mindiy.com Blog » IKEA hack http://mindiy.com/blog Just another WordPress weblog Sun, 21 Feb 2010 19:24:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 behind the couch plant stand http://mindiy.com/blog/2009/05/22/behind-the-couch-plant-table/ http://mindiy.com/blog/2009/05/22/behind-the-couch-plant-table/#comments Fri, 22 May 2009 16:19:19 +0000 Mindy http://mindiy.com/blog/?p=626

this DIY project brought to you by mindy

Living in a relatively (1300 sq. ft.) small space with no garage, yard or extra storage space can be somewhat limiting when it comes to taking up new hobbies because I dread bringing more “stuff” into the condo and finding someplace to to store it. The Mr. recently decided he wanted to grow some ingredients for cooking our favorite Thai dishes. His Thai basil and chilis are growing fantastically well in our very sunny living room, but spent the first month of their lives on a variety of chairs shoved behind the couch (where the light is the best). I looked for tables that would fit perfectly in that space and couldn’t find anything that was the correct size or if it was it was pretty expensive. I used my best IKEA site sleuthing skills to find the components for the “behind the couch” plant table.

» legs (side 1)
2 x Vika Curry legs in white

» legs (side 2)
1 x Vika Annefors table leg with storage

» top
2 x Broder shelves. I wanted solid wood and this was the perfect size for the table leg (about half an inch wider for a nice overhang) and not too wide to fit behind the couch.

» nonslip grip shelf liner
Love this stuff!

» tools used
hammer
screwdriver
scissors

this is an easy one!
I didn’t take step by step photos because it’s really just so simple! The hardest part was figuring out which products to combine for the desired end result. Once I chose them it was a matter of assembling the white leg/shelf side according to the IKEA instructions (this is a super easy piece too so don’t let that scare you) and then attaching the other 2 legs to the bottom of one of the wooden shelves. I set the rubber non-slip stuff on top of the white “leg” and rested the shelf (with legs now attached) on top of it and it’s all done! I didn’t attach the shelf to the large leg because there really wasn’t a need to and it’s super stable with the non-slip pad.
]]> http://mindiy.com/blog/2009/05/22/behind-the-couch-plant-table/feed/ 2 framed magentic recipe holder http://mindiy.com/blog/2009/03/19/framed-magentic-recipe-holder/ http://mindiy.com/blog/2009/03/19/framed-magentic-recipe-holder/#comments Thu, 19 Mar 2009 01:10:29 +0000 Mindy http://mindiy.com/blog/?p=68 recipes

this DIY project by mindy

Now that I’ve finally started to enjoy cooking dinner (most nights), I’ve made a few changes in the kitchen to make it a more efficient working space. Since I’m still a cooking novice, I rely on recipes and refer to them oh about 20 times while cooking each meal. Our kitchen is small and there isn’t much room for a standing recipe holder, so I came up with this idea to keep the recipes away from the mess and at a convenient viewing location.

frame »
Any frame will do. I had these red IKEA frames already in the kitchen leaning against the window  to block out the direct sunlight so I went with what I had. You can go in so many different directions with your frame and artwork choice. I slid cork contact paper into the frames with the intention of adding something more interesting later, but still haven’t gotten around to changing the cork.

magnets »
You’ll need one “super strong” magnet to glue to the frame and then a second magnet that you’ll use to hold the recipe to the first magnet. I used a second strong magnet for the “top” magnet since I had them leftover from another project (making glass domed magnets). You may need to test out a variety of top magnets to make sure they are strong enough to hold a sheet of paper.

glue »
I’ve tried several different glues while working with magnets over the years and found that silicone sealer works the best. It’s a big stinky so use in a well ventilated area, but it dries clear, works on just about any surface, has a strong hold and is easy to find at your hardware store.

gluing the “bottom” magnet
Before you glue the super strong magnet to your frame, make sure that the non-glued end that will face up is attracted to your “top” magnet and not repelled by it.

Then add a dab of glue to the magnet and position it on the frame (with the frame on a flat surface). Let it dry overnight before you place the frame in an upright position or add the top magnet. If it’s not completely dry, the top magnet will rip the bottom magnet from the frame.

When the glue is fully dry, you can sandwich a recipe between the magnets and you’re good to go. I like using 2 of the super strong magnets since my recipes are in plastic protectors and therefore a little heavier than just a sheet of paper.
My frame leans on the window ledge in my kitchen above where I do most of my prep work so it’s always easy for me to look up and refer to the recipe when needed. You can put your frame almost anywhere that works for you. When not in use, I sometimes flip the frame around 180 degrees to hide the magnets from view.
This fast 5 minute project comes in handy nearly every night when I’m trying to make something edible for dinner. And if you’re looking for a good Spicy Thai Peanut Sauce recipe, the one above is delicious and everyone seems to love it.
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