Butcher block coffee table and end table By: Jules Yap

Materials: Numerar oak kitchen countertop



Description: We remodeled out kitchen with IKEA. There was left over butcher block counter top so we turned the leftovers into a matching coffee table and end table.



The end table is the piece that was cut out from the sink.



The coffee table is the left over from the counter top.

All we did was round the edges a bit and add hair pin legs that we found on line.



These pieces give us a good amount of surface area while still being very stream line. I love that I can see my nice rug under the coffee table while still having loads of room on the table itself. Also, I like using the wood in kitchen and the living room to make a more cohesive feel to my home.



EASY!



~ Amy, Aurora, Colorado

More hacks on IKEAHackers.net

via IKEA Hackers http://www.ikeahackers.net/2013/07/butcher-block-coffee-table-and-end-table.html From Jules Yap

DRÖNA File Holder By: Jules Yap

Materials: IKEA DRÖNA, Mesh File Hanger, Foam Block (optional)



Description: The idea was pretty simple. I wanted a colorful and inexpensive file holder. I noticed that the dimensions of most of these standard mesh file holder were perfect to fit inside the IKEA DRÖNA. This would be a great idea to store files in the EXPEDIT shelves.

Price of this hack : $10

($5 DRÖNA , $5 Mesh File Hanger)



Instructions:



1. Mount the mesh file holder

2. Place inside DRÖNA

3. (optional) I decided to place little foam blocks in the corners to stabilize it but there is no need if the holder is not going to be put into excessive movement. The weight of the files should keep it steady.



~ Victor Manuel Santana

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via IKEA Hackers http://www.ikeahackers.net/2013/07/drona-file-holder.html From Jules Yap

Whitewashed FJELL Wardrobe with Pallet Shelves By: Jules Yap

Materials: FJELL wardrobe, gray wash, white paint, reclaimed pallet wood, drill, screws.



Description: My husband Mark and I knew we needed a wardrobe for our bedroom...and the FJELL seemed to fit the bill almost perfectly. We loved that it was made of solid wood, was well constructed, and very roomy. However, it's style didn't quite match our beachy bedroom decor.



Never fear: the IKEA hackers are here!



Our hacking included:



1) A gray wash to all of the wood pieces.

2) White dry brush technique against the grain to give it a weathered, rustic appearance.

3) Gray spray paint and white dry brush on all hardware.

4) We left out the fiberboard backing (since it wasn't good looking or sturdy enough for our liking) and replaced it with reclaimed pallet boards.

5) Then, we added terraced shelves to the top portion of the wardrobe for more storage space.

6) We added reinforcement underneath the floor of the wardrobe with 2" x 4" chunks fastened in the middle.

7) For ambient lighting, we ran white lights behind the ledge that the door hinges attach to. Instant night light!



We're in love with the finished look and hope you are, too! Feel free to drop by The Thinking Closet for loads more photos and details on how we hacked our way to beachy blissdom with our FJELL wardrobe revamp. Link here.



~ Lauren Lanker, Florida

More hacks on IKEAHackers.net

via IKEA Hackers http://www.ikeahackers.net/2013/07/whitewashed-fjell-wardrobe-with-pallet.html From Jules Yap

Toddler crib gets an upgrade By: Jules Yap

Materials: SUNDVIK crib, 1.5mm plywood, 1" square rod, 1.5" screws, sand paper, paint, electric saw & drill



Description: Mark a long rectangle measurement on the plywood. (47.2")120cm x (11.8")30cm

Find the middle point on top @ (23.6")60cm

Then on the height @ (5.9") 15cm

Draw a "L" from middle top(60cm) to center and to the right.(15cm)

Use anything round object (saucer plate), mark at the corner and it'll give you the curve.



Using electric saw, carefully cut out the shape.

Sand it all over, especially the top edge need to be very smooth because your toddler will be climbing up and down from there.

Cut out one (5.5")14cm x (1") 2.5cm square rod

And one measure at (11.8") 30cm x 2.5cm square rod

Use 2 Screws to secure them them on each side according to the height of the cut out plywood. Of course, both aligned to the bottom edge.



Bring it to the crib and mark the existing screw hole on the side of the square rods.

Drill the hole across the square rods.

On the top of the IKEA existing screw hole, drill another hole few inches up. I just eye balled it around 1" down from the top of the rod.



Paint it!



Install! Use the screws n bods you took off from the gate for the bottom holes.

Then use 1.5" screw for the top hole you drilled to secure the new divider.



~ Yellow Ant, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia

More hacks on IKEAHackers.net

via IKEA Hackers http://www.ikeahackers.net/2013/07/toddler-crib-gets-upgrade.html Jules Yap

Summer Canning Essentials!

From vintage photo frames to canning essentials this Flash Sale has some great home and garden must-haves!

SHOP NOW--->

Don't let a single piece of produce go to waste when you can easily can or preserve it with our guide to canning and preserving. It's economical and allows home cooks to experiment with foods that might not be in the supermarket and know exactly where their ingredients come from. If you've never tried canning at home, review our basic, step-by-step instructions as well as tips on headspace, time, and temperature requirements to ensure food safety. We'll also help you learn about the various types of canning, boiling-water and pressure, for exampl €”and discuss when you should can and when you should freeze. For handy reference, we offer charts with tips and instructions on both methods. We'll walk you through step-by-step how to preserve some of the most commonly used fruits and vegetables. Jams and jellies are great for preserving the delicious harvests for the coming year, and our experts explain tips and helpful information.

Check out BH&G's STEP-BY-STEP CANNING GUIDE 

Creamy Strawberry Coolers - Homes.com From noreply@blogger.com (House of Smiths)

Today's Inspiration comes from guest blogger noreply@blogger.com (House of Smiths) Be sure to check out their blog!

