How I upcycled an old IKEA kitchen into a stylish piece of furniture

The article details a sustainable approach to home renovation, focusing on how a homeowner successfully repurposed old IKEA kitchen cabinets into new furniture, specifically a stylish sideboard. This project emerged from the need to clear out an existing kitchen when the author and their fiancé decided to relocate their kitchen into the dining room of their new house, converting the old galley kitchen into a utility room and downstairs toilet. Instead of contributing to landfill, the author sought a more environmentally conscious solution. The initial consideration was reselling or donating the old kitchen. While appliances and full kitchen sets can often find new homes, the specific shallow-depth cabinets from their old IKEA kitchen were less likely to attract buyers. This led to the creative decision of upcycling the cabinets into new pieces of furniture. The original kitchen, approximately 10 years old, consisted of IKEA units with a black quartz worktop, which visually darkened the small galley space. The upcycling process began with carefully dismantling the old kitchen. The author explains that most kitchen cabinets are held together by simple bolts or screws, making disassembly relatively straightforward. Wall cabinets can be lifted off their wall mounts after screws are removed, while base cabinets require the removal of the worktop first. This step involves emptying cupboards, removing shelves, unscrewing worktop fixings from inside the cabinets, and then carefully lifting the heavy worktop. Next came the design phase for the new sideboard. The author utilized three glass-doored upper cabinets from the old kitchen to create a sideboard for their new kitchen. To align with the aesthetic of their new kitchen, which features plywood and white finishes, they incorporated birch plywood for the base and top of the sideboard. Additionally, four base cabinets from the old kitchen were repurposed as much-needed storage in their office space. The choice of plywood was also driven by the availability of leftover material from the new kitchen build, further enhancing the sustainability aspect of the project. The final step involved the construction of the sideboard. The three upper cabinets were fastened together. An 18mm birch plywood sheet was used for the base and top, cut to size and sanded smooth. A clear matte varnish was applied to the exposed wood for durability. To achieve a mid-century modern look, four wooden furniture legs with mounting plates were sourced from eBay. Holes were bored into the plywood base for the mounting plates, allowing the legs to be screwed in. The glass-door cabinets were then placed on the plywood base and secured with screws, followed by attaching the plywood top from the underside. This project not only prevented waste but also saved the homeowner money, demonstrating a practical and aesthetically pleasing alternative to discarding old kitchen units every 10-15 years. #DIY #HomeRenovation #IKEAHack #Upcycling #SustainableLiving #KitchenDesign #FurnitureUpcycle #HomeImprovement #DIY #HomeRenovation #IKEAHack #Upcycling #SustainableLiving #KitchenDesign #FurnitureUpcycle #HomeImprovement

52 months ago

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