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