The IKEA MALM is amongst the most popular of the Swedish retailer's line of home furnishings, ubiquitous for the series' simple lines and wallet-friendly price. In other words, perfect for anyone with a little ingenuity, wood-working tools, and plans for a DIY transformation. Can you guess what this common IKEA chest of drawers was converted into?
This DIY project executed by franchy36 was inspired by what was once a common sight back in the days before Playstations and Xboxes killed the arcade (I didn't mention the Big N because Street Fighter II kept arcades open back in the days of SNES): the cocktail bar, head-to-head coin-up machine.
At one time it seemed like every shady bar, cigarette reeking lounge, and bowling alley had at least one of these machines.
Do kids even remember these things? Well apparently franchy36 did, because his project is a sweet DIY ode to those wonderful sit down machines where many of hours were spent inserting countless quarters for versus bouts of Galaga, Dig-Dug, or Ms. Pac-Man.
This is my version of a cocktail style arcade based of an IKEA Malm chest drawer, everything is build inside the top drawer so the bottom one still usable for storage, I added some legs as well to bring it the controls higher. The control slides out, just like a drawer and when you close the lid and power it off is just a piece of furniture, the only thing that gives it away it's the power cable in the back.
Check out many more photos of the IKEA MALM Cocktail Table Arcade project here.
(Images: franchy36)
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Absolute genius, and so elegant.
Now that's ingenuity.
B R I L L A N T!!!
I am unsure why you need an idea night stand to do this.
*ikea
Awesome! Radiobaby- because you can!
Great invention!!!!!
Waste of an ikea nightstand. And I LIVED through those days. Waste then, waste now.
where did you get the table legs?
This reminds me of an unusual, but very cool, computer stand used by a library where I used to live. Each monitor was installed at the bottom of a cabinet, providing privacy to each user.
Too bad it's going to fall apart in a few months.
Okay, that's just amazing. The headline was correct...I would have NEVER guessed that!
Signed, Inspired
genius, genius, genius
I want one!!
i hate any ikea furniture that has drawers (too unreliable).. but with some legs on that thing, i could possibly make this into a semi-decent nightstand.. oh yeah his hack was nice too..
There's one exactly like the bottom picture at this restaurant in my home town. The restaurant has been around since the 60s or 70s and hasn't changed any of its decor, so its all wood paneling.
Cool!!!
There's a bar on St Laurent street in Montreal (Korova, maybe...?) that's got half a dozen of these machines-- they're still rad!
How fun! Yes, I am old enough to remember seeing these at the local bowling alley. A lot of people liked the ability to sit an play versus standing to do so.
I guessed "crib," and am kind of disappointed.
i can promise you i am going to do this fabulous idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!