Powell Shiver Me Timbers Twin over Twin Bunk Bed

Notes

Here we have something quite unique again -- original designs seem to be Powell's specialty. The Shiver Me Timbers Bunk Bed is based on the pirate ship motif, and the manufacturer has made a real effort to make it look as authentic as possible. Design features include unique boarding ladder, arched overhanging cap rails, plank grooved end panels, turned rod guardrails, and double arched base end panels. The antique aged brass-finished porthole frames and antique honey brown oak finish round off the image.

The height of the bottom bunk is adjustable; the lower position is the default, while the higher position is used to accommodate the optional underbed storage drawers. Note that raising the bottom bed will reduce the available headroom on it; however, since the top bunk is otherwise quite high, this shouldn't be a big issue in most situations. Still, you should be aware that adding underbed storage drawers requires a bit of a tradeoff in the comfort department.

There is little user feedback on this bed so it's hard to form an opinion on its quality. It also doesn't help that what is out there is rather controversial -- this bed seems to attract the good and the not so good reviews in equal measures. There is nothing debatable about the product's design; everyone agrees it looks great. Quality of build, however, is another matter. While some users have no complaints, there are a few who are less than thrilled with it -- to put it mildly. One of the reported issues is a supposed insufficient mattress support; this bunk bed ships with 14 slats for each bed which should in normal circumstances be more than sufficient for the job. However, according to at least one user, it is not so: in his words, the boards that ship with the product are not strong enough to hold up a fifty pound seven-year-old -- they reportedly bulge in a rather frightening way if she moves at all. The same user complained about some missing parts and screws.

Another reviewer had an issue with cracked ladder after a couple of weeks of use. Now, a few bad reviews is not something to get concerned about; each and every product gets some of those. However, seeing how there aren't that many good reviews on this product yet, we can't exactly give it our wholehearted support. What we can do is say this: the Powell Company is a highly respected name in the furniture domain, they have been in business for over 40 years, they do extend a one year warranty against material/workmanship/manufacturing defects and the bed is certified to conform to ASTM Bunk Bed Safety Standard. If you really really like this bunk bed (it's hard not to, isn't it?), maybe you should just go ahead and give it a try -- if it turns out you're happy with it (or not), drop us an e-mail and we'll post it here for everyone's benefit.