Ever since we took the whirlpool tub out of the Tower Room, we’ve been trying to decide what to do with that room.  For awhile, we had an exercise machine up there.  But several guests have told us that the best use of that room is for sleeping.

Our plan was to put a futon up there, so guests would have a place to sit, as well as a place to sleep.  But every futon we looked at just seemed to be uncomfortable for either sitting or sleeping.

Then Phyllis had an idea.  She asked me, “What if we could move the queen sofa-sleeper from the Bonus room (second level) to the Tower Room.”  So we started planning and measuring.  Everybody knows that sofa-sleepers are bulky and extremely heavy.   But we talked with a couple of our favorite handymen - Darren and Mark - and they thought it could be done.

So on Monday, January 25, we arranged for everybody to meet at Smoky Mountain Tower.  The first thing they did was to take out the spring mechanism.  That lightened the load considerably.  Then they started moving the couch portion.  While it came out the door, it just wouldn’t go up the steps.  About that time, another friend showed up - Jerry.  He said, “Let’s take it down to the main level, out the door to the deck, and hoist it up to the top level (that’s four levels, folks!).

And that’s what they did.  You’ll have to visit our blog to find photos of that little exercise, but it worked!

So now, here’s what we’ve got in terms of sleeping space:

• -Main level - the king bedroom suite - a king bed with large closet and attached full bath.  And at the request of several guests, we finally got the TV cable installed and have added a TV in the bedroom.

• -Second level - the queen bonus room.  We can’t really call it a bedroom because there’s no closet.  Also, the doorway doesn’t allow us to put in a real door, but we’ve added vertical blinds to the door opening to provide some privacy.  The closest bathroom is either up or down one level - but it may be easier to go up two levels to the Tower room and use the half-bath.  We’ve added a nice TV cabinet with a big 32″ TV (our best bedroom TV, to make up for the lack of other things).  We still have to add chests and places to hang clothes, but that will be coming soon.

• -Third level - queen master suite with TV, VCR, large closet and attached full bath.

• -Fourth level - the Tower Room - the queen sofa-sleeper is there, complete with a brand new mattress.  We left the TV up there and, of course, the half-bath and washer/dryer are there.  We took the Gazelle exercise machine home.  But this is now a great room for relaxing and reading - and will be a fine place for the kids to sleep.

So that’s it!  We now have TVs in every bedroom (in addition to the living room TV.  We’ll keep working to make the Queen Bonus Room more comfortable.  But Smoky Mountain Tower is now a great place for 8 people.