Kid's study room

Materials: LAGAN Countertop, beech

Description: I needed to put a study table in a narrow room that we recently added so it had to be custom made.

Since 90% of our home is made from IKEA :) I decided to use a Lagan kitchen counter top as a school table. Not only was it inexpensive but the hardwood finish is beautiful to look at.

A comparable wood piece at Home Depot would have been very expensive and not as good looking.

I cut the Lagan counter top almost in half. Trimmed off about 1 inch from the sides which I used as a brace underneath running across the studs.

I also used triangle brackets to hold up the table underneath.

It is sturdy but any heavy pushing on the edge could bring it down. So far my 3 boys haven't broken it yet.

The flooring is TUNDRA maple effect and the cabinets are AKURUM Wall cabinet

This room is 99% IKEA made.

~ Mark, SoCal

Standing desk with "invisible" data storage

Materials: IKEA Lagan countertop

Description: I needed to improve my living room work place so I made a standing desk out of an IKEA Lagan countertop that I cut to the right size. The problem was that I needed room for four of my external hard drives and I did not want them to take any space on the desk and there weren't much other space I could use either. I did, however, have some space beneath the standing desk so I decided to hang them on the back of another IKEA board under the desk.

It turned out just the way I wanted.

~ Niklas Johansson, Stockholm, Sweden

VIKA BR�D STANDING DESK

Materials: The materials for this desk are 100% IKEA! One stop shopping:
1 x LAGAN Countertop (96 7/8� x 25 5/8� x 1 1/8�) - $59.00
4 x VIKA KAJ Leg, adjustable ($15.00 x 4) - $60.00
2 x CAPITA Bracket, stainless steel ($15.00 x 2) - $30.00
� and if you are just starting with a standing desk, get a barstool to take sitting breaks as you build up your tolerance for standing. I recommend:
1 x STIG Bar stool with backrest (29 1/8�) - $19.99
Total Cost w/chair (pre-tax) = $168.99
Time to build: 3-6 hours (once you have the materials)

Tools
Circular Saw
Drill (w/screwdriver bit)
Jigsaw
Pliers
Measuring Tape
Random Orbit Sander and/or sandpaper

Description:
Like other standing desk hackers who have submitted ideas, I had a sore back from sitting at a desk all-day and wanted to try a standing desk without shelling out $800+ for a geek desk, which is functional, but industrial looking. I wanted it to look good, and also wanted stability. I love the paper filled fiberboard that IKEA sells for desktops, but I really needed a wood worktop surface and a desk stable enough to free-stand away from a wall. It also had to be simple, so I could take it apart easily, bring it to my office, and reassemble it without much effort. My budget was $200.

Behold� the VIKA BR�D (yes, I named it after myself):

First, I cut the countertop in half. I used a piece of wood and two clamps to keep the saw straight, but you can skip this if you have a steady hand. IKEA sells a 49� version of the LAGAN counter top, and you can substitute two of them, but that will add $20.

After cutting, I used the sander on the cut edges to (a) smooth them, and (b) held the sander gently at a 45-degree angle to the top and bottom of each cut edge to replicate the bevel on the rest of the countertop. Then I examined the two pieces to see which face was the best, and used this for the top. I labeled each face lightly in pencil so I wouldn't get mixed up.

Next, I made a freehand cutout in the bottom desktop using a jigsaw so I wouldn't rub against the bottom desktop while standing if I leaned in. You can do this any way you like or skip it. I measured in approximately 9� from each end, traced a drinking glass to make the semicircle, and then drew a line between the two curves with a straight piece of wood. Go slow with the jigsaw, as the countertop is thick. I sanded smooth and beveled it with the random orbit sander and used sandpaper wrapped around the glass to sand the curves.

Next, I installed the 4 VIKA KAJ legs on the four corners of the bottom desktop. I measured in 3� from each face of the corner, and where the lines intersected, I centered the round leg bracket.

Next, I installed the CAPITA brackets. You can orient them different ways, but make sure the CAPITA bracket bottom bolt will not fall on the same spot as the VIKA KAJ legs when you attach the top desktop to the bottom desktop. To install the CAPITA brackets, first attach the side with multiple screws to the underside of the top desktop.

Once you have done this, set the top desktop gently on the bottom desktop with the CAPITA brackets facing down as in the photo. Measure where the bolts on the bracket fall relative to the edges of the bottom desktop to make sure the top desktop is centered on the bottom desktop. When doing this, measure the distance front to back and side to side. I had to make a bunch of small adjustments to get this right. When you like are happy with the position, use a pencil and trace around the four CAPITA bracket bolts.

Next, remove the top desktop and set it against a wall gently so you don't bend the CAPITA brackets. Drill holes using the drill bit size recommended in the CAPITA bracket instructions. Pick up the top desktop and set it down on the bottom desktop as before, inserting the CAPITA bracket bolts into the holes. I did not use the large black plastic washers on the bottom of the CAPITA bracket, as I assumed those were to prevent water from getting under the bracket. I suppose you can use it if you want. Tighten the nuts and washers on the bolts with the pliers and you are done!

Things to consider
The finished desk is height adjustable. I am 6� tall and the work surface is around 43� for me. I don't think this design will go much taller than that. If you are taller, you may want to consider using the CAPITA table leg that is a few inches longer, rather than the CAPITA bracket I used and is about the same price.

Also, I considered using a router to carve out shapes in the top face of the bottom desktop to hold pens and a coffee mug, but I haven�t done this yet.

Finally, you will need to use finish or oil on the wood surfaces periodically. IKEA sells BEHANDLA Wood treatment oil ($4.99), which works fine.

Happy standing.

