Come along for the journey of creating unique nautical bunk beds for our lake house loft! These black and brass bunk beds with shiplap for our lake house loft have real vintage pieces and so much lakehouse charm!
I can’t think of a single project that I have been more excited about in the past several years! When our lake house was under construction, I knew I wanted to do something unique in the loft. We didn’t have the space for a full bunk room (i.e. multiple bunk beds) I searched and searched for inspiration. I knew I wanted Black and Brass Bunk beds with shiplap, I was inspired by our gorgeous Ilve oven (you can see that in this post).
From Vintage Pirate Bed to Black and Brass Bunk Beds with Shiplap
I had several inspiration photos saved, then I found a classified listing for a pirate bed. I knew it was meant to be, I had to have it. I called and told them we were coming to get it. It took a little convincing with my husband because we hadn’t even started framing yet. He was NOT happy about storing it.
Nautical Bunk Beds Inspiration
Over a year later when I changed my mind about the style of the pirate bed and decided to scrap it with the exception of the bow, my husband was even more irritated (this was after we hauled it to two houses and lastly up the stairs to the loft area by the time I changed my mind). He’s used to my antics after 25 years haha.
How I Made Custom Bunk Beds Using Antique Pieces and Vintage Brass Portholes
What I Started With – The Pirate Bed
Before we get to the good part, I’ll show you what we started with. Here are the listing photos of the pirate bed. It wasn’t much to look at but I knew it had potential. My inner kid imagined sleeping in this bed with views of the lake.
I know, some of you might not be impressed. It needed work and a lot of imagination! I was discussing my ideas with my brother. He’s really talented and can build anything! He’s especially amazing with vintage parts. He’s made the coolest light fixtures and barstools out of industrial parts. He mentioned he had some small vintage brass portholes he had picked up. I asked him to save them for me because it would be a while before I’d need them.
Vintage Solid Brass Boat Propellor
Fast forward to the summer of 2020, I was in an antique store and I came across a solid brass boat propellor. It was pretty pricey, we were still in the construction phase and I had an entire home to furnish so I left it behind. More on that later…
Here is a look at the views from the loft area before we had our railing installed.
When spring of 2021 rolled around we finally decided it was time to cross the bunkbed project off the list. With summer coming up and guests coming to stay we needed to add as many sleeping arrangements as possible to our little cottage. I got together with my brother and we brainstormed the bunk beds.
Deciding On Style Direction Before Execution
There was a little back and forth between us, we have slightly different design styles so we don’t always see eye to eye. In the end, we always end up on the same page and this design turned out better than I could have imagined! It has everything I wanted, the black and brass with shiplap on the walls AND the bow of the ship to add that nautical element!
Finished Product
Bedding, Decor, and Finishing Touches
I found this cute and cozy Double-Weave Lumbar Throw Pillow from Hearth & Hand™ with Magnolia to place on the bottom bunk. You can find all the linked products I used below.
Is this not the funnest thing?! All of the adults in the family are going to turn into big kids and fight over sleeping here!
The Bow
The bow and wheel of the boat paired with the vintage portholes are really what take these bunk beds to the next level. They are fun and whimsical but the black paired with the brass accents adds some sophistication. My brother also made sure the portholes were incorporated in a way that they were still functional, the windows open and from inside the bed you can see through the opening.
I worried that my youngest son would already be too old to care to sleep here. He thinks they are really cool and he made himself a little cave in the bottom bunk with his PlayStation. Looks like anyone else in the family that might want to sleep there will have to go through him first lol!
The Story Behind The Repurposed Boat Propellor
Did you notice the propellor?? It crept into my mind multiple times throughout the past year. Somehow I must’ve noticed it out of the corner of my eye as we pass by the antique shop on main street on our way up to the lake. I called them and asked if they still had it and they did! Because they had had it in the shop a while they came down a bit on the price. SCORE!
Thank you so much for letting me share this project with you! I’d love to hear your thoughts on it? Do you like to hear about my thought process when I’m working on things like this? Or would you prefer less talking and more photos? Scroll down for more images! Feel free to Pin your favorites!
XOXO,
Jen
Finished Nautical Bunk Bed Gallery
As always. . .you are AMAZING! One of these days we need to finally do that lunch we’ve been talking about!
Loves,
D
Thank you my friend! Maybe we need to just go up there and have lunch at the lake! XX