Materials: BESTA legs, BESTA unit, Capital brackets
I wanted to find a modern and original yet practical solution for a kitchen table for my studio flat. Wherever I looked, I found none that appealed to me. So I decided to hack one myself.
I used one BESTÅ unit (001.340.52), two sets of BESTÅ LEGS (601.965.13), two sets of CAPITA brackets (400.511.96), as well as one glass top, paint, lighting, screws and bricks.
I wanted the unit to bring some ambience to the room, and decided to build in a floor lighting system. Start by drilling a hole in one of the BESTÅ walls/sides that allows a power-chord through. This allows you to easily change the light source in the future. I also fitted a remote control unit so I can easily switch the lights on and off.
I then painted the inside with two base layers of white paint, and then two layers of black/graphite paint to sit well with the colors of my kitchen. For those without a steady hand or the patience, use carpenter tape around the sides if the BESTÅ unit that you tear off before the paint dries. This gives you distinct lines, even if you’re a bit sloppy with the paintjob around the edges. You can also spray-paint the unit, but I quite like the roughness and texture of the paint as it reminds you of it being a DIY-unit.
Once the last layer of paint has dried, it’s time to assemble the unit starting at the bottom. Attach the legs if not already done, and fit the cable extension before you attach the wall/side pieces. As the unit won’t be mounted or be up against a wall, I had to do something about the lack of stability.
I screwed these angular-shaped pieces of metal to the inside of the base and the sides, four in total. Installed the lighting and slid an original BESTÅ shelf into the desired height. This is where the feet will go once you sit at the table. Afterwards I realized extra support underneath the shelf would be useful, to make sure that the shelf sits steadily.
Attach the top and screw on another four angular-shaped metal parts. After this we’re looking at a redesigned BESTÅ unit, and it’s dying for the last finish – the floating glass top.
Place the CAPITA brackets upside-down in the desired place, and mark or drill in the inner two holes of each. Fit screws and a suitable disc and bolt on the other side/underneath. Fill the upper part of the CAPITA brackets with something that helps you avoid scratching the glass as well as adds friction to keep the glass top in place. I used some plastic foam, but also considered using some sort of chemical plastic as fill. Gently lift and place a suitable glass top, I re-used one from a coffee table that I knew would not break.
The unit is still a bit wobbly, so I would add some additional components to make it more stable. The glass shelf sits tight against the wall between the windows, which helps a lot. I’ve used it for 6 months now, and it’s survived without any special treatment.
via IKEA Hackers http://ift.tt/1fZVcUw From Ralf Elfving
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