Now that Summer is in full swing, it's time for swimming, BBQ's and lots of fun outdoor activities.

I don't know about you, but we host more than just a few cookouts at our home with friends and family during the hot Summer months. Usually the main dish is light and fresh, so heavy desserts don't really fit into the mix, but a chilled, creamy strawberry cooler is perfect! It's a recipe that was handed down to me by a family friend and something we've come to love in our family, so I thought I'd share it with all of you!

The entire recipe is included below, but here are a few shots of the steps, so that you can get an idea of how easy and quick this dessert or sweet, after swimming treat really is!

You'll need a blender, a container of strawberries, a pint (plus a bit more) of sour cream, some sugar and ice. Cut the tops off the strawberries and rinse them well. Puree the berries in the blender, so they're a smooth consistency.

Read the rest of this article here >>>

*** original post via TheHouseofSmiths.com ***

The BEST Smartphone Photo Editing App - Rhonna Designs is Here! From noreply@blogger.com (House of Smiths)

Today's Inspiration comes from guest blogger noreply@blogger.com (House of Smiths) Be sure to check out their blog!

So MANY of you have asked me about how I edit my Instagram photos, and while I touched on a few very important, useful and life-changing iPhone photo editing apps here in this post, when it comes to adding fun elements to my photos, Rhonna Designs is where it's at!

Up until now you've had to purchase Rhonna's individual design elements from her shop, upload them to your phone and then use them... but, not anymore! I've been helping beta test the new Rhonna Designs app, and I'm happy to report that it's FINALLY ready to go in the AppStore!

Our Instagram feed is like a mini blog post in ONE photo, so being able to add elements to my pictures, to enhance the beauty and story behind it, is a HUGE bonus!

Here are a few ways that I've used Rhonna's app.

READ THE REST OF THIS POST >>>

*** original post via TheHouseofSmiths.com ***

Trend Alert: Cabinetry Color-Blocking From Maria Charbonneaux

Today's Inspiration comes from guest blogger Maria Charbonneaux Be sure to check out their blog!

Trend: Cabinetry Color-Blocking!

Refreshing cabinetry with paint is nothing new, but lately I’ve been noticing kitchen cabinetry featuring two, three, or even four different colors and finishes to create a color-block effect. It’s an affordable way to add style to a kitchen, and the possibilities are as endless as the wall of paint chips in your local paint aisle. From subtle to eye-catching, depending on your palette, this trend offers looks everyone can love.

Here’s how to create a color-block effect with the cabinetry in your kitchen.

Paint your upper cabinets a different color than your lower cabinets. If you’re choosing a high-contrast combo, paint the bottom cabinets the darker color and the upper cabinets the lighter one. Placing the dark color near the floor will help visually ground the space, while having the light color up high will make a kitchen feel more open and airy.

If you desire two bright colors that are similar in intensity, select hues that are fairly close together on the color wheel–such as turquoise and lime–to keep the look from becoming too jarring.

If you’d like to introduce a bold, energetic color in your kitchen but you’re afraid it might become overwhelming, leave the upper cabinets in a natural wood tone or a neutral paint color.

What’s your favorite palette for kitchen cabinetry? I love the idea of painting my lower cabinets navy and my upper cabinets white. Check out more colorful kitchen cabinetry ideas and watch a video on how to paint cabinets.

DIY Boxy Floor Cushion Tutorial {VIDEO} By Teal & Lime

TODAY'S INSPIRATION COMES FROM
 JACKIE FROM TEAL & LIME:





I am going to blow your mind with the simplicity of today’s sewing tutorial. With one super easy modification to the easy envelope pillow cover, you can make these boxy floor cushions.



In the video, I used 20″ pillow covers and inserts to make mini poufs for the playroom. The finished mini poufs are 12″ square and 6″ tall. They are perfect for little bottoms. My boys love using them as building blocks for their blanket forts, too.



The sweet ladies at Sew Fine Fabric provided the great selection of fabrics used for the video. I chose fun, graphic prints. I love the ikat dot print so much I couldn’t limit myself to one color, so I went with Aquarius and Storm. The irregular striped yellow fabric is from the Glimma collection by Lotta Jansdotter. And, I couldn’t resist a whimsical gray faux bois print, reminiscent of driftwood or a plank, for a pirate playroom :)



A couple more tidbits before we get to the video:

• If you haven’t tried the easy envelope pillow covers, yet, you can watch the video tutorial to catch up.


• You can do this to purchased pillow covers, too. Avoid pillow covers with zippers. This trick works best on envelope style pillow closures.


• You can also make much larger floor cushions with this method. In our reading loft, I made 4″ thick floor cushions with 26″ pillows. They are great for kids and adults.


• If you are new here, be warned…I don’t iron. I think life is too short for ironing, whether I am sewing or getting dressed in the morning. Pardon the wrinkles.

When editing videos, I have to watch these clips a nauseating amount of times. I learn more about myself and the video process each time. Here are a few of my observations from this video:

• My dipped chair is old and could use some oil. It makes some undesirable noises when I swivel in one clip :(


• Apparently, to stuff a pillow properly you must talk to yourself, make weird faces, and beat the pillow into submission.


• I think the camera added 10 pounds just to my arms…maybe sleeveless was not the way to go for a video featuring me wrestling with a pillow.


• I have freckles on my arms and everywhere else. My oldest is getting them on his nose and cheeks which is impossibly adorable with his dark brown eyes and hair.

Want to see more videos? I made it easier with a Videos link in the navigation under the logo. Enjoy!