Martin Cooper

I wanted a more robust and sturdy look for the IKEA bookcases to be installed in my basement. The final results look good and my family seems to like it. It took about 15-10 hours of work, with plastering being the hardest and most time consuming bit. The set up cost about $100 excluding the bookshelves. What I like most about it is knowing that I did it myself. IKEA items used: 40 cm wide IKEA bookcases ( BILLY ) x 4 Other materials and tools: Studs Plasterboards Screws Paint Paint brush Screwdriver Saw Knife How to frame IKEA bookcases: After assembly of all six IKEA bookcases I used screws to fasten them to each other, so they basically become one unit. Related: Full BILLY bookcase wall. See more . Before fastening the bookcases on the wall I put two planks under them to vertically center the bookshelves on the wall. I then begun building the frame around the bookcases using studs. Related: Brightening up a boring BILLY bookcase. Tutorial here . T...

Atelier Urban Face completed the design and development of the “Mount-Royal Kiosks” project. These three oddly shaped buildings are meant to spice up urban family escapes in Mount Royal Park, Montreal, Canada. “The new kiosks take on the shape of the hamlet,” the architects explained. “This was an important factor in the design, as a hamlet incorporates the idea of a village, one that encourages a sense of interaction and community. The positioning of the kiosks are random, representing a dialogue between the kiosks and the main pavilion, the waterfall at Beaver Lake.” The installation is inspired by two main components: the play of light and the constant shifting of the wind. Thanks to steel structures, each kiosk leans at a different angle, as if being pushed by the wind. The first kiosk is inclined at 10 degrees, designed for both summer and winter class field trips. With enough room for up to 30 people, the activity possibilities are numerous. The second kiosk, inclined a...

If you are wondering how to turn your RAST dresser into a handsome apothecary cabinet, I have just the hack for you. IKEA item used: RAST chest of drawers RAST | IKEA.com Other materials: Plywood (3mm thick) Drawer handles File label tags Wax Stain The dresser has 3 drawers. I changed only the fronts of the drawers. I used plywood with a thickness of 3mm, drawer handles and file label tags (frames to slot in a piece of paper). And covered the plywood with wax in oak color. I think you can just score horizontal lines across the drawer fronts with a saw to create a faux apothecary cabinet style but I wanted more it realistic, with more texture. Plywood has a richer pattern too, in my opinion. I coated the exterior of the chest with wax and stained the inside white. I like to leave it lighter inside. Instructions for a faux apothecary cabinet: 1. Carefully sand the plywood to prep it. 2. Cut the plywood into strips in the desired width. (Add a few millimetres betw...

You’ve got the perfect headboard and bedding set up. But does your bedroom still feel a little … vanilla? The large and empty wall area over your bed is probably the reason something’s missing. It’s not easy to decorate the area over your bed — it’s a long and sometimes narrow area. Here are some easy ways you can take your bedroom wall decorating to the next level. 1. Paint (or wallpaper) the wall a rich, vibrant color Set off the headboard wall with a rich color or beautifully textured wallpaper . Image: Clean Design Partners 2. Hang a patterned rug Hanging a rug over your bed sideways could be the perfect solution to filling the large wall beautifully. Image: Modern Mecca A tapestry that’s been mounted on a pole makes an interesting bedroom wall decor idea. Image: An Aesthetic Pursuit 3. Add a wall mural A map of the world mural in contemporary shades of grey add personality to this simple bedroom. Image: Gaile Guevara Studio The mural in this sophisticated be...