A Sad, Old, and Tired Table Gets A Second Wind, Thanks to Vika Moliden!

Materials: One old table, two Vika Moliden legs, two pieces of plywood, PL premium, screws

Description: 1. Find a sad, old, and tired table, that looks like it might be on its last legs.

2. Remove those legs.

3. Purchase two Vika Moliden legs.

4. Attach some plywood to the bottom of the table using PL premium.

5. Screw the Vika Moliden legs into the plywood.

6. Voila!

See more of the dining table makeover.

~ Julie McKenzie, Edmonton, Canada

To Dine for Hack

Materials: Spontan Board, Vika Moliden underframe, Perfekt cover panels, Ribba picture ledge, Gidea conference table, metal wire, and Tidig pendant lamp

Description: Buen provecho and bon appetit! A smorgasbord dining room full of hacks...

1) Combine Gidea conference table and Moliden underframe for a Cantoni inspired "One and Only" table

2) Disguise a hole left by a relocated light by using a Spontan board covered with faux crocodile and trimmed with stainless Perfekt plinth and black wood trim

3) Use thin gauge wire and crystals for a "Cellula" inspired chandelier (this is another hack's creation - thanks)

4) Attach Perfekt cover panels to walls in lieu of columns for an architectural detail in a tight space (trim tops with scrap wood trim and stainless Perfekt plinths)

5) Make an extra long ledge by combining Ribba picture ledges. To avoid visual gaps at the front cut pieces at 45 degree angles. For gaps between the wall, apply black wood trim to the back that is same thickness as the cover panels.

6) Line Billy Bookcases with gorgeous wallpaper

7) Throw a party!

~ Vika

Mini Bench Coffee Table from Frosta Stool

Materials: Frosta Stool, Screws, Screwdriver

Description: These are Frosta stools (a copy of an Alvar Alto stool for Artek) hacked into small coffee tables by moving the legs around (and using it differently than intended). I did not make these, I just saw them outside a place called Tully's Cafe on the corner of Götgatan and Högbergsgatan in Stockholm, and thought I'd submit them.

Not sure if the stools are available at IKEA in the US though? They are called Frosta in Sweden at least.

~ Johan Perjus, Stockholm, Sweden

Pimp my IKEA table

Materials: LEKSVIK

Description: A Leksvik on the cheap gets a makeover with painted on "placemats" and "chalkboard" setting. The flower motif is set with a layer of clear coat with glitter sprayed on a template. 

See more of the Leksvik table.

~ Heidi, Norway

Espresso cups

Materials: Vaken

Description: Needed some cups (unbreakable) for my Handpresso coffee maker. I sawed the top of some Vaken plastic cups and polished them up with a very fine grain sandpaper. Got double the amount of cups for a third of the price of the originals.

~ Michael, Milton Keynes - England

Lack Bistro Table

Materials: 2x Lack side tables, 1x Lack coffee table, Loctite construction adhesive, Polycrylic

Description: We had a tiny "breakfast nook" in our newly remodeled (Ikea Adel MB!) kitchen and wanted an affordable way to add a small table for two. The space available was *very* narrow (we had to be able to open the pantry and access the window/trash can), and we wanted something pub-height so we could use the same stools that are at our breakfast bar. I had been wanting to hack-a-lack for a while, and when I saw the $19.99 coffee table, I was sold!

Step 1: Purchase 2 Lack side tables, 1 Lack coffee table, construction adhesive, and poly (for the table top, we used water-based). Cost: approximately $40-45.

Step 2: Set one side table top on the floor, shiny (paint) side up. Glue four legs to the corners of the top surface. It can be tricky to get these square and/or level, so be aware you may need to adjust a bit as the adhesive sets. Try to wait until almost completely dry before proceeding.

Step 3: Glue the tops of the four 'first-tier' legs to the bottom (not finished side) of the second side-table top. Weight and wait for it to dry.

Step 4: Repeat step 1 on the top of your new "box" to create the second-tier legs.

Step 5: Measure carefully on the coffee table top to center the table base/legs so overhang is the same on both ends. Glue the tops of the second-tier legs to the bottom of the coffee table top, add weight, and wait for it to dry completely.

Step 6: Apply 2-3 coats of poly to the table top. We only did this on the very top (the coffee-table piece), since that's where beverages, etc would be set, but you could apply it to the entire structure if you were ambitious. Use very very fine sandpaper between coats to remove bubbles.

Step 7: Voila! Bistro table for 2 that fits in a very narrow space. We added felt pads on the corners of the bottom layer to protect the floor.

Leftovers for other hacks: coffee table shelf (same size as top but thinner), set of 4 Lack legs.

~ Blair, Knoxville, TN

Table Head Cabinet

Materials:
From Ikea: Billy bookcase, Billy Height extension, 2 Faktum base cabninets 40cm wide, Faktum wall cabinet (40 x 92cm).
Other stuff: Plasterboard, wooden slats, monitor arm and wallpaper (Cole & Son Wood).

