much research, it seems a bit impossible to find much information on the history of bunk beds. What is sure though is that bunk beds were not actually the first form of platform beds. The first of bunk beds came in more of a form of loft beds. Historically, most cultures seem to actually have a form of a “loft bed.” Cultures such as Egypt are credited for such loft beds. While it is not clear how their form of loft beds or bunk beds looked, it is clear however that it most likely did not resemble modern contemporary bunk beds of our days.

Bunk beds these days are rather elaborate and have evolved into something completely new. Even within the past few decades, bunk beds as furniture has progressed from simply serving the purpose of saving space to adding all sorts of function. What was traditionally structured to look like two twin size beds stacked on top of each other, now have developed into an incredible furniture system that bridges desks, beds, and various other furniture pieces together.

Not only that, but aesthetically, bunk beds have taken a completely new shape. Everything from L shaped bunk beds, T shaped bunk beds, to various shapes of loft beds, bunk beds have expanded to a unique and a quite amusing form.

What is exciting to see is how bunk beds are still evolving now. No longer are manufacturers sticking to the basics but they are continuously coming up with innovative ways to develop a new shape and form of bunk beds to maximize function and practicality. The purposes of bunk beds have drastically evolved but only for the better. As the bunk bed industry progresses, it will be interesting to see newer bunk beds unfold!

Additional Resources

Breakdown of Different Bunk Beds

Advantages to a Bunk Bed

You’ve done it! You’ve finally graduated from that four years that is high school! What seemed to take a century is finally all over! As you say goodbye to your friend and spend every last minute with your friends and family, the last thing you want to worry about is furnishing your new dorm room that you will be moving into for college! While many college dorm rooms these days are fairly well furnished with a desk and a bed, there are those who are unlucky and have to furnish the entire room by themselves.

So being a college student, you decide that you have to step up your interior decorating game. After all, you have to impress the new people that you meet right? Unfortunately, it is commonly known that options are very limited when it comes to furnishing a dorm room as they are tiny! So what are your best options to save dorm room space? How about a bunk bed or a loft bed?

Bunk beds and loft beds are commonly associated with children but the truth of the matter is, college students and adults frequently utilize bunk beds when needed. Many would rather have some extra space in their bedroom than have a traditional bed.

So what is so great about a bunk bed or a loft bed? Lets list out some pros!

• if you have a roommate, a bunk bed will provide two beds in the space of one. Save yourself quite a bit of space!
• A loft bed provides extra space below for whatever you want. A desk, dresser, a couch are all popular options.
• Having a bunk bed can often add coziness to your room. Make your room feel like your home away from home!
• Bunk beds add a fun environment for all ages!

Consider it this way, what is not to love about bunk beds? At a fair price, you get everything you would normally get in a traditional bed, but more! Can’t complain about that!

Do yourself a favor and get a bunk bed, I promise that will be one less headache for you!

Additional Resources

Adult Bunk Beds

How to Choose the Right One

Simple twin over twin bunk beds are of yesterday’s news! While simple and classic twin over twin bunk beds served its purpose for a very long time, manufacturers are now going far and beyond what bunk beds used to be. Pushing practicality and function to new heights, bunk beds these days are just not what they used to be! I am sure if you are not familiar with bunk beds and you are reading this, you may be scratching your head and thinking “What is this guy talking about?” Well, if you have shopped for bunk beds, I am sure you have noticed that there is a rather wide variety of bunk beds to choose from. From size, shape, to design, bunk beds range in the way they look and the purpose they serve. While the majority of bunk beds serve the purpose of saving space, there are many that also serve the purpose of adding some great designs to your bedroom as well as function!

Let’s explore some of these!

Bunk beds with desks – Many bunk beds nowadays come with a small side desk. These desks are perfect for your little students! It saves you quite a bit of money and saves your some space! You no longer have to worry about buying a desk along with the bed! Loft beds with desks offer a similar purpose. A desk located under the top bunk, it saves you the space of having both a bed and a desk!

