published: Friday, November 06, 2009

Murphy beds help maximize space

ROXANNE BROWN

Staff Writer

CLERMONT -- Over the past 20 years, father and son team John and Jeff Jones have sold thousands of Murphy beds to Central Floridians.

Their newest showroom at 1120 E. Highway 50 in Clermont is celebrating two years in the community, giving interested South Lake residents a peek at the space saving Murphy beds -- or what sometimes are known as fold away or wall beds.

The Jones also own a showroom on South Orange Blossom Trail and another - considered one of the biggest in the country - in Altamonte Springs.

"There have been a lot of copy cats that have come and gone, but here we are. They're closed and out of business, but we're sill standing strong after 20 years," Jeff Jones said. "We're very pleased with our Clermont location, too. We knew South Lake was a growing area and we had been getting a lot of customers from here in our other showrooms."

"We've made a lot of friends here since opening."

The Murphy bed vision began when William L. Murphy applied for a patent on April 1, 1916. He was granted a design patent in June of that year, started the Murphy Wall Bed Company and began production in San Francisco.

John, who is now 87-years-old and still working every day, and son Jeff jumped on board with the company in the mid 1980's.

One of the well-known styles of Murphy beds features the head of the bed permanently mounted inside a large closet.

In cases where construction budgets are tight, the bottom of the bed is a solid panel. When folded up, the solid panel appears to be part of the wall.

Today, though concept has remained the same, the technology and comfort of the beds have greatly improved.

"We stress the fact that these are real beds with real inner springs or memory foam mattresses," Jones said. "The beds are then expertly incorporated into beautiful cabinetry made of different materials such as smooth, high pressure laminate, raised thermo-foil panels and solid woods."

Jones also said the company views the customization and professional installation of a Murphy bed as an equally important experience for every customer.

Jones said people have the cabinets placed in all kinds of rooms from home offices, dens, studies and exercise or hobby rooms.

Anywhere where someone may need a bed but doesn't want to give up the space for it permanently, he noted.

"For 350 days out of the year, people need to use the rooms for their own purposes. Still, they want to have a good decent bed for their company, not a sofa bed or futon," Jones said. "That's where the Murphy beds come in."

The Clermont showroom is open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

For more information, call 352-243-0031 or visit www.murphybedsorlando.com.