Look! Kari's Ikeahack Matching Craft Table and Desk

Want a work table but on a tight budget? Then check out this cost-effective Ikeahack by Kari, owner of Spring Chick Designs: She and her husband made their own custom work table for her craft room by bolting four Ikea base kitchen cabinets together and topping it off with a modified MDF table top. Don't have room for a big work table? They also created a matching desk for her sewing machine. Take a look at more photos and details after the jump...

View of the bottom of the table with extra plywood that secures the Ikea kitchen cabinet bases together. Because Kari needed a higher work surface ("to save my back!"), she and her husband added stylish turned feet to give the cabinets even more height.

On the left: The matching sewing desk is made up for two Ikea kitchen cabinet bases (one with drawers and the other with shelves) and the white Ikea Pragel kitchen counter top. Due to the added feet to the bottom of the desk, Kari got a counter height stool (Henriksdale)--and even modified the cover by adding a trim of Ikea fabric (Frederika).

On the right: Detail shot of the work table. The Marimekko cloth is actually a shower curtain (the width was perfect to cover the countertop) and stapled under. They also had a piece of glass cut to fit, added wood trim to hide the seams between the cabinets, and attached the Bygel rod to hold fabric or hang scissors on a hook.

On the left: Kari's storage / computer work area. They won the old hutch at an antique auction, and gave it new life as an effective storage unit for her ribbons. Her husband built the shelf, and the computer desk is actually an old sofa table.

On the right: Cute wall decoration using pretty printed fabric and embroidery hoops in varying sizes.

Check out the rest of Kari's wonderful studio on her site Spring Chick, as well as her project feature on IkeaHacker.

That is so amazing! What a great place to work.

posted by amarie on January 9th 2009 at 11:49am
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Awesome and beautiful hack! Great post AT.

posted by edava72 on January 9th 2009 at 11:50am
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Awesome. I'd love to have one of these. Ikea-hacking at its best!

posted by caw261 on January 9th 2009 at 12:01pm
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question - how do you use the foot pedal at the sewing desk if it's higher and you're sitting on a bar stool?

posted by jessadavis on January 9th 2009 at 12:02pm
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jessadavis - you're tall.

posted by whytephoenix on January 9th 2009 at 12:09pm
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Love the idea of using embroidery hoops as decoration! I saw an installation recently where the same image continued across multiple frames, which makes it even better.

posted by ArtHonolulu.com on January 9th 2009 at 12:20pm
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Incredibly impressive hack!

posted by Cassis on January 9th 2009 at 12:22pm
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This is adorable, and creative!

posted by carrieb on January 9th 2009 at 12:36pm
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How delightful!! A treat for the eyes.

posted by standupstapler on January 9th 2009 at 1:07pm
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And a treat for the brain as well. LUV Ikea hacks.

posted by standupstapler on January 9th 2009 at 1:08pm
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jessadavis - I don't know about Kari, but I sew at my Pottery Barn project table on a barstool and can work the footpedal just fine. I'm 6 ft tall though!

If only the gas pedal on my car were that far away I'd be far more comfortable...

posted by LilyC on January 9th 2009 at 1:23pm
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I love the fabric you used. It looks a lot like an old kitchen table from the 50s!

posted by alisong on January 9th 2009 at 1:29pm
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I love the work table. This would be a great kitchen island too!

That fabric is a dead ringer for a Marimekko print...

posted by shalgal on January 9th 2009 at 3:42pm
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Oops. I thought I read it Ikea fabric. Good to know I know my Marimekko though!

posted by shalgal on January 9th 2009 at 3:44pm
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AWESOME!!!!
i may need to use this idea

posted by formosagirl on January 9th 2009 at 3:49pm
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Oh wow... I covet this sewing room. I have a hall closet that opens up into a sewing nook, but this is the kind of workspace I daydream about...

posted by SeattleMama on January 11th 2009 at 10:42pm
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