Four Poster Bed Plans?

d12dozr

I am looking for plans and/or reference photos of four-poster beds with drawers underneath and spindles on the head, foot, and maybe one side of the bed. I am modeling up the bed for my buddy who will build the bed, and am hoping for plans with details like joinery, etc. Any idea where I can find some?

Some reference photos:
Posts will be similar to this...

Spindles like this...

Drawers like this...

This doesn't seem to be a popular style - I've searched other woodworking forums as well as Google and didn't find any good matches to what I need. Any thoughts about that?

Thanks for any replies,

Marcus

Dave R

Marcus, I think you're right. You either get posts or drawers.

I bet I have at least one plan for a bed. Let me look. It should be easy enough to modify to add drawers. Do you need help designing the drawer case?

d12dozr

Thanks Dave.

Here's the rough idea: Have a cabinet shop make a queen-size base that has ~4 drawers on each side, then he will add the posts and spindles. The bed will be supported entirely by the drawer case. My question is how to best attach the posts to the drawer case for strength and aesthetics so the shop can build the case accordingly. (I hope I'm not sounding too confusing)

For the record, I did find a simple bed building article from Popular Woodworking.

Dave R

I understand.

If I were building that in my shop, I would build the drawer case with a sort of shallow tray on the top for the mattress/box spring. If you think about it, that's what you really have with a bed like the PopWood article shows.

As far as attaching the posts, I would set them into notched corners in the drawer case and attach them with large flathead machine screws inserted from inside the case with the drawers removed. Matching threaded inserts would be installed in the legs to receive the screws. This would result in no visible hardware attaching the legs to the case. Instead of just drilling countersunk holes for the flathead screws I would use those little brass washers that fit into a counterbore and have the countersunk hole inside. Lee Valley among others sell those cups.

Found a picture:

d12dozr

Thanks Dave, I like your idea for the screws.

@dave r said:

...As far as attaching the posts, I would set them into notched corners in the drawer case...

Could you explain this further please? How would I make the case?

I'll PM you the model as I have it so far for you to play with...I really do appreciate your help.