Woman Turns Basic Ikea Cabinets Into Stunning Butler's Pantry

Interior designer and photographer Erin Kestenbaum transformed a basic Ikea Pax wardrobe system into a sophisticated, inky blue walk-in closet for her 1940s Colonial home. The project was inspired by a custom closet in Jenny Wolf's Brooklyn townhouse, which Kestenbaum admired but sought to replicate on a non-custom budget. The Ikea Pax system was chosen as the base due to its versatility, cost-effectiveness compared to building from scratch or hiring professionals, and ease of planning using Ikea's planning tool. The renovation involved several key steps to elevate the off-the-shelf Ikea units. First, Kestenbaum advised extensive planning for the desired finished look, emphasizing flexibility to address nuances in Ikea products. She decided against using Ikea's standard storage accessories to maintain a clean aesthetic. To compensate for uneven floors in her older home, shims were carefully added to level the units, which were then concealed by baseboards. Small puck lights, purchased from Amazon, were integrated by cutting precise holes using a template. Further customization included covering the cabinet seams with paintable wallpaper and using Ikea plugs to fill unused drill holes for a seamless finish. Baseboards, crown molding, and trim, made from half-inch poplar boards cut to size, were then added. The same poplar boards were used to create custom drawer fronts, which were attached to existing Komplement drawers with screws. A crucial step for achieving a professional painted finish was applying a shellac-based primer to the glossy Ikea surface. Kestenbaum stressed the importance of this step, advising the use of a respirator due to the chemical nature of the primer. The final blue color was applied with a spray gun, utilizing many thin coats for an even, high-quality result. High-end brass hardware was installed to enhance the drawers' appearance, while the original wooden Pax hanging rods were stained with floor-finishing oil to match the overall aesthetic. The completed project garnered praise from Jules Yap, founder of the IkeaHackers blog, who noted its thoughtful layout, color, and professional craftsmanship, making it unrecognizable from its Ikea origins. Kestenbaum and Yap both encourage aspiring Ikea hackers to prioritize functionality and personal satisfaction over solely aiming for 'Instagram-worthy' results, highlighting that simple upgrades like paint and new hardware can significantly transform a space. They also advised that success lies in thinking backward from the desired outcome to select suitable Ikea components for custom built-in applications, acknowledging that not all Ikea items are ideal for hacking. #IkeaHack #PaxWardrobe #WalkInCloset #DIYHomeImprovement #InteriorDesign #CustomCabinetry #BudgetRenovation #HomeDecor

Joanna Gaines recently showcased a significant home transformation, converting her son's former gray bedroom into a sophisticated butler's pantry. This redesign was prompted by her youngest son, Crew, moving into a 'big boy room,' leaving his previous bedroom off the kitchen available for a new purpose. Gaines identified a need for additional space for cooking and entertaining, leading to the decision to create an inspiring butler's pantry, which she also intends to use for sourdough baking. She shared before-and-after photos on Instagram, highlighting the dramatic change. The initial state of the room was a gray bedroom, characterized by wood furniture and black accents. The transformation involved a complete overhaul, with a key design element being the deep green paint color, specifically 'Cottage Grove Green' from Gaines's own Magnolia paint collection. This color was applied using a technique called color drenching, covering not only the walls but also the window frames and panes, which instantly made the windows appear larger and more integrated into the design. This dark hue contributed to a moody and sophisticated atmosphere, effectively reducing the perceived vastness of the room's height. Functionally, the former empty gray wall now serves as a prep area. It features paneled walls with four open shelves displaying flatware, cooking essentials, and glass containers for pantry staples. Below these shelves, deep green cabinetry provides closed storage. A luxurious touch is added by a thick marble countertop, which extends up the wall to form a backsplash. Complementing the cabinetry, a brass pot rack and matching cabinet hardware introduce a classic aesthetic to the space. The opposite wall is dedicated to appliances and additional storage. Instead of continuing the marble, a modest wooden countertop was chosen here to incorporate more wood elements throughout the pantry, aligning with a consistent design theme. This area includes extra shelving for spices, bakeware, and potted plants. The existing red brick fireplace, which had previously blended into the gray bedroom decor, now stands out as a celebrated feature, contrasting effectively with the darker color palette of the new pantry. In the center of the room, Gaines opted for a light wood work table island rather than a darker, built-in option. This choice adds a contrasting element to the deep green space. The island is topped with the same marble as the perimeter units, while its wooden structure, particularly the turned legs, provides a traditional feel and a unique finish. The freestanding nature of this piece contributes to a more relaxed and open ambiance within the pantry. The overall design emphasizes a lived-in feel, incorporating cozy seating by the windows, collected artworks, and an eclectic stack of books with a lamp, showcasing the personality and functionality of the space. #JoannaGaines #HomeTransformation #ButlersPantry #InteriorDesign #KitchenDesign #ColorDrenching #MagnoliaHome #GreenCabinets #MarbleCountertops