Bunk beds with stairs – these days, bunk beds come with a great safety feature! Instead of having to climb up and down a ladder, manufacturers thought of a brilliant way to add safe stairs that they can step up! This is much easier and safer for your children! Not only that, but bunk beds with stairs usually come with additional functions such as drawers! The stairs usually can be used as sliding drawers as well!

Bunk beds with various furniture add-ons – Drawers, dressers, and additional beds are three very popular add-ons. Most of the add-ons will provide extra space for you to put away your children’s toys! Believe me, when furnishing a children’s bedroom, some extra storage space comes in very handy!

Additional Resources

Practicality at a New Level

Redesigning Your Loft with a Bunk Bed

Put your children’s imagination to work! Parents are all so focused on functionality and saving space with bunk beds that they sometimes forget the best function out of bunk beds is one that your children can enjoy! While bunk beds should serve its main purpose of maximizing space, novelty and themed bunk beds often get neglected due to its fun yet unorthodox aesthetics. While the novelty may wear off for some parents, children simply love themed bunk beds! What’s not to love? Bunk beds are already children’s preferred bed by choice, but adding a fun theme will only make them love it more! They definitely will not have a hard time going to bed each night.

So what are the various options that novelty bunk beds come in? While there is still a wide selection of novelty bunk beds, there are a few that are very common. You will find that castle, space ship, and pirate ships are quite common. Let your children take their pick! Boys may consider space ships and pirate ships while girls may prefer a more feminine bunk bed such as a princess castle.

One alternative to buying a novelty bunk bed is building your own. Depending on how elaborate you want to build your bunk bed, all you really need is a nice simple twin over twin bunk bed and some thin plywood. This may not be an easy job but it is definitely doable. By adding designs on the bunk bed, you can be as creative as you want! You can find many directions and helpful guides in converting your bunk bed into a fun and exciting novelty themed bunk bed.

Additional Resources

Things to Look for in Children’s Bunk Beds

Maximizing Your Children’s Room with Bunk Beds

While bunk beds have been serving its main purpose for many years, it is not until recently that bunk beds have taken practicality and functionality to a whole new level! Sure, bunk beds should successfully serve its main purpose, which is to save space, but people often fail to realize that there are multiple ways to save space. While a stacked bunk bed provides the typical standard way of saving space, bunk bed manufacturers and designers have come up with endless alternative ways to save space and provide more function out your bunk bed.

There are literally endless choices if you are interested in getting more out of your bunk bed. Bunk beds with desks, dressers, shelves, all of the above, are all common options that you will find when searching for the right bunk bed. Let’s explore some of these options and why they are so great.

One of the most popular and common options that you will find is a bunk bed or a loft bed with a desk. This is mainly due to the fact that most bunk bed customers also happen to be young children and students who are in need of furnishing their small bedroom. Oftentimes, having both a desk and a bed comfortably fit into a small bedroom may be impossible. Now try having two beds and two desks! It’s a job that would not be possible without bunk beds with desks. Similarly, a loft bed with a desk provides a bed and a desk in the space of a single bed. While desks may come useful for students and children, there are other options that may suit others.

If you find yourself looking for some extra storage in your bedroom, a bunk bed with drawers may be perfect! Bunk beds provide you with extra space but sometimes, it is not enough extra space to have some storage space with drawers or a dresser. Many bunk beds come with drawers built in on the sides of various areas of the bunk bed. Drawers, shelves, and various other storing units are great for bunk beds!

If that’s not enough, you can get everything! Many bunk beds come as an entire bedroom system. Desks, dresser, drawers, shelves, and everything you need to setup an entire room come included in such bunk beds. It is quite astonishing how far bunk beds have taken functionality! Find the perfect bunk bed according to what you need to improve you bedroom!

Additional Resource

Maximizing Your Child’s Room with Bunk Beds

Beds with Add-Ons