Martin Cooper

I’ve always wanted to have a kitchen island and when moving into a new apartment, our small kitchen and limited countertop surfaces gave me the opportunity to create my dream kitchen island. I went for the KALLAX unit because I was looking for an affordable and easily DIYable solution. As I was looking for ideas on Pinterest , I stumbled upon similar projects which gave me the inspiration to make my own version of it. After all, it’s such a versatile piece that even if I change my mind in the future, I can use it as something else! Three things were key to my decision: lots of storage, a large enough surface area and the ability to move it between rooms. That’s why we opted for two 2×2 KALLAX shelving units instead of one bigger one (2×4), so that we could move at least one of the two units to the living room or patio and use it as a buffet trolley when we have people over. The video below shows how I made my portable kitchen island from start to finish. Click the play button to wa...

With thousands of IKEA products coming and going, it’s not easy to remember everyone . That’s where we all come in. Collective memory is better than my single brain. So it’s up to us to help IKEAhackers readers pin down the name that’s on the tip of their tongue. Here goes. #1 What’s this wardrobe? Kelly has this wardrobe cabinet purchased from IKEA in New Jersey back in August 2014. She would like to disassemble it to move it to a new location, but cannot remember the name of it. Having a name makes it easier to search for assembly manuals. She has also looked through the IKEA catalogs from 2011-2015 with no luck. Related: ODDA and a half Kelly, you’re in luck. I made an Image search on Google and can confirm that this black and white beauty is an ODDA wardrobe. IKEAaddict archived it, with the assembly manual available here . I love the ODDA wardrobe design with the flip top doors at the top and drawers at the bottom. Would work well in the kitchen too as pantry storag...

What’s a Renocation? According to IKEA and Pinterest , it’s a renovation with a vacation in mind, creating a spot for a cosy staycation. The two brands kicked off the Renocations campaign this week — an online tool that helps IKEA customers find inspiration for their next home renovation. Statistics from Pinterest show that searches for renovations are reaching all-time highs, up 28% in Q1 2021 vs. Q1 2020 and 65% higher than searches in Q1 2019. On reaching the Renocations page, customers are asked 3 immersive questions on their ideal vacation, such as, “If you could be anywhere irl… Where would you be?” Related: IKEA “Vacations in a Box” for the ultimate staycation The combinations of answers lead to a custom Pinterest board, tailored to the customer’s interests and tastes. In short, customers get a curated mood board filled with IKEA items, making it easier to embark on a Renocation. “At a time when many of us are looking to turn our home projects into a reality, IKEA w...

Our cats had basically destroyed this poor couch (see photo of side arm) and we’d already decided that it was time to change it out. I had even posted it free on Craigslist. Related: FRIHETEN sofabed /couch Hack – Add bass to your couch for ultimate movie experience! BUT I loved the storage and the couch and chaise were both still very comfy. So I decided we could just keep the chaise. I uninstalled it to make it easier to transport and realized that the chaise was ideal if we put it against the wall. At first I thought about chopping the back so the chaise would have a back, but decided that the pillows against the wall were sufficient for the time being. Maybe one day, I’ll build a back for it, but for now, it’s all good. And the space we have it is a PERFECT reading nook.  IKEA items used:  FRIHETEN sectional sofa sleeper FRIHETEN Sleeper sectional | Buy on IKEA.com Other materials and tools:  Just the wrench that came with the sectional +...

I found this bar desk on Pinterest but haven’t been able to find the original instructions. Any ideas how to make this? Photo: Pinterest via Gizmodo Thanks for any help. Amna Khan *** Hi Amna That’s a sleek bar desk. My suggestion is to use components from the IKEA kitchen range ( SEKTION or METOD ) and a worktop like MELLTORP or if you prefer a longer desk, like LINNMON . Here’s how I would hack a bar desk Place two 12 x 14 3/4 x 40″ SEKTION wall cabinets back to back. One cabinet opens to the left and the other, to the right like your inspiration photo. The MELLTORP desk is a good fit (29 1/2″) with the length of the two SEKTION cabinets (a little under 29 inches) when they are positioned back to back. All you need to do is to secure the cabinet frames to each other. Then, cover the front with wood grain contact paper or a piece of plywood if you prefer a more realistic finish. Lastly, attach the worktop to the bottom piece with L brackets or with screws, drill...

I wanted my DIY worm farm to be stylish, integrated and cheap. And it is. This system cost me about $20, not including the cart. People love the integration with the herb garden . The trolley proved to be handy — makes it mobile and easy to move around, even in small spaces. Size wise, it’s perfect for an urban apartment compost for a household of 1 or 2 persons. I hope I can inspire more people to do urban composting even in small apartments. IKEA items used:  3 x SOCKERBIT Box with lid , white, 15×9 ¾x6 “ NISSAFORS cart (optional) Other materials and tools:  Spigot Drill Cutting knife Pen Ruler DIY worm farm instructions: Firstly, if you’re new to this, find more information online on how worm composting works .  1. Drill many holes into the bottom of 2 SOCKERBIT boxes. They do not need to be in a perfect grid. It was a personal choice as I like them lined up. Related: TROFAST system for indoor composting worm bin 2. Cut t...