Modern Platform Bed
This platform bed design was an experiment to create a bed that doesn't use hardware and can still be knocked down flat for moving. It is simple and has a midcentury modern vibe with Japanese elements. The headboard has a gentle curve and mounts to the wall with a French cleat. This gives height flexibility depending on mattress thickness. I have an overall aversion towards screws and hardware, however on beds hardware is sturdy and effective. I can recreate this design at a much lower cost with hardware. However this bed uses a Japanese timber framing joint which has two dovetailed tenons that drop into mating dovetailed mortises. It is then tightened with a wedge. This is a pure and beautiful solution, however the wedges do need to be knocked tight periodically as the wedges shrink and expand with the seasons.
Features
Process: primarily created with hand tools
Cherry wood with sycamore wedges
Cherry headboard
Inside platform of eastern white pine and dovetail into bed sides
Tapered legs
Mortise tenon joinery
Knock down (can be disassembled)
No hardware as the sides are wedged dovetail mortise and tenon.
Finish is oil varnish and wax