Materials: 2.5 IKEA Rast, gloss paint, various brackets, legs and handles furniture, stainless steel sheet
Description: I really like a lot of the vintage industrial furniture that appears to be around at the moment, however it's very expensive AND seems to be a lot larger than will fit in my small flat. So....
Having seen various RAST hacks, I thought I'd have a go at my own. (with a couple of prerequisites)
- it had to look like a single solid piece of furniture (not 2 random pieces stuck together)
- I didn't want it to look like a "chest of drawers" with new legs stuck on it. Or bedroom furniture.
Structure
Step 01 - I built the first Rast, without the back to have a good look at the structure and see if my plan would work. I then cut off the bottom section which would normally be the plinth (this in my mind is what makes the Rast look like bedroom furniture) and added I extended the holes that hold the drawer runners completely through the side panel, so that I could add runners on both sides of this board.
Step 02 - Using a combination of the supplied dowels and screws, I mirrored the original Rast. I used metal brackets to strengthen the joins and make sure it stayed square. The middle board now has drawer runners for both sides of the cabinet.
Step 03 - Added legs (which I replaced as they were too tall) then made a "lid" out of the remaining sides of 3rd Rast. Simply held together with steel plates from the diy store. I then edged this "lid" with 35mm hardwood tacked onto the sides.
Aesthetics
- 2 coats of 3in1 primerundercoatknot solution
- 2 coats of industrial grey gloss
- legs, cup handles and card frames from an online diy store
- custom cutbent stainless steel sheet to cover the lid (tip. this was very cheap here in the UK via ebay). I've not glued this down yet but I will do with a silicon bathroom-kitchen adhesive at some point.
Thoughts...
Overall I'm very pleased with the outcome, it looks like a proper piece of furniture rather than a hack and goes well in my apartment. Using a 3rd Rast for parts worked out really well, as I hardly had to cut any wood as it was all supplied. The "lid" isn't attached to the top as it fits very tightly, this way it comes to bits easily for transportation.
~ nik faulkner, UK
Is great! Love It! You did an amazing Job!
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ReplyDeleteVery well done, what a nice hack!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant hack. Hats off. Love the industrial grey gloss. What amazes me is that the finished chest looks so seamless.
ReplyDeleteFANTASTIC!!!
ReplyDeletewow! this is not really my style but I had to comment because I love this hack!!
ReplyDeleteBeautifully done!
ReplyDeleteThis is so pretty and well done. Love it. Hack of the year???
ReplyDeleteWow! Great vision and nice execution!
ReplyDeleteLove it! will steel it (the idea of course) ;)
ReplyDeleteMore pics please. also the total coast. thank you so much, this is inspiring.
ReplyDeletephantastic
ReplyDeleteVery clear explanations, clean & clever job. Easy yet efficient, with a solid result... Congratulations :-)
ReplyDeleteVery cool hack! Which part did you affix the middle legs to? Do their brackets cover both RASTs?
ReplyDeleteWell done! It looks very professional! :)
ReplyDeletewow thanks for the nice comments guys.
ReplyDeletetotal cost was a little over £100 (the 3 rasts were £20 each)
the middle legs are attached between both rasts, i had to cut a small section out of the middle support as they are slightly raised. the plate then sits across both sides nicely.
any other questions feel free to shout :)
Thanks for the reply! This is such an ingenious solution! I totally agree with everyone else - this should be hack of the year!
DeleteGood idea & excellent result !
ReplyDeleteCould you provide a little more detail about the lid? I'm a bit of a novice and any extra instruction would help. Redoing the top of my Rast like this is exactly what I'm looking to accomplish.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
credilya, here's an image that will hopefully make sense
ReplyDeletei've shown what it looks like from above and underneath
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/303605/lid.jpg
Sweet! Was the edging wood salvaged from the 3rd Rast? I looks like a really long piece. I could probably grab a cheap 1x2 to edge it as well.
Deletenope it was from the hardware store. was only £4.00 in there dowl and ornate edging section
DeleteSeriously the best thing about that is the Snoopy phone. Awesome does not even cover it.
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Deletemy, my....hot tempers...
Deleteno post moderation here then? :/
DeleteNik, this is high street decor. An above-&-beyond hack. You've just created another project for the mister.
ReplyDeleteYes yes, great job!
ReplyDeleteI agree, hack of the year! You did such a good job!
ReplyDeleteWhat a transformation! From blah to glossy industrial, really incredible! I agree this hack should make the 10 best of the year list.
ReplyDeleteI agree this should be on the 10 list! hurray.
ReplyDeleteNeomi
WOW IT LOOKS LIKE A PROFESSIONAL JOB. I don't know what you do for a living but I can you making some serious money in doing kind of work.
ReplyDeleteAmazing! Wonderful job on the furniture. Keep up the works!
ReplyDeleteagain thanks for the nice comments. most unexpected
ReplyDeleteI love this - and as I am also in the UK, would be really grateful to find out who you used on ebay for the stainless steel, as I'm not coming up with anything on searches? also which DIY store did you use for the handles? (I think it is fine to say)
ReplyDeletehey caroline,
ReplyDeletethe handles were from wickes i think £4 for 2, the card frames were from screwfix around £6 for the lot (they did slightly cheaper handles as well but i preferred the wickes ones.
the steel came from "hardware outlet uk" on ebay and was listed as
"Stainless Steel Worktop Protector" i emailed them for the custom size, they were very helpful and VERY fast(i ordered sunday and it arrived tuesday). i made sure the edge was folded (not rolled) and the corners were sharp on the front and not rounded off.
hope thats of use?
n
....oh and the legs were expensive at £5 each from wickes
DeleteThanks!!! Good old screwfix - they really do stock everything!
DeleteThis looks fantastic! Brav-o!
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome.
ReplyDeleteHi Nik
ReplyDeleteI'm really keen to speak to you about a potential new Channel 4 series I'm developing - I think Jules Yap has been in touch?
Please do give me a shout as soon as you can and I can fill you in - kimberly.godbolt@moxproductions.co.uk
Thanks!
Kimberly
Can you tell me the brand of the paint you used? Do you happen to remember?
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