DIY Copper Drawer Pulls update an IKEA Dresser By: Anna-Mack Severn

Materials: They don’t sell ours anymore but its VERY similar to the MALM dresser

When we bought our gray distressed IKEA dresser we loved the finish, and the soft close doors. However the overall picture was pretty bland. Since we have a sort of modern farmhouse feel we wanted to make the dresser really fit that.

Initially we wanted to create leather pulls but after a terrible online buying experience we switched over to copper!

We purchased copper bell hangers and caps from www.zoro.com. We then purchased the actual pipe and a clear enamel spray at Home Depot!

First we installed the copper bell hangers about 12″ apart on each drawer. We exchanged the screws that came with the bell hangers for nuts/bolts that we could attach more hardily.

Next we cut the copper pipe using a simple pipe cutter tool to six 15″ pieces. We glued the caps on and then sprayed with clear enamel to maintain a shiny copper finish. Ultimately we also cleaned each pull up with Bar Keepers Friend to get it nice and sparkly!

Finally we screwed the pulls into the bell hangers and were done. I love how it gives the dresser a little bit of sparkle and seems industrial all at the same time!

See more.

The post DIY Copper Drawer Pulls update an IKEA Dresser appeared first on IKEA Hackers.

via IKEA Hackers http://ift.tt/1BP1SQp From Anna-Mack Severn

IKEA bench seat with lots of storage By: Vivian

Materials: 2 Alex Drawer Units and 1 Double and 1 Single BESTA shelf unit with Vassbo door

IKEA came to the rescue for us recently when we were looking to add more storage to our son’s bedroom to store his toys and schoolwork. Rather than simply add a whole lot of cabinetry we decided to double the space as a seating area for him to read a book, play his instruments etc.

The cabinets consist of two Alex drawer units flanking a double and single BESTA shelf unit with Vassbo door panels. After building all the pieces, my husband fixed the bottom cabinets together with screws so that they stay in place. The cabinets are not as deep as the drawer units and I wanted all units to be flush, so he had a piece of thick MDF cut to similar depth to the drawer units and fixed it to the top of the base cabinets with screws.

We chose not to fit skirting boards because it would have made the entire configuration higher and the current height is perfect for a child. I had custom upholstered seat cushions made to create a comfortable seating space and we are pretty happy with the results.

All the details and dimensions can be found here.

The post IKEA bench seat with lots of storage appeared first on IKEA Hackers.

via IKEA Hackers http://ift.tt/1NpkIly From Vivian

Fyndig side table mini bar By: Alex

Materials: Ikea Fyndig Wall Cabinet

One day when browsing the web I came across some images for side tables that were also mini bars. It’s a great idea, but the prices were astronomical. A quick brainstorm and googling for regular cupboards brought me to the Ikea Fyndig wall cabinet. A perfect blank slate for my project.

Once assembled the cabinet was simply rotated 90 degrees, and the addition of a cupboard knob from my local DIY shop and some furniture legs and a magnetic latch from eBay and my creation was complete! Also freed up loads of cupboard space in my small flat.

The post Fyndig side table mini bar appeared first on IKEA Hackers.

via IKEA Hackers http://ift.tt/18mbaa6 From Alex

Buffalo’s Cafe Fargo By: Maxwell Tielman

Even as little as five years ago, one would be hard-pressed to find an instance of the terms “Buffalo, NY” and “cutting-edge design” paired together — at least as far as the latter half of the 20th century is concerned. This is why, as a diehard devotee of this fabulous Rust Belt gem, I think I can speak for all Buffalonians when I express just how happy I am that these days seem to be over. Now that my beloved hometown has entered into what appears to be a full-blown Renaissance with Millenials flocking there to “live like kings,” the Queen City’s design scene has gone from a quiet peripheral whisper to, if I may speak frankly, STRAIGHT BALLER.

Take, for example, this newly constructed project space by local architectural firm Davidson Rafailidis . Code-named “Cafe Fargo,” this formally experimental, aesthetically fresh space is housed within a former deli on one of the Queen City’s stunning residential blocks. As rich in ideas as it is in beauty, the space combines centuries-old building methods and aesthetics with modern, energy-saving ideals to create something remarkably new.

