Spotlight on Dean Wilson, winner of the Ikea Hack of 2010

I recently finished painting the Campbell's Soup mural in our kitchen using the same method as the Reservoir Dogs design, a projector, pencils, posca pens and paint.

We've seen the winning hack. Let's get to know Dean, aka thedesignguy behind the gorgeous Pax sliding doors room divider.

More on the IKEA hack of 2010

IH: How did you come up with the idea for the Pax room divider?
Dean: When my girlfriend and decided to purchase our first apartment, we were fully aware that we couldn't afford anything much bigger then a studio. Both of us being fairly creative, we put our minds together found a well designed apartment and brainstormed how to make it a comfortable/functional living space.

IH: In constructing the hack, what was the toughest/most difficult portion?
Dean: The toughest part of the entire build was actually not the plan nor the mounting of the doors; those aspects of the build came together surprisingly easy. It was more the fact that as I had never built anything before; as a result I researched via the net, questioned employees at hardware stores and asked friends for advise. One of those friends was my girlfriend's brother who was an expert at building and gave me some insight into what to look out for. The number 1 being; cracks. The room was going to be combination of the already standing concrete walls, jip rock and ply wood. To prevent cracks from forming while joining the different materials, Sebastian recommended I wrap the entire room in a fibreglass type wallpaper before painting (which in Sweden is called microlit).

Now; I barely know the names of different building materials in English but trying to explain them in Swedish to the hardware store employees was quite the task. Needless to say I left the hardware store with a woven structure fibreglass wallpaper instead of the thin lining I should have. I then covered the entire room only to notice as I start to paint and discover the woven structure in the finish. As hard as it was to put up, it was harder to pull down but the benefit of renovating at home was not needing to wear appropriate clothing. Unfortunately I learnt my lesson the hard way, playing with fibreglass in your underwear is not something I would recommend.

IH: Did the room divider boost the sale when you wanted to sell your apartment?
Dean: Definitely! We believe the most important factor was that the bedroom was custom built to snugly accommodate a double bed and a small cupboard which left the remaining portion of the room to be a nice large living area. We expected to make a small profit from the improvements we had made to the apartment but never anticipated the 45+% increase on what we paid for the apartment a year before.

IH: What's with the Reservoir Dogs mural? A big fan?
Dean: A very big fan but I also liked the idea of completing the room's design with a simple piece of artwork, unfortunately my girlfriend didn't agree after she woke up rather tired without her glasses; she got a bit of a fright to say the least.

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And we have an IKEA hack of 2010 winner!

Big congratulations and a round of applause to thedesignguy for winning the IKEA Hack of 2010!

His hack the Pax sliding door room divider was a clear favourite from the start. At some point, G.V.M's Bedroom dress boys almost overtook it but at the last lap, the Pax sliding door room divider pulled away to win big, with over 28% votes. The dressboys garnered 19% votes, with the Ultimate twin highchair at 16%. For me, every hack in the Top 10 list is way excellent and you did awesome.

This year, I am also super happy that we crossed the 5 thousand votes mark, hitting a grand total of 5,283 votes, up from last year's 4059. Thank you, thank you, everyone who picked your favourite and made your choice known.  

As a small token from me, thedesignguy wins two of Jonathan Adler's latest books, Happy Chic Accessorizing and Happy Chic Colours.

See the IKEA Hack of the Year poll results.

The best hack of 2010: Your vote needed

It’s time again to select the best of the best. I had a really good time looking through the year’s archive and reliving the hacks I received over the course of 12 months. Some were brilliant, and I agree, some were borderline hacks. Nevertheless, thank you for sharing your hacks with me, whether they made it to the site or not.

Now on to the good stuff – my list of 10 favourites. It was a tough list to make. But after weighing them over and over, I’ve finally nailed my 10. And here they are, in no particular order.

The designguy’s Pax room divider

This was a clear favourite the moment it was posted. A studio turned into a 1 bedroom with the clever use of the Pax sliding doors. But it’s not just the construction but the lovely styling and how everything just fits. Plus, love the Reservoir Dogs mural.
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The bedroom dress boys

G.V.M. wowed us with this simple construct. Plain jane Bertil chairs were sawed and nested against the wall. Simple yet striking. Useful and beautiful at the same time. 
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The one-legged lamp

One of the most innovative things I’ve seen done to the leg of a Lack side table. I like how the light rises like a flame and the textile electrical cord completes the torch imagery. I wish Charles would have covered the messy electrical socket, which is such a distraction to an otherwise awesome hack.
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The ultimate twin high chair

Cuteness aside, this is genius. Very innovative use of the BJURSTA dining table to hold two toddlers. And the best thing is, when adults need to eat, the holes can be covered.
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The best BESTA TV unit

Jerome went all the way when it came to finding a fit for his TV. It took a lot of work and precision but just look at it – it is worth every minute he spent on it. The TV appears seamless with the BESTA unit, as if IKEA made the tube box. What I like? The amount of detail that goes into this. This is hack love.
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The spring back bankers’ chair

This also received plenty of raves. Andrew salvaged 4 laminate bent IKEA legs and two seats from antique banker's chairs and out came this beauty. I love the form of this springy little thing, which looks like it is ever ready to lovingly hug my back. A perfect example that hacks need not be ugly.
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Kelley’s glam VIKA desk

Kelley’s table top is a piece of art – lovingly burnt to bring up the wood grain. While I’ve seem many desks and work tops, this one does it for me. Elegance, without going over the top.
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Torked out Ribba backlit frame

Simple to do, but what an impression it makes. Michael gives us this wall decor that gives ambient light and makes plain walls exciting.
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Benno headboard and room divider

I like this headboard from Jake, as it was the first hack I saw using plants as a headboard and a room divider. It was also great use of the Benno DVD tower. The plants also give out oxygen at night. Brilliant.
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The Lack lounger

Another one from Charles of the One Legged Lamp. This time a bench made entirely out of Lack coffee tables. Love the eye-popping colour and the ingenuity of a Lack coffee table sandwich that became a bench.
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Which deserves to the IKEA Hack of 2010? This is your chance to tell us. Vote below. 





Voting will end 26 January 2011 at midnight (EST time).

And to sweeten the deal, the Best Hack of the Year will win two of Jonathan Adler's latest books, Happy Chic Accessorizing and Happy Chic Colours.



So start voting!