Mirrored vanity desk

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2008...anity-desk.html

Jule inherited an old piece of furniture which she deftly upgraded into a mirrored vanity. Guess mirrors and vanity do go well together.

Jule says, "I was given an old student desk which my parents bought at a garage sale before I was born. I never liked it, but it was really functional as a vanity in my bedroom. So, one day it occurred to me that it had the right shape to convert into a piece of mirrored furniture.

So, I went to Ikea for mirrors (Lots mirrors: 4 pack for $5) and new knobs (Antik: 2 pack for $5). A few cans of spray paint and some black grout from Home Depot (I was afraid to drill through the mirror, so I left a space for the knobs and filled it with grout.) All totaled it was about a $50 investment. Not including the chair, which I got the Borje chair from the “As Is” department at Ikea for $30 (the white upholstery was dirty, but nothing that a little cleaning didn't resolve.)

I am pleased with the results and even my husband who hates mirrored furniture likes it.

Instructions:
· Remove knobs
· Lightly sand surface (especially the top which was damaged)
· Spray paint with glossy black paint
· Measure and cut mirrors using a mirror cutter (it take a lot of practice – my price includes the 3 tiles I destroyed trying to figure out how to cut it. Then my husband figured it out on the 1st try, so I made him cut the rest.)
· Adhere the mirror with liquid nails made for mirrors
· Fill the seams with black grout
· Put on new hardware

A little light reading in bed

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2008...ing-in-bed.html

If you're the type who does a little reading in bed before turning in, this hack from Carter does the trick. And all for $30. Not bad indeed.

Carter says, "This hack uses a $7.99 Minde Mirror, and two $3.99 Morker table lamps from Ikea to make a beautiful framed mirror with reading lamps, perfect for over the bed.

In addition to the items from Ikea I used 1x4 wood tongue and groove boards to make the frame, angle irons to hold the frame together, 7/16' bolts for the lights, tape for the cords, wood stain, polyurethane finish, and various screws and hanging hardware.

Simply cut the boards with 45 degree angles to size to make the frame around the mirror. Make sure the groove side is on the inside of the frame. Connect 3 sides together using the angle irons. Slide the mirror into the groove then attach the fourth side. Next, I stained and finished the wood. Be sure to cover the mirror while doing this. Once dry, drill holes where you want the lights to go and screw the lights on with the bolts. Tape the cords to the back of the mirror and frame so they hang down closer to the center. Finally, attach hanging hardware and hang on the wall.

Ikea has framed mirrors similar to this without lights that they sell for between $50 and $150. This was done with lights for less than $30."