Hi everyone! Hope you are doing well! I am so excited to share with you today's project plan! My friend Brooke wrote me asking if I'd be interested in working with her on a new plan for a storage sofa made with crib mattresses.

Here's why from Brooke - "The more I read about flame retardants and chemicals in upholstery, the more I want to chuck my sofa out the window. It's one of the last pieces of furniture I haven't made myself, and I figured it's time to try my hand at it! I'm on a mission to bring healthier, natural materials into my home to replace the chemical-laden off-gassing stuff. I thought it would be a great idea to use crib mattresses. For one, they're incredibly affordable, and if you're wanting to go organic on your upholstery that's an easy way to find a less pricey solution. For the other, it's incredibly easy to find cheap conventional mattresses, or even repurpose your own or your relatives, or find some on Craigslist. The bonus is that they're normally waterproof, which is a boon for couch cushions! They're also springier and more comfortable than traditional foam cushions. "

So we worked together to create a plan, Brooke built it, and here it is -

Here's from Brooke - "I can't say enough how in love I am with this couch. It is the perfect fit for my family, which includes: 4 dogs, 3 cats, 2 preschoolers, and one baby on the way. Not to mention that my back door likes to open at will while we're out, so our 10 chickens like to amble inside and re-decorate my floors and surfaces.

EASY TO CLEAN AFFORDABLE CUSHIONS AND COVERS

"Every part of this couch is washable! The Naturepedic organic crib mattresses (found for over 1/2 off new retail on Craigslist) are completely waterproof and wipe down easily. I chose soft jersey cotton crib sheets that easily pop off and into the washing machine. I'm not quite ready to invest in natural latex foam cushions for the back (because my kids and pets would destroy these expensive investments in 20 seconds!) so I found some excellent organic cotton, chemical-free poly foam filled pillows for $11 each with coordinating cotton pillowcases. I can wash the whole pillow, form and case, whenever there's a spill or, well, other bodily fluid.

NATURAL FINISH

"The base is solid pine, which I stained a soft warm yellow using steel wool and pennies steeped in vinegar. I sealed the entire thing by melting equal parts beeswax and olive oil then letting it cool and set. I used a rag to rub it into the wood, making it water repellent and stain-resistant. STORAGE DRAWERS "The four drawers are deep enough to handle masonry-mixing tubs found at the hardware store for under $5 each, which I filled with train toys and board games making them easily removable for play time and clean up. The other two drawers hold my blanket collection for cozy convenience.

COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE

"I love that this couch sits flush to the floor, which means no lost toys and food bits or tumbleweeds of dog hair to try and fish out. The mattresses are equal to the deep seats you often find in luxury sofas, giving us ample space to spread out and lounge around. The galvanized pipes also make an excellent handlebar for trampolining toddlers.

COST AND USE

"Organic couches retail for thousands in stores and online, which were several times out of my price range as a single mom. This couch totaled for $600, including both crib mattresses, all the wood and hardware, as well as the pipes and fittings. Not only was it cheaper than my previous store-bought couch, the quality is exponentially better, and the design is such a great fit for a family with young kids and (too many) pets. We can all fit comfortably on it together, and it's so comfortable for naps and even overnight sleeping (I mean, they're mattresses and bed pillows after all!) We couldn't be more pleased with our new couch, and plan to enjoy it for years and years (and years!) to come."