What Is a Condo Wall Unit?
A condo wall unit is a full wall of cabinetry built for a suite: a media wall around the TV, a Murphy bed with storage on both sides, or a floor-to-ceiling storage wall. In a 700 square foot suite, one wall unit can replace a TV stand, a bookcase, a dresser and a sofa bed.
Condos add two constraints a house does not have. Walls are either concrete shear walls or steel-stud partitions, and each needs different fastening. And everything has to fit the freight elevator. We handle both before design starts. For houses, see built-in storage.
Types of Condo Wall Units
Media walls
A console, shelving and closed storage around the TV, with cable chases and ventilated equipment cabinets. Acoustic slat panels in white oak or walnut also soften echo in concrete living rooms.
Murphy beds
A queen or double bed that folds into a wall unit, flanked by a wardrobe, shelving or a fold-down desk. This turns a den into a guest room in seconds.
Storage walls
Floor-to-ceiling cabinets with Blum Aventos lift-up doors on the top row and open display shelves at eye level.
Condo Wall Unit Pricing
| Scope | Size | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| Media wall with console + shelving | 8-10 ft | $4,500-$7,500 |
| Murphy bed (queen) with side storage | 8-10 ft | $6,500-$10,000 |
| Full storage wall with lift-up uppers | 12 ft | $7,500-$12,000 |
Check the wall first
Concrete shear walls need concrete anchors. Steel-stud walls need backing or toggles rated for the load. Murphy beds create real lift forces, so the fastening is part of the design, not an afterthought.
Common Wall Unit Problems
Furniture that does not fit
Fixed with cabinetry built to the wall, the ceiling and the window line.
Den that has to be three rooms
Fixed with a Murphy bed and fold-down desk in one unit. For more storage ideas, see compact space cabinetry and condo closet systems.
Cables on show
Fixed with chases and ventilated cabinets drawn in CAD.
Planning a Condo Wall Unit
Decide what the wall has to do. A media wall needs a TV size, a list of devices and a plan for speakers. A Murphy bed needs a mattress size (queen fits most dens), a clear floor area in front when open (about 7 feet), and a decision about what goes either side: wardrobe, shelving or a fold-down desk. A storage wall needs a list of what you are trying to get off the floor.
Then confirm the wall. Concrete shear walls are common on exterior and corridor walls; steel-stud partitions are common between rooms. We check the wall type during the design visit and read the building rules before drilling, because some boards restrict fastening into certain walls.
Murphy Bed Basics
Mechanisms
Spring and piston mechanisms are rated by mattress weight. We match the mechanism to your mattress and tension it on install so the bed lifts with one hand.
Mattress
Most mechanisms take mattresses up to 10 to 12 inches thick. Memory foam works well because it does not shift when the bed is stored upright.
Safety
The cabinet is anchored to the wall with fasteners rated for the lift force, and every bed is tested before we leave.
Daily use
Opening and closing takes about ten seconds. Bedding stays on with straps.
Caring for a Wall Unit
Painted panels wipe clean. Wood slat panels can be dusted with a soft brush. Murphy bed mechanisms need a check every couple of years; we can retension them if the mattress changes. Aventos lifts on high doors adjust with a screwdriver.
Questions to Ask Before You Hire
- How will the unit be anchored to my wall, and is that allowed by my building?
- What Murphy bed mechanism do you use, and what mattress does it take?
- Can the cables for my TV and devices be hidden?
- Will the panels fit the freight elevator?
- What warranty covers the cabinetry and the mechanism?
Condo Wall Units Across the GTA
Our wall units and Murphy beds are most common in two-bedroom suites near St. Lawrence Market, CityPlace, the Bay Corridor and the Waterfront Communities, and in Yonge and Eglinton towers where dens double as guest rooms. Each unit is drawn, cut and finished in the same shop as our custom cabinets in Toronto.
