Materials: Ikea IVAR
Description: I built this shelf more than 3 years ago, but it';s still in use.
I had quite a few longboards and no idea where to keep them. I wanted to have a shelf that a) looks good, b) isn't too expensive and c) can 'change size' if there will more or less boards someday.
The idea to build this shelf came into my mind when I walked through
an IKEA-store and saw a side part of the IVAR-shelf. Being a hobby-McGyver I suddenly knew what to do:
Materials: 1 LINNARP glass door, 3 yards of durable fabric (approximate), 1 Old queen size sheet, 2 bags of Poly-fil batting, 3 buttons of your choice, 1 Staple Gun, 4 - 2 1/2/"; L brackets, Needle and Thread (for the buttons), Masking tape, Safety Glasses, Mallet/hammer
Description: After years of hating my bed but being too cheap to spend money on a new bed I decided I would create my own headboard to add some style to my boring bed. I ended up finding a set of 2 LINNARP glass doors at Ikea on clearance for $14 that sparked my imagination.
Materials: 3xIkea Besta Tofta panel, 5xIkea Vika Curry legs, 2xIkea Capita brackets, one additional panel.
Description: I went to Ikea and i found some Besta Tofta panels that costed only 15euro. I made a little project using sweethome 3D, a free open source program. If someone interested i can give the file. Here the steps:
Step 1: Trace the panels with some adhesive tape following the pictures, in order to obtain the different sides of the main container (a box). I found 1 big panel and 4 little, so I had to connect 2 small panels with some junctions to obtain a big panel. If you are lucky you can find 3 big panels. In this case you can build the box more easily because you needn't junctions for attach different shape panels
Step 2: Cut the panels following the lines like you can see in the pictures
Step 3: Connect all panels using some L junctions (you can find them at the hardware store)
Step 4: If you want you can add some panels inside perpendicularly (like in picture) for obtain more stability.
Step 5: Fix the capita brackets in the upper panels (like it's a unique hob)
Step 6: Make 2 holes for the brackets in the cover of the main box
Step 7: Connect the top of the box to the hob ( 2 panels+ 2 capita brackets)
Step 8: If you want you can put some glue for the top of the box but the weight is enough heavy for stay still and it's better to leave it free in order to connect cables more easily.
~ Marcello (dj kad), Bologna - Italy
Materials: Rykene Bedframe (Queen), MDF panels, Foam Rubber, Fabric, refinishing supplies, saw, stapler, spray adhesive, tools
Description: I knew I wanted an upholstered headboard, but didn't want to pay a premium price. I found the Rykene perfect for the project. First, saw off the funky little points from the top rail, sand the edges smooth and throw out the metal vertical pieces and the middle horizontal support. Then sand everything else and refinish it in the stain of your choice, here it's Colonial Teak.
Then, mount the MDF panels to the back of the headboard, marking the interior lines for mounting the foam. Remove the MDF panels and spray them with adhesive and stick the foam rubber panels on, then upholster tightly by stapling the fabric around the edges, folding the corners neatly. You will find holes left over on the side rails, from which the horizontal rails were supposed to be mounted.
Rather than filling them with little wooden plugs, available at the hardware store, I decided to mount drawer pulls with the look of nautical cleats - just in case anything should need to be tied up there - ahoy! With the holes filled in the manner of your choice, fit the upholstered panels into the frames and secure around the edges with screws, then assemble the bed more or less according to instructions, aside from the obvious omissions. Much more comfy for sitting up and reading in bed, and easy enough to change when my mood does.
~ DC Powers, Amsterdam
Materials: Udden console + 2 Udden drawer units + Numerar worktop
Description: We were looking for a nice chest for our babyroom, needing a lot of space. As we had a silver color bed, we also wanted a silver color chest. Difficult to find, so that's how we came to this idea. An easy one!
We removed the worktop from the console and put a Numerar worktop on top of it.
Then, the original way, we installed the two Udden drawer units, for enough space.
Together with some colorfull stickers the chest was finished! (Ikea now also has nice Keith Haring stickers)
This way the chest did not look like a kitchenchest anymore.
