Molly sent us an email sharing her take on the ever popular with DIYers IKEA Rast dresser. She wrote: After searching for a campaign piece I could fit in my dining room and having unsatisfying results, I decided to redo the Ikea Rast dresser (like many before me!).
I patched up the knob holes and painted the dresser, and drilled on these flat corners. Then I measured and drilled holes in the center of each drawers for the campaign style pulls from Ansaldi and Sons.
I'm very happy with how it turned out!
Many thanks, Molly!
(Images: Molly Madfis)
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Great idea!
Very nice! I redid my Rast for shoe storage in my small front hall using grey paint, new hardware, and combining the top two drawers for tall boots!
However, my drawer broke this week after only minor use for a couple months- make sure you build it will or re-enforce it!
Lovely! An excellent make-over!!
I love this style... thank you for this post. I am thinking of using campaign hardware on my kitchen cabinets. Maybe I will copy your project and test it out on some nightstands first. Before taking the plunge on kitchen cabinets, I want to make sure the style does not "get old" too quickly.
Thumbs way up. This looks great. Love the RAST's seemingly endless possibilities.
Lovely!
That's super cool! How did you patch up the knob holes?
Super - well done!
I love the color! The technique is wonderful.Great job!
what a good idea!
this is great! i would also like to know how you patched up the knob holes so well.
i love the paint color you chose! do you mind sharing?
This is great. With these babies being so damm pricey now? this is an awesome alternative. I'd love to see one done it white.
Looks great!
Great color. I'm always curious what DIY-ers of the RAST do to the inside. Do you just leave it wooden? Paint the inside of the drawers but not the sliding part? Pretty paper? Just curious.
Nice.
This looks really nice, but I don't understand the fascination with this dresser. It's absurdly short.
LOVE ALL THE RAST DRESSERS!
To fill the holes you could use wood filler.
That's pretty impressive.
Very nice idea and excellent execution! Nice project!
@CRAZYLADY - I bought a RAST dresser for a small bedroom. It was the widest dresser that fit between the two beds and under the window sill. I wanted drawers, and not a nightstand with an open area. Plus, I have to admit I liked the DIY aspect of making it my own.
@NGNERD: I totally understand using this as a nightstand! But, I see people using this as an actual dresser, which I just don't understand. It's so tiny!
Sometimes tiny is the point, all you have room for in a certain place. Especially in depth...many times normal sized dressers are too deep for the space, and rast is shallow.
Love it!
Just how much sanding did you (or does anyone else) do on the IKEA hacks??? Just wondering since that is my least favorite activity ;)
I could use two of these, which I would use as nightstands.
RONSMOM, i recently did a rast makeover, and other than wood pieces i added myself (molding, etc) & the wood filler in the original knob holes, i don't think i had to sand anything.
@crazylady
I agree that it's too small to be practical for most, but I can imagine some people (like me) are obsessive about hanging up absolutely every item of clothing (including tshirts, yoga pants and pj's) so the only drawers they'd actually need are for socks, underwear and bras?
The blue and gold combination is very nice, good job! Especially because the blue is NOT glossy. I want one, too... you made me jealous now. ;-)
Love this one. Great job!
Love the makeover. I have a couple of these as side tables/dressers. And yup, I've managed to store quite a bit in them. I think you've inspired me to consider changing their handles.
well that's gorgeous
That is amazing!
@crazylady
I used mine for shoe storage in the front hall (it fits the space perfectly). I did find out a little too late that my giant shoes (size 10) didnt quite fit! a size 6-7 or maybe heels would fit in the drawers perfectly. it also makes a nice tabletop for sitting on, purses, and mail sorting
@ronsmom
I didnt sand at all, its unfinished wood so it took the paint well
Some of the best advice I ever got is to reinforce every do-it-yourself Ikea piece with Wood Glue. It makes them all so much more sturdy.
Kudos to a great job. LOVE the creativity here! The RAST dressers are the perfect starting point for expressing your own style.
Would love to see more!
Janice Simonsen
IKEA Design Spokesperson
beautiful!
@drblanc
Why reinforce the drawer corners? It's not strengthening anything, that's a solid(ish) piece of wood.
... because they like how it looks? >.>
Well done, Molly! Very spiffy re-do.
Any thoughts on whether to paint before or after putting the Rast together?
From homely to industrial chic. Love the colour.
@KUSHKUSH - I assembled the outer shell first. Then I painted the shell and the drawer fronts. Then I assembled the drawers and rest of the dresser. The instructions have you install the plastic drawer sliders first. Instead, I put them in after I had everything painted.
gorgeous! took something so plain and made it look like a thousand bucks!
Now that's what you call, "Creativity". Well done!
@medusa12120 because the drawers aren't super sturdy, i don't use them too hard. it's definitely kind of a pain to open and close them!
@girl jen - i patched and patched and patched. it wasn't super fun.
please visit my blog almostmakesperfect.comfor more diys and fun stuff!
- molly
how do you patch the holes?
how did you installe the campaign drawer pulls? All of them are inset in the drawer and require more than just drill holes - is there a tool you can use? Thanks