Need more prep space for your kitchen?

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2008...ur-kitchen.html

Anne figures out a smart solution for more prep space in her tiny kitchen. It may look small but it packs quite a few compartments - for recycling and even a kitty litter.

She says, "The kitchen in my rental is tiny. The space that was left after refinishing the kitchen required that I keep into account a wall ledge, baseboard heating, weak wall paneling on top of old plaster walls, and a one-inch sloping of the floor. My most important focus was to find additional space to hide away my cats litter box, and place recycling bins. Additional counter tops and storage would come in handy, of course.

I opted for Pronomen butcher block counter top, mounted on a single Vika Furusund table leg, held in place by the traditional Capita cabinet legs. This constellation allowed me to mount the opposite side of the countertop onto the wall ledge without adding additional height, which would have been the case with a traditional kitchen cabinet. The Capita legs are easily adjusted too - again, pretty helpful in the unevenly sloped floor.

The Vika Furusund cabinet or table leg offers the necessary space for my two Rationell recycling bins, as well as convenient access from the side for additional storage. I rounded it all off by hanging a left-over Ikea curtain (sorry forgot the name) on a tension rod between the wall and the table leg to provide access for my cat to her litter box. Overall, this prep space has worked out well, though one day I will have to take the time and paint it to match the rest of the kitchen."

TV unit with subwoofer space

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2008...ofer-space.html

Charles hacks a neat TV stand from Ikea kitchen cabs. Similar cabinets, like this one, sells for much more.

He says, "I've been busy building a new TV stand for the in-wall 'nook' in my living room. I took some Ikea cabinets, put 3 of them together, made it more sturdy, added wheels, and customized the heck out of it. I just need to reinforce the back, and put side-panels on. It didn't come out too bad, and it's got a nice space for the subwoofer in the center now."

Extending the cabinet

Top created and put together

Top goes on top of this

Top gets screwed on

Making the subwoofer space

Custom base installed

Almost done

Done!

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."

Ikea happenings

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2008...happenings.html

Hey, hey, how's your Monday? Thought I'll kick the week off with some news.

Ikeafans has a new look!
If you noticed the tabs at your top right hand corner, you would have found the IKEAhacker forum, which is hosted on IKEAFANS, the fantastic site run by Susan Martin and gang. They recently relaunched their website with a cool new look! It's more functional now and easier to find the info you need. The forums, the heartbeat of the site (and treasure trove of Ikea information) continue to grow, now with over 75,000 members and all the stuff you could possibly need to know about Ikea. Don't miss the galleries and its whopping 11,000 photos!

Bemz has slipcovers to be won!
We ran a contest with Bemz a year ago and if you did not manage to win then, here is your chance again. The Swedish company that breathes new life into IKEA sofas and chairs have launched the "My Home, My Way" contest at the Bemz blog, It's a Cover-Up.

The entries so far have been pretty good. But if you think your sofa is the one to beat them all, do hurry up and snap a fab photo and send it in. You could win a 5000 Swedish Crown* shopping spree at Bemz. (*5000 Swedish Crowns (or SEK) is approximately equivalent to €500 / £400 / US$700 / CND$800.)

I'm one of the judges too. :) Here's how to take part.

Ho ho holidays at Ikea

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2008...ys-at-ikea.html

I've always thought Ikea carries some of the most interesting holiday decor and items. This year, they deliver yet again. I've just had a quick browse of their holiday catalogue and it looks fabulous. Whether you want the ice maiden crisp white winter look or warm and cozy tingly feeling, they are all there.

Here are some I like.

And this last one that looks pretty much like one of our previous hacks. ;P

Browse Ikea's winter collection.

The art of cooking utensils

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2008...g-utensils.html

Michelle gives her laddle, skimmer and spatula the love they deserve by framing them in a Ribba shadow box. I love the idea - it's a fab way to show off your cooking utensils when not in use, rather than stashing them in the drawer or cramming them in an Ordning. Well, provided they are all shiny with no crusty burnt marks on them, er, like mine.

She says, "I recently moved into a new condo that has a tiny kitchen with extreme lack of counter space. I used to store cooking utensils (laddle, skimmer, spatula, etc) in the Ikea Ordning. But unfortunately, there isn't anymore room for it on my counter so I thought of a way to hang the utensils instead.

I used a Ribba shadow box with the Lansa black door handle. I had to change some the hardware (shorter screwn, washers, and botls) for the Lansa in order for it to securely fasten onto the board of the Ribba shadow box. I also painted the board that came with the shadow box the same color of the wall (light grey).

Below my utensil holder, I've also used the Kroken magnetic knife rack for my spices. The containers for the spices came from Canadian Tire.

This solution has been a big help in kitchen. Hopefully it'll help a lot of other people who have little to no counter space."

See more of Michelle's arty cooking utensil holder.

Complete your spa bathroom with a wooden shower mat

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2008...ith-wooden.html

A little while ago we had this Platta flooring for the bathroom. So hey, why not use it as a shower mat to complete the spa look? That's what Eleazar did.

He's been having it for a few months now and it seems to be holding up. Before you try this you should be aware that the Platta deck has tannic acid which may leak out and stain the floor and grouting.


See more of Eleazar's Platta wooden shower mat.