Double Decker Lack!!!

Materials: Lack Side Table - high gloss red

Description: The budget for this project was very minimal, so we had to be very creative with our purchases.

We purchased two Lack side tables in the high gloss red finish.

Based on the drawings I did, the client selected option 1. The client cut all the legs to the appropriate height dimensions as shown on the drawings and he used the hardware included in the box to secure everything together.

This Double Decker nightstand is not only aesthetically beautiful but functional as well.

~ Maria, MK Square Studio, NY, NY

The Ikea Lack grows up to be a Cat Perch

Materials: 1 Square Ikea Lack End Table, Carpet Remnant, Foam, Wooden spindle legs (if desired), hot glue gun, staple gun, brackets for legs (if desired), pliers - just in case!, stain (if desired)

Description: Recently, we got rid of our old living room set, complete with the Ikea entertainment center and tables. But the new living room set up removed a piece of furniture from the front window area. The problem with this is that it's where Sneezy would sit and look out for hours on end and wait for us to come home from our daily adventures.

Enter Solution - how to turn an Ikea Lack table in to a cat perch.

This is what you'll need:
1 Ikea Lack table
foam cut larger than size of top of table
carpet remnant
wooden table legs - length based on height of your window
stain of your choice for table legs
brackets to screw legs in to - near the table legs at Lowes
staple gun
pliers
drill
hot glue gun with glue

What to do:
Adhere the foam to the top of the table - please note the original table legs are removed. You won't be using them. We attached it with hot glue and then used the staple gun to adhere it to the sides of the table all around. We had enough foam to round the edges out so it looked nicer.

Next... attach the leg brackets to the bottom of the table top using the screws included. Then lay the table top, foam side down, on your carpet remnant. Pull the carpet up around all sides of the table top to ensure you have enough to cover it all the way and staple it underneath. This was kind of the hard part because we had to determine how to leave the table leg brackets open to screw the legs in to them. We determined it was best to cut the square out of the carpet and attach around the brackets.

Once you are able to get the carpet pulled around the table top and stapled in place, it will look something like this.

While one of you is working on dealing with the table top, the other can work on staining the legs - I used 3 coats to get the desired color to coordinate with our living room wooden furniture.

In the end, you'll have something that your little fuzzy ones will love! Her other bed fits perfectly under the new perch and she loves it! Doesn't even look like an Ikea Lack table anymore!

See more of the Lack cat perch.

~ S & A Hessler

GRUNDTAL Beauty Bar (and laptop table!)

Materials: GRUNDTAL rail, S-hooks, spice jars, cutlery caddies; NORBERG drop leaf table; SPONTAN magnet board; LOTS mirror; FRANKLIN bar stool; HEMMA lamps with RENATE shades

Description: I'm a mess in the morning. I have ADHD, which makes digging through drawers, baskets, and piles a nightmare, and I have to compete for one of two bathroom vanities: my husband shaves in the en suite bath while my daughter primps in the other. Our condo is tiny and our bathrooms are tinier... no room to share!

I often forgo 'beauty' altogether instead of digging through random shoe boxes for cosmetics while looking at myself in the next-best mirror (which is in the kitchen).

[I do have a proper dressing table. It was repurposed into a aquarium stand for our turtle long ago. Heh. It's not IKEA or I'd tell you more.]

My ADHD coach/organizer has been encouraging me to use vertical storage wherever possible. I tend to only use regularly the things I can actually see; vertical organization prevents the piling-up that makes my needed items go out-of-sight-out-of-mind. Every object needs a specific home. A home that I can *see* into. No doors, drawers, boxes, baskets, or cabinets.

But how can vertical organization work for a dressing table?

IKEA to the rescue! I decided to use GRUNDTAL as the solution. I had already tried some BYGEL rails and buckets for the wall just above the commode and it's really cut down on the bathroom clutter. GRUNDTAL is nicer, and this wall is visible from my bed.

I had intended to buy a picture shelf to set items currently in use, but I saw the NORBERG table in the IKEA showroom and instantly knew that I could give it a dual purpose on a currently wasted bedroom wall, conveniently near the en suite bath.