~ Gaby, The Netherlands
Materials: Friel, Lack, Akurum, Besta and Pax
Description: This is a 12" wide wall system put together with 100% ikea items including 2 Friel TV units (as base), Besta black-brown doors, 2 Lack wall shelves and Pax/Akurum kitchen cabinets top units. The 60" Pioneer Kuro TV and the Definitive Technology Mythos speakers have all wiring hidden behind the Besta wall panels/doors. The Friel base units hide all AV equipment and 12 TB home theatre/movie Plex server. Total cost of just Ikea units is approx. $1,100. Total time spent designing and constructing was around 2 weeks.
See more of the Besta wall unit.
~ Sourojit Dhar, Long Beach, CA
Materials: SOLBRAND, NEDDA, cardboard, glue gun, scissors/razor blade, drill and drill bit, (Optional: KAPPLA surge protector)
Description: It was time to make a charging station (we have 3 cell phones and quite a few ipods.... don't ask :)
Materials: Vika Artur trestle, Vika Amon table top
Description: My son, Oscar, is turning three I was thinking to get him a table so he have somewhere to sit and do his drawing. I went to a couple of stores to see what they had to offer but after a while I started to wonder how many tables I had to buy before I could get him a "big boy" table. Wandering around at the IKEA workspace department I saw the Vika Artur trestle and had an idea so I ended up buying four "legs" two Amon 23" x 39" and an Amon corner.
After a couple of day thinking and measuring I started by shortening the three upper parts 5", or just so you get rid of the old holes, to fit with Vika Amon table top. To lower the legs, and to keep the right angles, I measured 18 1/8" on each corner and cut them. Then I drilled a new hole, for the shelf, 2 1/5" up. The shelf must be made smaller to fit, so the "end parts" have to be shortened 2 7/8" and the "shelf planks" 6 11/16".
The end result is one big table, or two small, that is adjustable from 20" to 29" and I don't have to go shopping for tables any more.
~ Jonas Bergstrom, Stockholm, Sweden
Materials: Ivar shelving system components, paint and filler
Description: We really wanted modern looking shelving to our study but IVAR shelving looks too much like straight from the garage. We came up with the idea of ladder shelves to give it more smart, Italian look.
METHOD: you only need IVAR components to make it â" it is modulated solution- one IVAR frame gives one unit so you can create as many as you need. We have built units on both sides of the fireplace- 3 units on one side and 2 units on the other as recesses were not equal.
1. Choose the leaning angle- remember that bottom shelf will be the deapest and the top one still need to be usable so do not make it to narrow!
2. Taper legs of the frames to the required leaning angle
3. Cut shelves so they can go right through the main post of the frame- each shelf will be different length depending on the leaning angle- do not throw offcuts away as you can use them as holding battens on the wall!
4. Screw the battens on the wall and screw the shelves to them, each shelf is laid on the batten at the wall end and on the frame bracing at the other end, you have to just screw them at the batten end for stability.
5. For smooth look fill the holes in the frame.
6. Paint the shelving in whatever colour you want! Alternatively you can paint shelf components after cutting before fixing to the wall â" this might be easier (lesson for us for the next time)
7. It's all ready! Beautiful ladder shelving which looks like straight from MDF Italia catalogue!
~ tonika, Liverpool UK
Materials: Besta
Description: Wanted a tv/entertainment bench where I could hide all the electronics and speakers. The only nice thing I found was about 2000 $ so decided to go for 2 besta units and make the doors myself. Pretty excited how it turned out.
BESTÃ… Bench (item 601.340.49) - 2 pieces
Door Dampers (inside locking) - 8 pieces
Push opener (Item 701.965.17) - 4 pieces
Mdf plate 56x32cm (1,6 cm) - 4 pieces
Knobs, stainless steel - 4 pieces
Linen fabric
all in all about 200$
The ps3 does require the door to be open. However I am considering installing a fan.
