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Northwest #1: Gursk's Home Office Makeover - Out With the IVAR, In With Space

Name: Gursk
Location: Vancouver
Time: 3 days
Cost: $1300

 
 

Tell us the tools and resources you used for the project:

Raw Resources:

  • 4x6 sheet of 3/4 inch plywood, maple finish grade on 1 side
  • 10 feet of 1x1 lumber
  • 23 feet of maple finishing tape
  • Zinsser primer
  • Drywall repair compound
  • Wood filler
  • Benjamin Moore Natural Linen Latex Paint
  • Benjamin Moore Natural Linen Oil Paint
  • 6 L brackets
  • 20 EZ Drywall anchors
  • 12 1.5 inch wood screws
  • 4, 2-inch plastic grommets for cable management
  • 2 feet IKEA RABALDER cable management tubing

    Finishing Resources:

  • 2 IKEA BJÄRNUM/ MOSSBY, wall shelves
  • 2 IKEA UDDEN, wall shelves
  • 1 IKEA Vika Byske adjustable table leg
  • 1 Wiremold, Plugmold Tough Multioutlet strip
  • LCD monitor mount (Vantage Point model V139-1022)
  • New LCD monitor
  • IKEA ORIGINAL desk pad
  • Keyboard tray & mechanism

    Reused Resources:

  • Lateral filing cabinet, painted black
  • Computer equipment
  • 1 IKEA CITTRA track light
  • 1 Leap chair

    Tools:

  • Stud finder
  • Pencil
  • Tape measure
  • Drywall trowel
  • Sandpaper
  • Handsaw
  • Drill & assorted drill bits
  • 2-inch hole saw bit for drill
  • Paint rollers & trays
  • Hammer
  • Iron
  • Level
  • Screwdriver
  • Sawhorses

    1-23-northwest 1during.jpg
    DURING

    Share step-by-step instructions for how you completed the project:

    Room prep:

  • 1. Remove all items from office.
  • 2. Repair any flaws in drywall with drywall compound, sanding between coats.
  • 3. Prime repaired areas.
  • 4. Paint room with 2 coats of latex paint.

    Desk construction:

  • 1. At lumber supply store, have wood cut.
    Plywood: cut 1 sheet 2 pieces, approximately 6X2, and 4x2 1X1 cut into lengths that will run along perimeter edges of desk, 2-2 foot pieces, 1 6 foot piece and 1 4 foot piece.
  • 2. Sand all surfaces.
  • 3. Using drill bit, pre-drill pilot holes into bottom side of 1x1 wood. These will be used to attach the 1x1 pieces to the lower perimeter of the desk to prevent warping.
  • 4. Line 1x1 pieces up with outer edges of the unfinished side of plywood. Screw 1x1 into plywood.
  • 5. Use and iron to apply wood tape to the outside edges you created by screwing the two pieces of wood together in step 4.
  • 6. Fill any pits or flaws in wood with wood putty.
  • 7. Prime top & sides of desktop pieces.
  • 8. Paint top & sides of desktop pieces. Sand and add second coat, if desired.
  • 9. Allow paint to cure 24 hours. This may take longer if you live in a humid place.

    Mounting desk to wall:

  • 1. Measure height for desktop and draw line on wall.
  • 2. Verify line is level.
  • 3. Using stud finder, locate studs and screw L-brackets onto wall level with the line you drew in step 1. If you cannot locate studs, use drywall anchors to attach L-brackets
  • 4. Adjust the IKEA Vika Byske adjustable table leg so it’s the same height as the line that you drew in step 1.
  • 5. Attach table leg to outer corner of desktop. This will make the mounting the desktop to the wall easier, providing some support.
  • 6. Place desktop on L-brackets and mark the underside of the desktop where each L bracket has been mounted to wall.
  • 7. Place desktop back on floor and pre-drill pilot holes in the locations you marked in step 6. Make sure not to drill through the entire depth of the plywood.
  • 8. Replace the desktop on L-brackets and screw desktop to brackets.
  • 9. Adjust table leg so desktop is level.
  • 10. Repeat for second arm of desktop, or use lateral filing cabinet to support it.
  • 11. Install keyboard tray under desk.