~ Brad C., North Carolina, USA

Expedit Rolling Kitchen Island

Materials: EXPEDIT shelving unit, LAGAN countertop, BRANAS baskets

Description: Working with a small footprint kitchen I wanted to build an island that would provide seating, storage and extra counterspace. I saw similiar hacks on this site and was inspired to combine them into one super hack!


First - I assembled the Expedit bookshelf - leaving off the top panel and attaching castors to the bottom panel. Note: it's important to use good quality rubber castors given how much pushing, pulling and shoving this island endures.

Second - I cut the Lagan countertop to the desired dimensions (just overhanging the front and back of the shelf and giving a more generous 2.5" overhang on either side.) Because the Expedit panels are hollow fiberboard I opted to secure the countertop with multiple small brackets. The easiest way to do this is to lay the countertop over the shelf and draw the lines of the shelf panels on the underside of the countertop. Then flip over the countertop and secure the brackets. Flip it back over and secure the brackets to the side and centre panels.

Third - I cut a backer panel out of 1/8" thk. primed MDF and secured it to the back of the shelf with finishing nails. This keeps the baskets in place and keeps them from getting kicked from people sitting at the island chairs.

Fourth - I cut the Lagan countertop to create an L-shape and secured to the wall (be sure to find the studs!) with large L-brackets.

Fifth - I cut a 6" x 6" opening in the countertop to sit above the upper right basket. The basket is fit with a garbage bin for easy disposal.

And there you have it - a kitchen island that gives seating, storage and flexibility!

~ Rebecca, Toronto, Ontario

Built in desk better than anything we could buy

Materials: Lagan countertop, plywood cleats, misc tools

Description: My wife and I were looking for a pair of desks to put in our home office. We combed over Ikea's inventory but didn't find anything that would work well... until we got to the counter tops. Sheets of Lagan butcher block are very inexpensive and they look great. Here's how we hung three of them on the wall:

1. Create plywood cleats around the perimeter of the room and two arms to support the center span (and the seems between the three Lagan sheets).

2. Glue the counter top end-to-end using urethane glue and pocket screws as clamps

3. Install the countertops, securing them from below with screws through oversized holes.

4. Finish with polyurethane and drill holes for cable grommets.

We couldn't be happier with the outcome. The desk is rock solid and now we have twelve feet of workspace!

I made a video to illustrate how the support structure goes together.

See more of the Lagan countertop workstation.

~ Mike Szczys, Madison, WI

White chopping block

Materials: Ivar shelves (4) 33"x20" and (2) 17"x20"; (3) Ivar Side units, cut to correct height; (1) Lagan countertop 50"x26"; (2) Byholma baskets; (1) Gorm height extension post; (1) 39" Observator crossbrace; string and white paint

Description: We had very little countertops at our new home. We had a lot of Ivar shelves (from the shelving unit in the office).

We decided to take our three side units and cut them to the height of our cabinets. We now had 6 pieces - 3 shorter ones lining up with each other, and three longer pieces that lined up. Now we painted all of the Ivar pieces white.

We put all the pieces together and added the crossbrace to strengthen the unit. L brackets were added to the top of the side units. Then we screwed the Lagan countertop onto the L brackets.

As you can see above, I miscalculated how long the countertop would be. So we went back to Ikea and got Gorm pieces and some baskets. We screwed the Gorm extension post and tried on the baskets. (I'm sure there is a better way to attach them. But they aren't going anywhere, so we were satisfied.)

It was really easy to put together. And we are very happy with it overall! It fits all of our appliances, dry food, and pots and pans.

See more of Lauren's chopping block.

~ Lauren Ellis

Piecemeal kitchen island

Materials: Bekvam kitchen cart (or similar item), Lagan countertop, Vika Byske Table Leg, drawer slider, wooden slats, cutlery tray

Description: I've had an IKEA kitchen island since sophomore year of college when I moved into a dorm room with a kitchen. It's been the perfect fix for the common lack of counter space in every apartment I've lived in since then. In June, I moved into a tiny studio apartment (200 square feet total) in Brooklyn. The 'kitchen' was just a refrigerator, a stove, a sink, and two cabinets in a nook to one side of the apartment. I knew I need more counter space, as well as a space to eat and work, so I built this multi-purpose kitchen island/bar table/workspace using my old IKEA island and some other IKEA products. Unfortunately, some of the IKEA products I used have disappeared from the site, but I'm sure there are other similar items you could use.

First, we mounted the Lagan countertop at 39", slightly lower than standard bar height but still high enough for 29" stools to fit comfortably under. We secured one end of the counter to the wall using L-brackets, then attached the Vika Byske leg to the other end.

Because the kitchen didn't have a single drawer (something I noticed after I had already moved in, of course), I fashioned a utensil drawer out of a cutlery tray that was almost exactly the same size as the surface of the bottom island. Using a 3/4 extension 18" bottom mount drawer slide from McMaster-Carr, we attached the utensil tray to the top of the smaller kitchen island. Because the bottom mount drawer slide was mounted in the center of drawer, it was slightly wobbly, so we used some wooden slats and screwed them in on one side of the bottom island to steady the drawer. It works great!

~ Molly, Brooklyn, NY

Bathroom to Computer room using Kitchen Cupboards

Materials: Adel (cabinets) and Lagan (countertops)

Description: Our computer room started it's life as a first floor powder room.
We used an Ikea upper corner cabinet for a lower cabinet because we didn't have room for the depth of a lower cabinet. We used Ikea uppers for the two upper cabinets with adel glass panel doors.

The shelves in between the cabinets are EKBY TONY/ EKBY BJ�RNUM cut to size.
The counter top is a wood Ikea Lagan top. We used a table saw and jig saw to cut the top to fit.

See more of Ashli's computer room.

~ Ashli Malinek, Vancouver, British Columbia