She says, "I added chrome legs from the local hardware store. The upholstering was the biggest challenge as I had never tried it before, but I bought thin foam and some sturdy fabric and got to work with my friends' staple gun. I stapled the foam down first and then added the fabric. I didn't sew the fabric at all, but just made sure to carefully fold in the edges of the fabric before putting in each staple.
that doesn't seem like it would be weight bearing...
ReplyDeletePretty cool- but maybe you should have upholstered the foam and fabric to a piece of wood cut to the size of the seat and then placed that on the bookshelf. I guess you could go either was on that. nice hack.
ReplyDeleteIf the bench only has four legs you're absolutely right. I recommend a third pair of legs under the center of the bench. Otherwise there's too much stress on the middle. I've used six of Ikea's Capita legs to make a bench and also several together as a bed platform and it supports weight very well.
ReplyDeleteJust an addition to my previous comment -- make sure the legs have a wide, sturdy base to attach to the shelf. A smaller, more narrow base could actually punch a hole in the bench over time.
ReplyDeleteI use the capita legs on this lack shelf as my tv bench with 6 legs. I can tell you, its perfectly capable of bearing weight.
ReplyDeleteVery cool! Nice job on upholstring it. I need a bencj about this size...hmmmmm.
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome. I’ve been waiting to find a Lack shelf on Craigslist for just this purpose.
ReplyDeleteThis totally rocks!!! Would be so awesome in a mudroom or just around the coffee table with mags and books underneath..I am sooo making one!
ReplyDeleteGreat choice of fabric, and good job keeping those stripes straight while stapling. Well done.
ReplyDeleteThis is really nice, i might try something like it for my studio space : )
ReplyDeletejust saw this via ohdeedoh - THANK YOU! i have a naked lack shelf sitting in my living room that i have been wanting to create a cushion for. i am NO seamstress though and this is a FANTASTIC alternative. great work. for the skeptics (or engineers): i too have my lack unit sitting on only four CASTERS and just about everyone who enters our LR takes a seat... it's just fine.
ReplyDeleteNice idea! I love those lack shelves, so many uses.
ReplyDeletei love this idea!--on casters great idea too. like others i was wondering about the weight bearing thing to. i want to make this for my son's room. he's about 230 lbs 6'3 (and growing?) do you think it will hold him? thanks!
ReplyDeleteI have a LACK shelf in the living room, with only 4 casters on it, and about a 1/2 inch bow in the middle from my TV, and that wasn't even centered on it. Definitely put something in the middle.
ReplyDeleteHow are those legs attahced? I've been told that the LACK shelves are honeycomb/hollow construction.
ReplyDeleteSo is there a solid portion on those shelves to which the legs are attached?
K
great job! now i want to make one.
ReplyDeleteand there was me going to get rid of mine down the tip, cracking idea!!
ReplyDeleteI once asked at Ikea about putting castors on a certain item and they said it couldn't be done because it was made of something like cardboard (not their words, but when I asked, they confirmed).
ReplyDeleteGreat idea to staple the cushion to a board and then mount it on the bookcase. I love the look! Good one!