My husband hung the NORBERG at "pub/bar table level" (get "molly" bolts if you can't attach to at least two studs). Then he hung the GRUNDTAL rail high enough to allow for the stored items to hang underneath.

I used the double-sided tape that was supplied with the LOTS mirrors to affix a LOTS tile to the SPONTAN board. I suggest marking the placement of the mirror on the board and of the board on the wall before making the mirror permanent!

I prefer to apply make-up standing up and very close to the mirror (yay, myopia!) so I have it placed pretty highly on the wall. One could easily lower the whole shebang and use a stool or chair of regular height. I actually decided on my mirror height by using a dry erase marker to draw a 12 X 12 square (LOTS size) around my face in my full length mirror and then measuring from the floor to the square.

I used GRUNDTAL doo-dads to finish it out:

I used one S-hook and a large binder clip to hang the hairdryer, curling iron, and straightening iron by their cords. (By the way, I also looped the cords through the NORBERG assembly to keep them out of sight. I had to momentarily un-assemble the arm, pull the cords through, and pop it back in. It was well worth the 90 seconds it took.)

S-hooks are also holding my brush, elastics, rings, and earrings. I hung my necklaces, bracelets, and my watch directly to the rail.

The cutlery buckets are holding skin care products and make-up brushes/pencils. I love this because I can see what I've got quite easily and there isn't a risk of knocking over a cup of brushes in my pre-caffeinated stupor.

The magnetic spice jars are fabulous. I can see what's in there without any digging and I've got my cosmetics organized by the order in which I apply them. I have make-up on one side and skin/hair on the other. Brilliant.

The bonus feature might be my favorite... when the table leaf is up, I've got a nice place to pull up the barstool and set my laptop. Dual use of furniture in a tiny condo is always an epic win.

Thoughts after completion: I wish I had used the longer GRUNDTAL rail. I used the 30.5" length which lines up nearly exactly with the NORBERG. Overhang on either side would have been nice. I need another cutlery caddy or two. A reason for a trip back...

~ Shannon, Austin, Texas

Homeoffice, Dust and Cable free

Materials: Micke, Vika AMon, Pax, Expedit, Markus, 3 Cabinets DIY-Store

Description: 2 Micke Drawer(for PC without drawer) and one Micke storage for W-Lan Laserprinter under Vika Amon, 2 Cabinets from the near IDY-Store)encased with Ekby Hemnes left and right), Expedit diagonally with doors to hidden PC-Speakers an Cables for Dioder.

Behind the Door for Telephone/ DSL, Electric Motiondetector and Nightlight also a cabinet from the DIY-Store

~ Nice Uncle, Germany

$12 Monitor Stand

Materials: Capita Leg + Ekby Laiva

Description: Ekby Laiva shelf: $1.99. (They were good size: 9 1/2 x 23 1/4")

A set of Capita Leg for $10.

You can also go for various height using the different size of Capita leg.

Screw them together and I get this stand. Very simple, cheap and fast LCD stand to elevate the height of your LCD and allow you to put stuff below such as small CPU or other office item :)

This is similar to the Lillangen & Ekby Viktor stand but cheaper. The 4 legs are independent so you're flexible on position for them

~ bao nguyen, nc, usa

Akurum Pantry and Base into Window Seat

Materials: Akurum Pantry and Base Cabinet

Description: I made a plinth out of 2 x 4 lumber 3.5 inches shorter then the 2 feet width pantry. I faced the 2 x 4 s with Ikea Akurum toe kick. Next I screwed the base cabinet and pantry together and placed it on the plinth. I then used the Ikea mounting hardware to place it on the wall. I then filled the gaps on the end with more toe kick. My wife has since purchased a pad and upholstered it and purchased baskets for storage. It is quite nice and gets a great deal of use.

~ George Stevens, York PA

Latt table equipped

Materials: Latt, Bygel rail and container

Description: I used clear water based varnish to make the table and chair washable. Then I added the Bygel rail and containers on one side of the table.

I also applied knobs made of wood for my handmade magazine rack made of blue polycarbonate.

See more of the embellished Latt table.

~ Alessia, Italia

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Happy 2012! Hope this new year will bring you much joy and creativity. ~ Jules