Longboard and Skateboard shelf

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:

1. I bought a side part of the IVAR-shelf (there are different sizes, I used one that's 179x30 cm, 7,50euro). In the local diy-store I bought a back board made of 6mm ply wood in the same size.

2. I stuck the two parts together using wood glue and additionally fixed the back board with nails.

3. After that, I drilled 4 holes into the sideparts to put in the screws.

4. Now it's time to paint the shelf. I used a dark brown. The next step is to mount the shelf at the wall. I used 4 screws (80mm) and 8mm anchors.

5. After mounting the shelf to the wall I used 4 metal staves (I don't know if that's the correct word in english, in german it's called 'Metallstife') to keep the wooden blanks.

6. For each longboard I plugged a wooden blank diagonally between the metal staves. The blanks are made of ply-wood from the local diy-store (size: 23,4 x 20 x 1,3 cm). I painted the wooden blanks in the same color as the other parts.

7. That's it. The boards have a pretty and decorative place at the wall.

~ Frank, Mainz, Germany

How I created a headboard for under $25

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.

Now for the Hack:

1. First you will need to take the glass out of the LINNARP glass door. Please BE CAREFUL, put the masking tape on the glass panels ensuring that the panels are well covered.

2. Take your mallet and tap the glass so that it shatters. Note: you may want to put a drop cloth down on your floor. I ended up placing a large box underneath to catch any glass shards.

3. Once the glass is completely removed, be sure to clean any excess glass out of the frame. I used a flat-head screwdriver to get into the crevices of the frame.

4. Measure out 6 large squares of fabric based on the 3 windows of the frame: 3 for the front, 3 for the backing.

5. Measure the center of each front facing fabric and sew on your buttons for a "faux" tufted look.

6. Take your staple gun and staple the 3 front fabric panels to the frame ensuring to leave enough room in the fabric for the batting.

7. Staple 3 out of the 4 sides of the 3 back panels to the frame of each window, being sure to create a "pocket" for the batting to go in.

8. Stuff each panel with the batting to the, be sure to not over stuff, otherwise you will need larger "L" brackets to mount the headboard.

9. Finish stapling the last side of the back fabric to the frame to close off the pocket you left.

10. Mount the headboard above your bed using "L" brackets from the hardware store. And you are done!

Total spent: $24

LINNARP door - $7
Fabric - $6
Buttons - $3
Ploy-Fil Batting - $5
"L" Brackets from the hardware store - $3

A Step-by-Step video can be found here.

Happy Headboarding!

~ North Hollywood, CA

Ikea DesKad

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

Ikea Rykene becomes fit for the Dauphin

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

Kitchen unit becomes chest of drawers for babyroom

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

Living Room Wall System

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

Charging Station for $6+

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 :)

Step 1: Using the larger serving bowl from the SOLBRAND set, place the bowl upside down and trace the perimeter on the cardboard. To compensate for the slope of inside the bowl, cut the traced cardboard a little more than � inch inside what you traced (you might need to trim more later).

Step 2: I created a sturdy surface for the cardboard to sit on using some wood I had lying around. I hot glued them together and to the bottom of the bowl. You can use anything stackable to create a level surface for the cardboard to sit on. You could also glue things on the walls of the bowl to create a sitting surface. (Optional: if you want to have all your chargers in the bowl, make sure to leave space for them along with the KAPPLA surge protector).

Step 3: Trace the trimmed cardboard piece onto the NEDDA chair pad (I purchased the 'no design' version) and trim to fit. Once you are satisfied with the overall fit, make the area for the charger cords to fit through. I made a slit in the middle. On the cardboard side I cut out � inch by 1.5 inches.

Step 4: Hot glue the trimmed NEDDA to your cardboard. Glue a nice amount around your cardboard slot.

Step 5: I drilled a 1-1/4 inch hole on the side of the bowl for the cords to come out. (Optional: If you don't use the KAPPLA surge protector in the bowl, run your chargers through the hole and use a RABALDER cable cover for a cleaner look.

I'd love to see various versions!

~ Jon T., D.C. metro area

Growing up table

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

Ivar transfomed

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 �" 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 �" 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

Besta with hidden entertainment

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.

BEST�? 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

Kitchen Pantry

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

Turn a vase into a lamp

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

Base cabinet to island

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

Recycled Hemma lampcord

Materials: Hemma lampcord
Description: Start with a piece of clear acrylic, cut into a desired shape and drill various 1" diameter holes. Next, go to your local Ikea and purchase a Hemma lampcord then raid their light bulb recycle bin and load up! A little silicone, aircraft cable, creativity and presto!

~ Matthew Agostinis, Toronto, Ontario