A house within a house: Crafty DIY blogger makes space in her tiny home with a moving 'elevator' bed and a wardrobe that doubles as a shower

  • Alaskan DIY blogger Ana White designed the bespoke tiny home for a client who wanted a spacious feel 
  • The home has two full beds, one of which lowers from the ceiling like an elevator on an electric platform
  • Ana used a garage door lift and sliding door frames to construct the bed and its frame for $500
  • It is controlled from a switch on the wall above the sectional sofa which serves as a guest bed when made up 

By Jennifer Smith For Dailymail.com

Published: 16:54 EST, 19 February 2017 | Updated: 02:51 EST, 20 February 2017

A DIY blogger has shared her ingenious solution to cramped sleeping quarters: a moving 'elevator' bed. 

Ana White came up with the hack while fitting out a tiny house for a client in Alaska. 

Tasked with creating an open space with enough room to sleep four in the tiny, 24-ft long house, she decided to raise the first bed to give more floor space.

Instead of creating a ladder for a traditional loft bed, she built a moving platform which is controlled by a switch to bring it to ground level and back up again.

'I accomplished this for about $500 with off the shelf parts from the hardware store.  

Scroll down for video 

DIY blogger Ana White created a moving 'elevator' bed which lowers from the ceiling at the flick of a switch. The bed is seen above in its storage position nearer the ceiling

DIY blogger Ana White created a moving 'elevator' bed which lowers from the ceiling at the flick of a switch. The bed is seen above in its storage position nearer the ceiling

Once lowered, the bed is around hip height and can be accessed by stepping on to a wooden block on wheels which also serves as a coffee table

Once lowered, the bed is around hip height and can be accessed by stepping on to a wooden block on wheels which also serves as a coffee table

 

Ana (above giving a tour of the home) said she accomplished the elevator bed for just $500 

The bed is lowered from this switch on the wall 

The bed is lowered from this switch on the wall 

'Just sliding door hardware and a garage door lift,' she said in a video demonstrating how it the bed works. 

With the flick of a small switch on the wall, it quickly lowers to waist height. 

A small cubic coffee table on wheels serves as a step up to gain access to the mattress. 

It is one of two full beds in the tiny home for guests to enjoy. The other is formed by piecing together the sectional sofa which is made out of three wooden blocks and a cut up foam mattress.

Another impressive space-saving feature is the bathroom where Anna created a shower which doubles as a wardrobe. 

The space can be converted into full bunk beds when the sectional sofa is arranged properly 

The space can be converted into full bunk beds when the sectional sofa is arranged properly 

At the other end of the 24-ft long home there is a kitchen and bathroom. Wide windows on either side of the space allow for plenty of natural light 

At the other end of the 24-ft long home there is a kitchen and bathroom. Wide windows on either side of the space allow for plenty of natural light 

In the bathroom, a cubic wardrobe which hangs on a sliding rail can be pulled out of the shower stall and slide over to the other end of the room  

In the bathroom, a cubic wardrobe which hangs on a sliding rail can be pulled out of the shower stall and slide over to the other end of the room  

Ana included a compost toilet at the other end of the small bathroom. The tiny home has its own water heater inside 

Ana included a compost toilet at the other end of the small bathroom. The tiny home has its own water heater inside 

A cabinet in the welcome area slides out to serve secondly as a pantry for the kitchen
A cabinet in the welcome area slides out to serve secondly as a pantry for the kitchen

A cabinet in the welcome area slides out to serve secondly as a pantry for the kitchen 

The wardrobe is hung on a ceiling rail and slides from inside the shower, where it is stored, to above the compost toilet at the other end of the tiny bathroom when the water is running. 

Almost all of the flat spaces inside have hidden storage. Steps double up as shoe boxes and cupboard doors fold out to form a desk and a dining table. 

There is even plumbing for a washer and dryer at one end of the kitchen.

Ana and her husband Jacob built their own home and live in it with their two young children.

She began woodworking and coming up with space solutions during the process of furnishing it. 

Almost everything in the home has hidden storage or a second use including these cupboard doors

Almost everything in the home has hidden storage or a second use including these cupboard doors

The wooden panels have hidden legs beneath them which flip up to act as desks or dining tables

The wooden panels have hidden legs beneath them which flip up to act as desks or dining tables

The entire home was a project for a client of Ana's who wanted a spacious and rustic feel

The entire home was a project for a client of Ana's who wanted a spacious and rustic feel


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