The article details how a DIY enthusiast, Cass Smith (@cassmakeshome), transformed her existing 2000s-era kitchen cabinets to achieve a high-end, custom look without a full renovation. It highlights the growing trend of upgrading kitchens through smaller, impactful changes rather than complete overhauls, such as refreshing appliances, applying new paint, or modifying door fronts. Smith's approach is presented as an impressive example of this trend, demonstrating how strategic modifications can dramatically alter a kitchen's aesthetic, making it appear significantly more expensive. Smith's renovation involved several key changes designed to refresh and elevate the space. These included the installation of decorative toe kicks, extending the cabinetry upwards to the ceiling, updating the hardware, and applying a new coat of creamy taupe paint. Each of these elements contributed to the overall transformation, but the most significant change, and the focus of the article, was the conversion to an inset cabinet look. Inset cabinetry, characterized by doors that sit flush with the cabinet box, is typically associated with a luxurious, tailored, and modern aesthetic. Achieving this look traditionally requires replacing both the cabinet doors and the entire cabinet boxes, which is a costly and extensive undertaking. However, Smith devised a budget-friendly DIY method to mimic the appearance of inset cabinet fronts. She achieved this by using several pieces of wood, cut to custom widths, to frame out each existing cabinet door. This framing technique allowed the doors to sit flush with the "new" cabinet box fronts, creating the illusion of genuine inset cabinetry. A challenge encountered with this method was that the added trim interfered with the proper opening of the existing cabinet doors. To resolve this, Smith ingeniously added blocks to the inside of the cabinets, which adjusted the hinges and enabled the doors to open and close correctly. The article acknowledges that while Smith's solution is considerably more economical than a traditional kitchen renovation, it does demand significant effort and a degree of comfort with power tools. Nevertheless, it underscores that for individuals willing to invest the time and effort, or to hire skilled assistance, this DIY project offers a viable pathway to achieving a sophisticated, nearly custom kitchen appearance. The overall message emphasizes that innovative and cost-effective solutions exist for homeowners looking to upgrade their kitchens without the need for extensive structural changes. #DIY #KitchenRenovation #CabinetUpgrade #HomeImprovement #BudgetFriendly #InsetCabinets #PowerTools

Alex Bass, founder of Salon 21, an education and commerce platform for the art world, showcases how she curated a sophisticated yet youthful dining nook within her West Village studio apartment. Her approach reflects the same philosophy as Salon 21: a blend of traditional concepts with a contemporary, youthful twist. Bass skillfully partitioned her studio into distinct areas without structural walls, utilizing creative staging to define each space. The dining nook, a key focus, features a marble table and Cesca chairs, complemented by a gallery wall and an antique mirror, strategically placed to enhance the room's perceived size and openness. The article delves into Bass's design process, emphasizing how she created this particular nook to be both stylish and highly practical for small-space living. Bass highlights the importance of natural light and the pre-war architectural details of her studio, such as archways and iron-paned windows, which inspired her furniture and decor choices. She aimed to integrate pieces that matched the inherent sophistication of the apartment, opting for a neutral and warm color palette in the dining nook to foster a sense of focus and relaxation. This deliberate choice contrasts with the more vibrant colors used in her living and bedroom areas. The space is designed for dual functionality, serving as both a workspace with a drop-down desk and a dining area, demonstrating her commitment to practicality in a compact environment. Her design philosophy for small spaces revolves around being decisive and maximizing utility without accumulating clutter. A core tenet of Bass's design approach is the strategic mixing of colors, textures, and styles. While the nook predominantly features muted tones, rusted golds, and browns to create a classic, luxurious feel, she introduces an orange basketball planter for a subtle pop of color, connecting it to other pieces on her bar cart. She stresses that the most crucial element in design is the juxtaposition of old and new elements. For instance, she pairs mid-century modern metal, wood, and cane Cesca chairs with a simple white marble slab table, achieving a modern aesthetic. This blend of styles, she argues, is essential for creating intrigue and balance in a space. Her appreciation for 'older' design, exemplified by her love for the Breuer-inspired chairs that evoke childhood memories, informs her ability to integrate vintage pieces with modern twists, such as the burl wood cabinet that perfectly fits the space. The gallery wall in the dining nook holds personal significance, featuring seven film photographs taken by Bass herself, given to her by her mother as a gift for her first apartment. These photographs, framed in brushed metallic, were carefully placed around an antique mirror, demonstrating how she adapted existing decor to fit a new layout. This process of re-evaluating and re-positioning items when moving into a new space, considering both style and logistics, is a practical aspect she emphasizes. Bass also shares her sourcing strategies, preferring to independently scour the internet and enjoy the hunt for vintage pieces. She highlights Overstock.com for good deals on items like her Cesca chairs and praises Etsy for its array of high-quality vintage finds, including the drop-down desk/armoire and various light fixtures she has personalized throughout her apartment. Finally, Bass discusses her intentional approach to maintaining a clean and functional table space. She uses candlesticks for ambient lighting during meals and keeps fresh flowers, a reminder of the outside world, especially during the pandemic. Her philosophy, inspired by a high school English teacher, advocates for dedicated spaces for different activities—working at the desk, sleeping in bed, and eating at the table—to maintain mental clarity and prevent clutter from encroaching on relaxing areas. This intentional separation of functions contributes to the overall tranquility and efficiency of her studio apartment's design. #StudioApartment #SmallSpaceLiving #InteriorDesign #DiningNook #HomeDecor #ArtDealer #VintageFurniture #ModernDesign #SpacePlanning