Description: We needed to add some extra storage space in the our living room and we were looking for a cabinet that would blend in. We came up with the idea to make a cabinet at the head of the table. First we thought to make the cabinet entirely from MDF, but we also wanted the wallpaper that we have in our kitchen to repeat somewhere in the living room. Wallpaper on the side of a thin plate of MDF didn't feel right and for that reason the side of the cabinet had to have a more "wall like" appearance.

Finally we came up with this solution. We stacked up 3 Faktum cabinets (for hidden storage) on one side and a Billy bookcase with height extension (for books) on the other. Both sides with their backs to each other. Both Billy and Faktum have a width of 40cm. In front of the Ikea storage heap we constructed a frame of wooden slats, which in turn was covered with plasterboard. We took 36 mm slats and 12.5 mm plasterboard. This results in a "wall" of approx 5cm. After plastering the bumps we gave this "wall" a wallpaper finish.

Finally we mounted our monitor on the wall with a monitor arm that can fold back completely. This way we have a working space on the table that can easily be pushed aside or made into a interactive picture frame for a diner with friends.

The only thing missing now is a nice colorful fake bird on the wall. A new table project will be next.

~ Roel, Netherlands

New-ish dining room table

Materials: Capita

Description:
Finally got around to "remaking" the dining room table. The top is from the old table...the cart was bought on Craigslist. The Capita braces are from IKEA.

Here is the link to the project.


~ Wan Chi Lau

The Ultimate Twin Highchair

Materials: BJURSTA dining room table

Description: We have a very small home and twin babies. Our small dining room/living room will not comfortably accommodate 2 high chairs and a dining room table. I heard about activity tables for daycare centers. They sell for $300+, which is not in our high chair budget. Other non-high chair options didn't make feeding the babies at the same time sound easy. We wanted something similar to an activity table that would accommodate the babies now and the whole family at mealtime when the twins get older as well as serve as a place to make crafts or paint.

I decided to make a modified activity table for a fraction of the price. I found replacement seats for the activity table online (pkg of 6 chairs for $16.99 and pkg of 2 belts for $2.99 on elitedeals.com) and we had a free Ikea table a friend gave us.

We traced the outline of the seats on the table and cut out holes using a jigsaw. We moved around the supports to make it stable since this is an expandable table (we lost the inner leaf so don't plan to expand it ever). The seats can be easily taken out and turned the opposite direction to make it easy for feeding infants, toddlers to eat dinner, or as an activity table for crafts.

When we want to have adult friends over we remove the seats and place a board over the holes. We figure we can invest in a new table when the babies are bigger and can sit in regular seats. The table/chairs are good for kids up to 24+ months. Please visit our blog to see more pictures and a video demo of feeding 2 infants at once using this ingenious table!

See more of the twin high chair.

~Krystal

Étagère 365+

Materials: 2 rectangular flat wooden bowls (365+ serving plate), piece of broomstick, 2 IKEA screws.

Description: I wanted compact bowls, for fruit on the table and vegetables on the countertop in our small kitchen. The 365+ wooden rectangular bowls were nice compact and easy to modify, since they're made of wood. It only takes a few minutes of work:

1. Determine center of gravity. I balanced the bowl on a bic ballpoint pen, and then pushed the pen tip out to mark the center.
2. Cut broomstick to length. I used 17 cm.
3. Drill holes in bowls (5mm) and broomstick-ends (4 mm) (but depends on the screw size you use)
4. Attach with screws.

I used original IKEA screws from the leftover-metal-bin in the as-is-section at IKEA. For a few euro's you can collect your choice of leftover hinges, screws etc in a paper bag or plastic container. I really like the screws for DIY work.

~ G.V.M., The Netherlands

Woodsy, antique ikea table

Materials: Bjursta table legs, Ivar chairs

Description:
- Remove legs from cracked wobbly old table
- Replace with bjursta legs but use original antique harware and drill new holes
- Whitewash table and throw on some old boards from the attic
- Sand and varathane entire piece
- Paint dark wood Ivar chairs and antique chairs white

~ Athea Boyes, Britannia Beach Canada

Lack shelving unit as dining benches

Materials: Lack shelving unit, Capita legs, Iris chair pads

Description: This may not be a new idea, but I though I would share the end result!

Instructions: We made the benches before we had the table, only because we had them in storage. I love the look, but as a vertical unit they are not that practical. The benches are Ikea Lack shelving units turned on their side. Please note, their needs to be some attention taken to the amount of weight that the shelves can hold. They are not intended to be benches. We have found that they can easily hold 3 150-180 pounds adults.

We used 6 Capita legs (different heights available), 2 at each end and 2 spot in the middle. Choose the height of the leg depending on the height of your table - we used the 10" size. I chose 5 Iris chair pads as they fit the length and depth of the bench almost perfectly. The cubbyholes can now be sued for baskets or other storage containers for toys, games, table linens. etc

A last trick for rented homes and apartments, hang your own lighting or ask your landlord to do it. If it doesn't require a change to the existing electrical hardware, it is easy to put up and then take down when you leave. And really, it makes such a huge impact. We hung a Kroby light fixture and even installed a dimmer switch. The switch we'll probably leave for the next tenants - every overhead light should be on a dimmer in my opinion.

See more of the Lack shelving bench.

~ Alex T