    Finishing steps:

  • 1. Mount Wiremold, Plugmold Tough Multioutlet strip below desktop, within plug distance of an electrical outlet. This will make placing and connecting computer equipment MUCH easier.
  • 2. Determine where you will place your telephone and computer equipment.
  • 3. Use hole saw to drill holes for cables.
  • 4. Place plastic grommets into new holes.
  • 5. Mount LCD to wall.
  • 6. Place computer equipment & thread cables through grommets.
  • 7. Mount IKEA BJÄRNUM/ MOSSBY and IKEA UDDEN wall shelves as per IKEA instructions. Make sure shelves are level!
  • 8. Add mirror and other final dressing touches.

    • Tags

    Jan Jumpstart 2008 - Northwest, How To...

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    Comments (20)

    where is the Before shot? I love seeing where these projects started out...

    posted by CQ in DC on 2008-01-23 14:04:58
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    It's very cool but, yeah, it's hard to vote when there is no comparison shot.

    posted by Maryja on 2008-01-23 14:21:48
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    Was it a closet turned office? I am a bit confused without a 'before' shot.

    posted by Janella13 on 2008-01-23 14:30:02
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    Looks great! What are the room dimensions?

    posted by silvarga on 2008-01-23 14:53:24
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    Here are some before shots - not sure why it didn't come through with my entry.
    [URL=http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001897851244364322][IMG]http://aycu23.webshots.com/image/39662/2001897851244364322_th.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
    [URL=http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001859899705047642][IMG]http://aycu28.webshots.com/image/42227/2001859899705047642_th.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

    posted by Gursk on 2008-01-23 14:58:06
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    Sorry - coded URLS didn't parse. Here are some easier links:

    http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001897851244364322
    http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001859899705047642

    posted by Gursk on 2008-01-23 14:59:16
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    silvarga,

    The room is 5x7 and is billed as a 'den' by the developer. I think they started out as storage spaces & the complex developer decided they could charge more if they named it a 'den'.

    posted by Gursk on 2008-01-23 15:01:59
    view Gursk's profile

    Here is a shot of the Wiremold power bar mounted under the desk. It made connecting all 4 of my computers & assorted equipment much easier. (Yes, I do have 4 computers).
    http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2006221024748025795

    posted by Gursk on 2008-01-23 15:05:57
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    oooh, love this!

    posted by *heather leaf* on 2008-01-23 15:08:11
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    amazing transformation

    posted by saudoso on 2008-01-23 16:40:50
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    Are we supposed to be voting about this? Or maybe only the people in her region vote? Anyway, I like this a lot.

    posted by Curtis on 2008-01-23 17:13:12
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    I don't feel I can vote also without a before shot.

    posted by shari on 2008-01-23 18:12:59
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    Okay. Now that I've read the links in the comments. I can vote. Love this.

    posted by shari on 2008-01-23 18:14:51
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    Beautiful transformation.

    posted by Vanessa in New York on 2008-01-23 19:20:44
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    amazing - please come to my home!

    posted by Joan in SB on 2008-01-23 20:44:14
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    Do you mind me asking why you bought maple plywood and finishing tape, but painted it white? Where you originally going to have the wood show?

    posted by JG on 2008-01-23 23:34:03
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    Gursk,

    I love this! This is exactly what I want to do for an unused closet, so I really appreciate the detailed instructions...I will be utilizing some of your tips, especially when it comes to hiding all of those chaotic and ugly electrical cords that I always find so distracting.

    Thanks for sharing!

    posted by Art2Zen on 2008-01-24 02:29:32
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    JG,

    I had always planned to paint the desk. The advise I was given at the lumbar yard was that the maple finish would paint up better than raw plywood. We also considered MDF, but it was too heavy when compared to equivalent strength plywood.

    As for the tape, the maple was all they had so I decided to run with it.

    HTH,

    Gursk

    posted by Gursk on 2008-01-24 12:24:39
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    Brilliant!

    posted by Sleek on 2008-01-25 07:42:01
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    In the northeast, birch is used to finish plywood and make plywood tape. And your lumber yard steered you right Gursk. You wouldn't want to paint on raw plywood, or plywood without a taped edge.

    It was interesting to see this. I have a space very similar in proportion to this, that we're planning to turn into an office. I'm liking your IKEA choices!

    posted by greer on 2008-01-28 20:23:18
    view greer's profile

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