“Typically, for a hospitality space, a large amount of the construction budget goes into mechanical systems that provide a uniform indoor climate throughout the year,” the architect notes. “With a tight budget, we took the opposite approach and transformed these invisible mechanical services into two experiential architectural elements that emphasize the distinct pleasures of summer and winter.” Employing Derbyshire, England’s 1590 Hardwick Hall as a case study, the architectural team turned to the decidedly old school technology of Kachelofen — masonry heaters — to heat the space in the winter and gigantic windows to keep everything breezy in the summer. Covered in black and white patterned encaustic tile, the Kachelofen at Cafe Fargo is the largest in North America, emanating heat throughout the space and through an attached heated bench.

To capture the beauty of this unique space, Davidson and Rafailidis turned to the German photographer Florian Holzherr whose images showcase the fantastic potential of Cafe Fargo. “We wanted someone who could really capture the soft, matte finishes in the space, and also a photographer who was used to conveying an architectural idea,” architect Stephanie Davidson says. “He had never been to Buffalo (not a big surprise), but was very engaged in his three days here.” Check out all of Florian’s photos in the slideshow, along with additional notes on the design of Cafe Fargo! —Max

via Design*Sponge http://ift.tt/1BbI0EZ From Maxwell Tielman

Project Sip: Meyer Lemon Gin Cocktail By: Grace Bonney

A few years ago, Meyer Lemons really had their moment in the sun. It seemed like they were the star of every menu, from appetizers to cocktails and desserts. Originally from China, Meyer Lemons taste like a cross between a lemon and a mandarin orange. It’s that extra punch of sweetness that makes them perfect for desserts and cocktails and today we’re sharing a delicious drink recipe from the Project Sip team, Jenn Gietzen and Kathryn McCrary, that showcases Meyer Lemons in all their glory. This recipe calls for gin, but I’ve found that you can easily substitute in some seltzer if you’d like to make a non-alcoholic version. The shot of rosemary simple syrup really seals the deal for me with this one- it’s a perfect late winter drink. Enjoy! xo, grace

*You can check out their last five drinks right here !

Ingredients:

juice of 3 Meyer lemons

2 tbsp of sugar

2 double shots of gin

1 single shot of rosemary simple syrup

splash of lemon Italian soda

splash of club soda

Steps:

Step 1: juice the Meyer lemons into cocktail shaker

Step 2: add sugar, gin and simple syrup

Step 3: shake together

Step 4: strain over ice

Step 5: add a splash of lemon Italian soda, club soda, and a sprig of rosemary for garnish (optional)

via Design*Sponge http://ift.tt/1zPyPGA From Grace Bonney

Flower Identification App By: Grace Bonney

Until recently, there wasn’t a week that went by without me asking, “Why isn’t there an app where you can just upload a picture of a flower or plant and have them tell you what it is?”. I’m always outside or in a garden shop trying to figure out what things are and I’ve found, more often than not, that people working in larger garden or home stores don’t always know what plants they’re selling. So I started carrying around a pocket-sized flower guide with me everywhere I went. Then I realized I wanted to know more about small trees and flowering plants, so I started carrying around a small tree identification book, too. My book load was starting to get a little ridiculous compared to the size of my daily bag, so I decided to resume my search again for an app and, thankfully, there is now an app for flower identification!

LikeThat Garden: Flower Identification is a free (yay!) app in the iTunes store that lets you snap (or upload) a pic and in a moment, they’ll tell you what it is. There have been a number of plant identification apps that have popped up over the years, but they’ve never worked for me. I’ve always ended up with the wrong plant or a “Sorry, we can’t find your flower!” error message. But so far, everything I’ve uploaded to this app seems to pop up instantly. With spring approaching and gardens getting ready to come back to life everywhere, I thought this would be a particularly handy app to have for anyone looking for a little inspiration. Flower Identification is only available for iPhones right now, but they announced they’re expanding to Android next month, so stay tuned! xo, grace

*Photo by Maxwell Tielman

via Design*Sponge http://ift.tt/1GZLzAa From Grace Bonney