Another Bunk Bed Thread

[Piglet]

I have done a bunch of searches and came up with a lot of great options, but I would love some input on my options. DS1 is 7.5 and DS2 is almost 4. They currently have pine furniture (honey stained) and ever since DS1 has moved out of his toddler bed he has been "sleeping in a drawer" - using the trundle on DS1 bed, LOL. We need bunk beds and the sales are good right now. Here are my options:

1) Walmart - http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8130590 or http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10747048

Pros: matches existing furniture and CHEAP
Cons: matches existing furniture (which I am getting sick of - we have pine in every bedroom of our house thanks to 1 dresser that we got when we first got married and then everything sort of flowed from there but I would rather get rid of my own pine furniture if I had the option), possibly poor construction (CHEAP)

2) American Spirit - http://www.discountqualityfurniture.com/Manufacturers/Legacy_Classic-Furniture/American-Spirit-Youth-Collection/American-Spirit-Youth-Bunk-Bed-Set/

Pros: VERY solid - we tried it out in store and it is heavy and solid
Cons: requires all new furniture in the room since t only comes in the cherry stain in the store locally, a bit on the pricey side (about $800 locally)

3) Stanley Young America -
http://www.bedroomfurniturenmore.com/Young-America-by-Stanley-Twin-Bunk-Bed-825-14-760.htm

Pros: VERY solid, built to last, comes in many stains so we have the option of reusing the existing furniture if we want
Cons: price (in the range of $1000 locally)

The other options we looked at were the Costco bunk beds, but nothing really caught my eye (or wallet).

Any help is much appreciated!

[WatchingThemGrow]

With 2 boys, I'm thinking rickety and cheap wouldn't be anything I'd choose unless you plan on getting rid of them after a year or two.

I like the look of the American Spirit stuff, but I LOVE our Young America. DD has a room full of the 4 Seasons contentment, and it is very nice. DS has the 4 Seasons Serenity and I plan on getting this full/twin bunk if we plan on staying in this house when he's ready to move out of the crib http://www.youngamerica.com/product/134011/8251400762/_/4%26%23160%3Bseasons%3Cbr%3Eserenity_cinnamon%3Cbr %3E_twin_over__double_bunk_bed%3Cbr%3Emedium_woodt one
It breaks down into 2 twins (mattress storage issues) but I've been very happy with their quality and customer service.

Try calling Furnitureland South in NC to check their prices on the 2nd two choices. They have free delivery during January, but I've found their prices to be awesome, especially if you want to buy some other pieces to match the rest of the room. I was thinking of getting the captain's drawers for extra storage also http://www.youngamerica.com/product/145668/8251400279/_/4%26%23160%3Bseasons%3Cbr%3Eserenity_cinnamon%3Cbr %3Ecaptain%27s_storage_drawers%3Cbr%3Emedium_woodt one

[o_mom]

With 2 boys, I'm thinking rickety and cheap wouldn't be anything I'd choose unless you plan on getting rid of them after a year or two.




LOL, and here I'm thinking "With 2 boys, as cheap as you can because it's going to get trashed". :) (as long as it is reasonably sturdy, of course)

[american_mama]

I did not look at the Walmart option, but have you considered Kmart? The online reviews on their bunk beds were VERY good and I know neighborbos who knew neighbors who raved about the bed. I think they come in more than one color option and the price is so cheap ($200 or $300, as I recall) that it must rival Walmart's.

For changing the look of the furniture, you might try painting some of it, maybe just certain surfaces. I used the have an IKEA dresser for DD which was white with natural color around the drawers. If the furniture is used enough that it doesn't seem like sacrilege, you could paint certain surfaces, like drawer faces, to vary the look.

The two points I would mention about bunk beds are: 1) can an adult sit on the bottom bunk to read a bedtime story (and if so, does it require the lower bunk to be assembled at a certain setting) and 2) is there enough underbed storage to put what you want to there? For us, those are mutually exclusive. I often look at these two drill points on the frame and wonder if the lower bed could be adjusted lower to make room for me to sit. But then I realize that doing so would prevent us from storing the Little People buildings that we keep there.

[gatorsmom]

3) Stanley Young America -
http://www.bedroomfurniturenmore.com/Young-America-by-Stanley-Twin-Bunk-Bed-825-14-760.htm

Pros: VERY solid, built to last, comes in many stains so we have the option of reusing the existing furniture if we want
Cons: price (in the range of $1000 locally)

The other options we looked at were the Costco bunk beds, but nothing really caught my eye (or wallet).

Any help is much appreciated!

If you didn't have to buy other furniture because of the matching stain options, maybe this would be more cost effective than buying cheaper but having to get dressers and nightstands to match as well?

[lizajane]

we have walmart bunks for our boys- 4 and 5.

they have been fantastic. no complaints.

just be sure to purchase a "bunkie board" for the top bunk. ($35 for us, at a mattress store, but i bet walmart has them.)