We've been eyeing the MOLGER bench at IKEA for awhile. It's shown in their bathroom collection, but we've been considering it for our entryway. It's the perfect height to hold a few potted plants on top, and then the shelf underneath is great for shoes. We just saw it featured in the May 2008 Better Homes and Garden and they showed another great use for it...
They've placed several of them lined up against a window, which gives the appearance of built-ins, but you can move them around. You could even use them as extra seating too. We love that they placed padded cushions on top. Multi-functional pieces like this are a great solution to small space living. We're thinking they might look good stacked up on each other as well... $39.99 at IKEA.
[ image via BHG ]

Sprout Side Table
one of the nursery tours did something similar
I have them in my closet and use it as a shoe rack/ storage
Looks great with the natural light. I dont think it would be as appealing in a darker room though.
Any idea who those flower pots are by? Great colors.
landing strip bench! great idea!
I'm surprised no one at AT has posted on the Molger Mirror. I went to IKEA solely for that - its got beautiful, simple lines, a nice size, solid walnut frame, and only 30$. I bought 2 for above my couch, and then another for the entryway landing strip.
I was eyeing the Molger bench too, but it didnt seem as clean to me - more countryish like the rest of the collection.
I have a similar setup but I have to say, as good as they look, those basketscan only hold light objects - VERY light objects, or preferably nothing at all (which is really dumb). Why? Because they do not slide. And the baskets are a tad flimsy. To pull out a basket, you need to grab the basket with two hands. Not functional at all.
Love this! I have ideas on this for my porch!
Sniff, sniff, now those of us nowhere near an IKEA can continue to lament our loss. Us poor Alaskans. Not even within driving distance.
I bought one of these for an exhibition, and after that was over, it became my landing strip. I moved, and now it's at the top of my stairs in my only south-facing window.. I put plants on it, but decided it was a better sun-loving-dog stand than plant stand.
we use it as a tv bench. it looks great. on the top: a 32" lcd tv. the second tier: a commodore 64 and a seafoam green olivetti typewriter. it looks great.
This is exactly what I have been looking for.
I've been tempted by this too! For my side door landing strip. But I already have something there that is functional enough so I've put off buying it, and am curbing my consumption urges.
I use it as my landing strip table (shoe rack below). It's great. I was hoping it'd be study enough to sit on when putting on/pulling off your boots, but it ain't.
My parents use it as their bathroom landing strip. They place their towels and robe/clothing there, when showering. Bathroom scale below.
I used it as my landing strip table, because it's deep/wide enough to put 2 different mail/in paper trays on it -- 1 for my husband and the other for me. My desk tray is 3-tiered, so we can put little things on it -- batteries and ink cartridges to recycle, reminders. Plus, there's also a Lytegen lamp and a container for pens, box cutter, and scissors to have handy.
Anyone know the height of the legs on these? These might work under my living room windows, but the legs would need to be at least 7" high to clear a radiator.
Those look like 12" square baskets. There must be dozens of other options, at Ikea and elsewhere.
Does anybody have any experience actually sitting on these on a regular basis? I am looking for a bench to use with my kitchen table, and I am wondering how it would stand up to two tweens.
No, I don't think it can take the weight of someone sitting on it. I looked into it, when I bought it myself.
I used one in my kitchen, under the window. it provides seating room for whoever wants to come chat with the cook and on the bottom shelf I put cooking books and magasine...it holds fine for one person seating on it...
I'm actually looking for padded cushions to put on top...any suggestions ?