~ Andreas, Denmark
Materials: Ikea Oven Unit
Description: Very simple but works great. I just took the Ikea kitchen oven cabinet and kept adding drawers. They are all 11 1/4" drawer fronts except the bottom which is the 12 1/2" front. Easy breazy.
~ Brian Ledig, Sebastopol, CA
Materials: Gurkort, Dioder, meter, marking pen
Description: This easy hack provides a great effect.
You need just a Gorkort white vase and a Dioder strip. First step : with a metering strip, track on the vase surface a spiral of m.1,00 following your taste. Be creative.
Second step : unwrap dioder, take the LED strip, pull cm.30 of paper then adhere the strip on the cleaned inner surface of Gurkort ; the end of strip must coincide with the bottom of the vase. Continue until end of strip. The self-adhesive is very strong, do this step with attention, to reposition wouldn't be easy.
The result should be like the 2nd photo.
Third step : plug the dioder following the instructions, then switch on. You can vary the color by rotating the potentiometer properly. Stay creative and enjoy !
See more of the lighting vase.
~ Stefano Blanca, Spain
Materials: Varde base cabinet, tile, brackets
Description: We wanted a kitchen island but they are so expensive so we headed to Ikea we found a Varde base cabinet, but it was not wide enough to sit comfortably so my husband added a board with a second piece to form a "L" shape attached the second piece to the end of the cabinet low enough to allow for the height of the tile then he tiled and grouted the top of the board and added three shelf brackets for support. The cost was way cheaper than any kitchen island.
~ April N Martin, Nazareth, PA
Materials: Akurum Wall Cabinet, Capita legs, pine slabs, saw, nails, stain, leather
Description: With an unsatisfying lack of storage in our tiny house, we're always looking for ways to maximize our space and keep things organized. We had a gigantic armoire that held a lot of items, but swallowed up our space. This fauxdenza was our solution to adding additional storage, but it also opens up wall space for art and the table top can be used to display items or for standing craft projects.
Step 1: Build the cabinets according to IKEA instructions
Step 2: Measure, cut and mount the pine table top.
Step 3: Stain and coat.
Step 4: Cut strips of leather for pull tab handles and nail into the cabinet doors.
Step 5: Fill your capacious fauxdenza with all your crap.
See more of the Akurum fauxdenza.
~ megan rolerkite, United States
Materials: 3 Besta Burs high gloss
Description: A long wall in an open space living room. Needed DVD and small media storage, also did not want to block too much the light coming from the window and keep the room less crowded. Loved the Besta Burs look, but one unit was not sufficient storage. Solution was to create a zig-zag out of 3 pieces. The only challenge was to mount the vertical unit. We did a lot of measuring, looking for the 2X4 studs in the wall and marking them.
We started with the vertical unit, moving the holes (drilling new ones) from where the support is originally provided (at the top of the unit) to the middle of the unit and making sure we secure the unit in the vertical stud of the wall. Then, we mounted the other horizontal units. The Besta Burs only comes with 3 holes along the back to support in the wall, but they do not fit exactly on a wall stud (2 holes fit, but not the 3rd), so we moved one in order to provide the best support. Especially for the bottom horizontal unit we were afraid our kids might sit on it. The vertical unit opens a bit harder, but that is all, it works well. We think we managed to get an interesting look to the living room, it looks like a modern sculpture.
~ Anda and Laur, Texas, US
Materials: fjellse bed frame, wood for headboard, stain, screws
Description: I had been eyeballing a simply designed designer bed that cost over 2 grand. With less than $100 I recreated the design out of a Fjellse bed frame..
Step 1: Buy the Fjellse bed frame for $49.99.
Step 2: Put the bed frame together and then stain it with your favorite stain color. I chose a dark color called Jacobean. It's my go to color and gives it a nice rich feel and easily hides the blah Fjellse frame.
Step 3: Stain two slabs of pine
Step 4: Coat if desired. I coated it with Osmo. It gives it a smooth finish, without the plasticy poly look.
Step 4: Screw the two slabs of pine on to the Fjellse head board.
Ta da!
See more of the Fjellse headboard.
~ Megan Rolerkite, Portland, OR
