Happy Hack-o-ween!

Materials: IKEA HELMER rolling drawer unit, PVC tube, casters

Description: My daughter was so impressed with the service on Singapore Airlines this summer that she wanted to be a "??Singapore Girl" for Halloween. It just so happened that a PANYL customer had turned me onto the IKEA HELMER a few weeks earlier. This metal drawer unit on wheels turned out to be the perfect size for a miniature beverage trolley.

For a handle, we fastened a piece of 1�"?� PVC tube between the sides of one drawer, instead of the snap on drawer front. We used heavy-duty double-sided tape to attach this drawer to the top surface of the HELMER. This would be the open bin for the taller bottles and cups.

We also swapped small, fixed casters that come with the HELMER for bigger 1�"?� swivel casters, since the Brooklyn sidewalks can be pretty rough.

As a final touch, we used some gold and blue PANYL scraps to make some decals.

Hack or treat!

See more of the Helmer Singapore Airlines trolley.

~ PANYL, New York, NY

Fancied Up Helmer

Materials: Helmer, Six Drawer Pulls, Fine Tip Black Marker, Hammer, Awl, Philips Head Screwdriver, Safety Goggles, Gloves, Shoes, Drill, Soft Cloth

Description: I love the Helmer but didn't know what to do with the label slots. My handwriting is not that good and there's really just random stuff in the drawers anyway. I tried fancy paper but didn't like it. And I like vintage style, which the original pulls were not. Off to the attic!

The set of pulls I had on hand have a big back plate that covers the label slots nicely. I had already put the drawers together so I just stood them on end and positioned the pull, sans the screws and nail part, and made a mark with a marker in each screw hole. The boring (space between holes) on this pull is 3". Be sure the boring is wide enough to cover and clear the original pull holes. And the back plate of the pull is tall enough to pretty well cover the label slots. I found reproductions of the pulls I used here.

Or you could search elsewhere online for reproduction Victorian drawer pull. Just make sure to check the measurements in the descriptions before you buy.

Next I used an awl with a hammer to make a dent in the metal where the marks were. I was afraid the dent wasn't big enough and the drill would slip so I used the hammer and a Philips Head screwdriver to make the dent a little larger for the drill bit to set into.

Make sure to wear safety goggles, gloves, and shoes as metal will be flying around as you drill. And I used an old wash cloth over the trashcan to lightly brush away the metal shavings. Careful not to scratch your drawers! Add your pulls and you are good to go.

~ Tara Einhorn, United States

Metal night stand

Materials: Helmer, Capita, drill, grinder

Description: We stumbled onto the Helmer and thought it would be perfect as a night stand with 6 drawers for all out stuff. However, with our bed being so high off the ground and the lowest drawer being pretty much on the floor, it didn't seem like it would work. But my wife loves the look of the Helmer (especially when our Edland is white, the red really pops). So I decided to buy the Helmer along with a box of 4" Capita

1.) assemble the Helmer as per the instructions
2.) use a 3/8" drill bit to make holes on the corners of the base
3.) use grinder to cut the thread portion of the Capita plates
4.) Thread the bolt into the new holes
5.) screw the legs on to the Helmer

I am contemplating if I should mount a Jansjo on the side of the Helmer using the same method as the legs. Since it is a night stand, might as well have a reading light.

~ Roy, Vancouver

Ikea Helmer has Gone Chinoserie!

Materials: Ikea Helmer file cabinet, black spray paint, chinese chinoserie image from online and mod podge

Description: I wanted my file cabinet to look less like a file cabinet so I decided to have a little fun with it.

First I sprayed the cabinet a flat black paint, then I googed the word chinese chinoserie online. When I found an image I liked I printed it off on my printer and then took it to the local print store and had them enlarge it to the size of my cabinet. I took off the hardware, placed the image on the cabinet and started mod podging away! Once the cabinet was dry I cut out the drawers and put the hardware back on. Done!!

~ Laurie Jones

Jeweler's Jam

Materials: (1) Helmer drawer unit on casters, (1) Vika Amon table top, (1) Hyllis shelving unit, (2) discontinued Ikea shoe racks, (1) Lack shelf, (1) Kolja mirror. The only extra hardware needed were some standard screws, drywall anchors and four small L shaped brackets.

Description: I design jewelry and work from my bedroom, where I already have a huge Vika Gruvan desk, an overflow of bookcases and no extra room to spare. So this action-packed little corner was pretty much my only option.

I also had no cash at the moment (Hey, not all of us can be Tiffany) so buying brand new furniture was out of the question, all the Ikea items I used were bought on Craigslist. I think I spent less than $40 total including hardware.

Here's the steps so you too can do the jam:

First, I assembled the Helmer drawer unit. Then, using its height as a guide, I attached the L shaped brackets to the wall. (As you can see in the picture, I used some left over curtain brackets from another project to keep costs down.)

Next, I assembled the Hyllis shelving unit. Here is where I had to work some magic. The table top is wider than the shelves so in order to slide it in place without having to cut the table down to size I had to invert the Hyllis' legs. This seriously compromises its stability, so I had to anchor it to the wall. After that, I slid the table top in place and secured it to the brackets with screws.

Then I hung the mirror (No, I'm not -that- vain, I just need to look at my work!) and the Lack shelf. As an extra bonus I installed a wire/tool dispenser made of L shaped brackets and a steel rod (Costs $2.50 to make). Since I still needed more shelving I added the shoe racks underneath the table. I bought two of them and stacked them, going under and around the Hyllis unit, then secured them with screws.

And that's pretty much it.

Hey, it is not the sexiest of units, but it works for me. Plus it was $40 bucks. Beat that.

~ Sunny H., Chicago