Safe Bekvam step stool for toddlers

Materials: Bekvam step stool. 1.25 inch wood. 6 screws.

Description: PROBLEM
2 small children need to reach fragile modern glass bowl sink without injuring sink or themselves.

SOLUTION
- measure height of sink bowl.
- measure out the 1.25 inch left over wood into 3 pieces to arch over the sink to act as a handle for children perched on step stool.
- cut 2 vertical wood pieces and screw onto either side of step stool taking into account where the child will stand on stool. Mid way of top step should do it. Use 2 screws for each side and allow vertical wood pieces to touch floor to make it stable.
- cut last piece as top handle onto top of 2 vertical pieces and attach with 2 screws.
- sand off cut edges to round them.
- paint to suit.

This simple hack not only provides a safe solution for my kids but turns an inexpensive stool into a safer stool for adults that would cost way more for something comparative.

~ Peter Brunton, Orlando, Florida, USA

Bekvam + Fullen Solve 3 Problems

Materials: Bekvam, Fullen, Ekby Valter, Saw, Drill, Rotozip

Description: My family and I recently moved to a new apartment. We brought with us a 3 year old Bekvam kitchen cart that simply did not work for our new kitchen. Rather than sell or throw away the Bekvam, I decided to make use of the wood and hardware.

Our bathroom had a sink mounted on the wall with no storage underneath. This was a problem for us, so I decided to go out and buy a new Fullen cabinet. Fullen's do not have tops, but the top of the Bekvam was just the right size. Using my Rotozip tool, I cut a large "U" shape out of the Bekvam top, sanded it down a bit and attached it to the Fullen using a couple of angle brackets. I finished it off by sealing the gap between the wood and the sink with white silicon.

There's an odd gap in our kitchen between a couple of built in closets/cabinets. It turned out that the two Bekvam shelves would fill that gap perfectly. Using a few mending plates, I attached the two shelves together at the bottom and then attached them to two new Ekby Valter angle brackets. After mounting them on the wall, we had a new home for our microwave.

I was left with the Bekvam legs, part of the top and the apron. Using my circular saw, I cut the remainder of the top into two rectangles, which became the new top and shelf. After trimming the Bekvam's apron pieces down to size, I attached them to the new Bekvam top using the original hardware and reattached the legs (which were also shortened by 6 inches). Using a band saw, I cut rectangular notches out of each corner of the new Bekvam shelf, stuck four old wooden dowels in the existing holes in the legs and rested the new shelf on top. We now had a new end table and cat perch.

Overall, I'm quite pleased with the results. I'll probably end up painting the table, but for now, it's fine as it is.

~ Doug

Books, budgets and Bekvams

Materials: Ikea Bekvam Spice Rack

Description: It's a well known fact that I love blogs like I love my own children. A lot. And I see and get a lot of ideas. The "Miscellaneous" folder on my desktop is always full to the brim with inspiration, potential blog posts, things that I'm "going to do". But Ikea Bekvam Spice Racks as bookshelves? That had me clearing my diary and driving to Ikea the following day! Got kids? Cash strapped? Listen up.


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Repurposing spice racks into children's bookshelves

Nothing hacked but it's a nice idea which I thought deserved to be shared. ~ Jules

Materials: BEKVAM Spice Racks

Description: We wanted bookshelves for our children's room that had books facing out, but all of the existing shelves we found were entirely too expensive. These fit the bill and fit perfectly into the small space available to add them.

Not much needed in the way of instructions. Hang as you would the spice racks - you put screws in the walls and hook the shelves on the screw using the space that comes pre-installed on the shelves.

See more of the Bekvam kid's book shelf.

~ Lillian

Spotty step

Materials: Bekvam stool paint, black card and clear varnish

Description: I painted this stepin cream and punched out 1" circles out of black card and stuck them on and varnished it 2 years on and they still look good in my kitchen

~ S Franklin, Northern Ireland (Northern Ireland)

18" Ensuite Bathroom Vanity

Materials: Bekvam

Description: Put off by outrageous prices for bathroom vanities and an awkward space to fill in my ensuite bathroom, I turned to Ikea Hackers for inspiration.

Not to be disappointed, Karen from SFO gave me the great idea to use the Bekvam butcher block as a base for my shaker style vanity with above counter sink.

The materials list and cost is as follows:

- The Bekvam cart: $59.99
- Cabinet door from as-is section at Ikea: $5
- 1 piece of 20" x 48" x 3/4" pine lumber from Home Depot: $11
- 2 hinges: $4
- I used left over paint and stain I had stored in my workshop for the finish.

So total cost for the vanity was 80 bucks. The sink and faucet ran me about $325 at a local bathroom supply liquidator. The manufacturer of the sink and faucet is called "Rubi".

In a nutshell I used the basic frame of the Beckvam for the counter top and legs. I disassembled the shelves that come with the bekvam and used the wood to create the detail on the sides where the lumber meets up with the bekvam structure. I did the same in the front face where the door meets bekvam. The result is a smoother transition from the existing structure to the add on components (lumber and door).

For the finish I used a very durable oil based melamine paint (2 coats). I stained the counter top and sealed it with 2 coats of varathane and buffed it with paste wax for added protection from the water.

~ Jeremy, Montreal, Canada

Ikea Spice Rack Hack - The Warli Way!

Materials: BEKVAM Spice Rack

Description: I wanted spice rack to match my theme in Indian Kitchen. Got it Painted Black and did warli Painting on it.

Warli painting dates back to 10th Century, found in Maharastra in India. It depicts the daily life of Warli Tribes.

See more of the Warli spice rack.

~ Anitha Murali, Dubai, UAE

Fold up workshop

Materials: Bekvam kitchen cart

Description: I used the kitchen cart as the core of a fold up mobile woodshop or craft station. I also use the same cart for mobile tool stands after making the necessary modifications.

~ Donald Henderson, Orleans Ontario Canada