apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Is it very stable with all the structure ripped off?

ok, so this point is not a DIY post, but rather a "did anyone try this?"???
my answer: No. I can't see how turning half of an empty bookcase on its side would be sturdy enough to even hold itself up, let alone any objects you would place on top...

not going to work/be worth the trouble
sell your bookcase on CL
and buy this:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10120587

i think it would hold itself up just fine, but not a lot of stuff on it. The expedit panels are super strong, but yeah, you're taking a ton of the structure away.plus when tipped on it's side and structure removed the top is just suspended with the 4 long screws, and the sides are just there, it would be better if the long area as the top was sitting on top of the sides, not in between it.

none the less it could be done, i'd am up the hardware a bit on it. and skip the fabric, get some spray paint and make that thing glossy and candy.

not going to work/be worth the trouble
sell your bookcase on CL
and buy this:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/1012058

maybe, maybe with some serious L-brackets on the back, to keep it from spreading out and falling down...

I think it would be sturdy if you used L brackets underneath and some L shaped "mending plates" on the backside. I wouldn't.....sit on it, or anything. But as a console that you're only going to place a few things on I think it could work fine.

um...no. the so-called legs don't even look like they provide a stable structure. i'm gonna veto this idea

A Parsons table looks like this:

http://images.google.com/images?q=parsons%20table&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi

I'm still having trouble wrapping my brain around the canvas idea.

Anyone else picturing this?

I am gonna go ahead and agree with moni-ka on this one. People love these things on CL and then you don't have to worry about your hacked job falling apart on you.

Not to be persnickity, but the key to a Parsons table is that the legs are the same thickness as the top. Fabframes is right.

Here's my question: is the bookshelf really cheaper than a cheapie table?

I've done this... sort of.
We had two of these, one is still a shelf, used horizontally, the other is now our desk. In order to keep them the same height we just took out the interior shelving (which did not affect the integrity of the structure). It turned out great!
I think if you were to take off the bottom piece you would need to reinforce the joints at the top somehow to make the desk stronger. Some simple corner brackets from the hardware store should work.

You could just keep it as is and turn it on its side. Then you can still put some baskets and other decorative items or even some books in it while having a lower top that can serve as side table.

I did this with a magiker* for a while and it worked like a charm.

*a version of it can be seen on this page (http://www.cyberweaver.com/For-Sale/Magiker/Magiker-Cabinet-lg.html) but I have it without the doors

I have seen lacquered fabric tables before. I have no idea how they are made.

http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=231267

The parsons table picture shows a table with mitered corners. The Expedit has slab corners that don't line up properly. When you wrap it in fabric, it will look off, even if it actually holds together.

You could use your old Expedit slabs to develop a technique for wrapping/lacquering panels in fabric. Maybe spray on adhesive, fabric, and a multiple coats of spray on poly on top, remembering to sand the coats of poly? Just a guess. You should figure this out and perfect it before you add the making the table part.

we took the box our tv came it and covered it in fabric. the guys who delivered it stressed the convenience of having the box when we move, our lease is close to up and i'm expecting the rent to be raised. we had no place to store it though.

its not the best solution but covered in some linen that was on sale it is less of an eyesore.

here is an awful picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/63812199@N00/2816850778/