
As many of you know, living in a studio in an expensive city requires ingenuity. We were delighted to learn that one of our clients, Paul Irish, employed the "use what you have" principle so creatively. While waiting for his permanent desktop solution, he transformed his unused coffee table (originally from Urban Outfitters) into his temporary desktop. But it didn't stop there...

When his desktop arrived, he shifted the coffee table into shelf service, installing the table upside down above a doorway to give him some much needed storage. Kudos for Paul's resourcefulness! (By the way, explore Paul's music blog, Aurgasm, where he "checks out music you've never heard before".)
Comments (14)
Great ideas! I'm inspired, thanks!
Paul, any chance you can tell us from where you got the table legs?
They are IKEA's Vika Inge legs: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40105302
They also look pretty great with the real desk top:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/paul_irish/2865585455/in/set-72157607348506013/
The legs are from Ikea.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40105302
Great use!
eek! I would be afraid of that shelf falling! Doesn't look too sturdy!
That table still looks to be in great shape - sad to see it demoted to a storage shelf :(
KTG,
I didn't take off the original legs because the table is actually property of an ex-girlfriend. :) So I'm not in the position to make changes to it. Heh.
I like your idea though.
KetchupFiend,
It could certainly be sturdier. If I end up putting more weight up there I will reinforce the fishing line. :)
urban outfitters makes a knock nelson bench? awesome!
Wow! These are awesome ideas! I still love the idea of cutting a coffee table in half lengthwise and stacking them against the wall to make bookshelves. (with wall brackets, of course!)
I had a similar coffee table experience. When my parents got divorced in the early 90's, my dad bought a set of living room tables "as is" from the floor of a furniture store. The legs on the tables were different lengths and could be switched out. After years in service for my dad, they traveled with me from NJ to Miami. I exchanged the legs to make the coffee table into a desk which got me through law school. In my next apartment, it was a coffee table again, and in my first purchased condo it lived outside and served as my gardening table. I just recently had to let it go because it started to rot, and it was a very difficult parting. At least I still have the side table!
I hope we see more "use what you have" projects. This is great!
Two blogs I read collide! I knew that name looked familiar. Aurgasm is pretty great!
That poster-- is that that meta-data poster made to look like a subway map? I'm having a hard time seeing clearly enough to tell.
LindaJeanne,
Here's a story about the map. It's the London Underground but with music instead.
Here it is for sale.