Martin Cooper

Here’s another makeover of an old IKEA item at home. In this case, I am refurbishing an old DRAGGAN cart that got rusty over time. It’s a very easy hack that embellishes perfectly a corner of my dining room as it provides some quick-access storage. Before starting, the shelves were all rusty and had definitely seen better days so, making new shelves was a no-brainer. Since my dining area has a slight “Industrial” flavor, I thought the well-known black frame plus wooden shelves combo would be a sure win to fit within the area theme. This was the sad before … Related: IKEA bar cart hack (That’s not the usual gold & marble) Ikea items used:  DRAGGAN Trolley Other materials and tools: Two 1000x100x5mm balsa-wood (length x width x thickness) (Plywood is also a nice alternative) 18x built-in nail cable-clips (inner diameter 10mm) 1x primer spray for steel (500ml) 1x Matt-black spray (500ml) Oak tint varnish (oil can also work) Grades 200, 400, 600,...

#1 Compact wall recycling center We live in a small apartment in Copenhagen, so finding space for the variety of recycling can be very difficult. Previously, we had it all stashed away in several cupboards, in a variety of boxes and containers. This meant when it was time to empty it, we had to first transfer it to another bag, then carry it down three flights of stairs to dispose of it in the proper dumpster. This solution consolidates it all in a convenient area, in bags which we can simply pluck off the wall, carry down, then slip back in their place. The bags are durable, easy to wash, and a comfortable size which allows you to carry multiple down. The best part is that it’s all in one area, hidden away in a small part of the apartment near the back stairwell, an area that is rarely trafficked. We’ve freed up space in cupboards we use most often, and utilized a space that previously felt like a bit of a sad, unusable area. IKEA item used: STORSTOMMA bag –  small 3 wood ...

We wanted an 80+ inch TV and looked at many commercial entertainment units and there were not many that would accept a TV this large. We wanted a ‘built-in’ look and custom cabinets were in the $5-7K range . Here’s a look at our finished BESTÅ entertainment unit. Related: Hack an IKEA TV cabinet with real wood top IKEA items used:  IKEA BESTÅ cabinets HANVIKEN doors Other materials and tools:  1×2″ pre-primed MDF for bookcase face-frames 1×6″ pre-primed MDF for cabinet platforms 5″ MDF crown molding One 3/4″ x 4’x8′ sheet of MDF Paint to match cabinets Biscuit joiner to attach face frame 1 1/2″ wood screws to attach cabinets together BESTÅ entertainment unit I started by laying out the cabinets with the BESTÅ Planner on the IKEA website.  I built mine for a 82″ TV, but you’ll need to check the dimensions for your TV.  My cabinets are the 15″ deep BESTÅs under the TV and the 8″ deep BESTÅs everywhere else to give some difference in depth ...

Towards the end of 2020, IKEA and LEGO launched the much talked about BYGGLEK . It was a collection of clever boxes which not only provided space to store LEGO bricks , but also studded surfaces for builds as well. The range quickly became a firm favourite among the LEGO community . Photo: IKEA.com Recently, IKEA, in a playful twist, recreated their furniture for the BYGGLEK set. They came up with a set of assembly manuals on how to build IKEA furniture with the BYGGLEK LEGO bricks. We know. This was bound to happen sooner or later. “To celebrate (the launch), we’ve developed instruction manuals so you can re-create your favourite IKEA pieces from your new BYGGLEK brick set,” writes IKEA Australia on their site . So far, they’ve published guides for 3 items: the KLIPPAN sofa , GRÖNLID armchair and MALM bed . The BYGGLEK guides are illustrated like regular IKEA assembly manuals, but so much easier to follow. Photo: IKEA.com.au Follow the step-by-step instructions and in no...

We decided to alter the lights because the shiny finish did not match our interior office style. We have many reclaimed and distressed components in the office; i.e. reclaimed timbers and shiplap ceilings. Related: IKEA RANARP Wood Industrial Desk Lamp Our cabinetry and other black colored items are matte black. Rusting the lights seemed to fit perfectly with our vision for the space, and in our opinion, complemented the already industrial look of the lights themselves. IKEA item: SVARTNORA pendant lamp ; X8 SVARTNORA pendant lamp | IKEA.com Materials/tools: Sandblaster (hired out) Water Vinegar Salt How to make a rust pendant light: Had the lights sandblasted by a professional sandblaster. This was to remove the shiny finish on the bell of the lamp. We made sure to leave the wiring housing alone (at top of the lamp), to not compromise the electrical or weight-bearing components. We then placed the pendants outside and washed the newly sandblasted areas. ...