The Happy Hacker...

My Ikea Life Improvement Project(s)

"Not for the rich, but for the smart," is how Ikea has branded itself through the years. If you spend a little time on Pinterest, you'll find that the motto is changing, as high end designers have come to embrace the endless options a clever Ikea hack can offer even the most discerning customer. This week, Domino magazine posted an article about clever DIY Ikea hacks - you can read it here.

When the search for the perfect sideboard for my dining room led to a dead end, I decided to take my search to Ikea. I must admit to being intimately acquainted with the inner workings of Ikea. In my bedroom, I have a wall of "built-in" Pax closets that are finished off with vintage PE Guerin hardware that was a hand-me-down from my parents. The cabinets are elegant and serve as a fine substitute for expensive custom woodwork. So, for my dining room project, I was not surprised to find myself in the kitchen cabinet department at Ikea. Since I am more of a conceptual person (i.e. not so good with a drill), my skilled carpenter-friend, Andy, did most of the heavy lifting. Here's how we did it and what you will need if you wish to recreate this super stylish piece:

Ikea Akurum wall cabinet frame, size 36 x 39

Ikea Abstrakt high gloss door, size 18" x 39"

My wall is over 120" long, and I wanted a full length sideboard for a more contemporary look, so I had enough room for three Akurum cabinet frames. I also wanted these cabinets to hang on the wall, but because my walls are stucco and old, we decided that we would need to put feet on the cabinet to support its weight. I decided on these wooden bun feet, which we ordered in pine and stained a rich, dark ebony, the same color as my floors, so that the cabinet would still have the illusion of floating.

We went to a local lumber yard and chose a single piece of poplar wood because it was long enough to cover the entire length of the cabinet. We got a second piece of poplar because Andy, being a true artist (it helps if your carpenter is also a theatrical scene builder) suggested putting a trim piece around the edge to give the top a more finished, polished look. The poplar went to Andy's workshop where he stained it, along with the wooden feet, to the same deep ebony color. We applied two coats of stain and used a satin finish varnish to seal it.

Note: the cabinets are 12 1/4" deep. The poplar top we got was just about 13" -- with the added 1/2" trim around the edge, it sits perfectly on the top of the cabinet with just enough of an overhang to be flush with the face of the cabinet doors. 

The final steps were assembling all of the pieces. Be mindful of the fact that almost all Ikea products are made of particle board or MDF and you have to be extremely careful when screwing the hardware into the surfaces. The key to making their products look great and last a long time is proper assembly. Believe me, I've learned the hard way!

For the hardware, I used some extra drawer pulls from Bungalow 5 -- I have a few pieces from their collection and had just enough extra to use for the sideboard. Here's a look at the final product.

Ikea has a website called The Ikea Life Improvement Project, where people can upload images of their own DIY home improvements using Ikea products. It's a great resource for sharing information and inspiration. There is also Ikea Hackers, a blog featuring DIY projects uploaded by people all over the world who have modified Ikea products to suit their needs. Both sites are full of ingenious ideas sure to fill your DIY mind with all sorts of projects for a rainy day! Happy hacking.

Inspiration

I'm often asked what inspires me when I'm designing jewelry. My answer is pretty simple -- I design and make what I want to wear. I have a uniform mentality when it comes to my wardrobe -- hello jeans, t-shirts and boots, even in the summer. So, what's the secret to looking like you aren't wearing the same thing day after day? Jewels! I have always loved to layer my jewelry and for years have made a lot of chains. In terms of versatility, there is nothing like a great statement chain that can be worn for years. My mother has worn a classic Hermes chain for as long as I can remember. Over the years, she has added other chains and changes her look by adding different pendants or strands of beads for a more bohemian look. I was once told by a biz consultant that I was actually a "pendant designer," and that I needed to think about permanently attaching my pendants to my chains. He may have had a point, but it would have meant taking away one of the key elements of my dressing and designing philosophy -- jewelry should be fun to wear, versatile and overall, timeless. I want my jewelry to be memorable, but I don't want people saying, here comes that statement necklace again. By being able to alternate between great pendants -- or no pendant at all -- I have many looks all wrapped up into one delicious pile of golden gemmy goodness in my jewelry box.  With fall now nearly in full swing in NYC, here are a few options for mixing it up...

Clearly, I prefer bold, colorful jewelry. I don't want to have to squint to see the stones, and I don't like to follow trends. You'll never see an x-ring or one of those little stacking bands that sits at the tip of your finger from me...but that's a story for another day.

Happy Weekend!

 

  

Fresh cut

New aquamarine fresh from the lapidary...yum!

This brought a smile to my face today. Crochetdermy. Crocheted taxidermy animals on display at the Anthropologie in Rockefeller Center... 

I love the expression on this guy's face...

these animals reminded me of the crocheted police car I saw a few summers ago in Helsinki...

Some new work...

Here's what we've been up to in the studio lately....

Use, Reuse, Recycle....

Very often I am asked to remake a client's jewelry. Many of us have been the grateful recipients of jewels handed down to us by mothers, grandmothers, aunts and other loved ones, and often we end up not wearing them because they are just not "us." In today's world, there is really no excuse to have your jewelry locked in a safe where it sits unworn, unseen and unenjoyed. So, when a client, or in this case a dear friend from my high school days, asks me to reimagine a family heirloom, I jump at the opportunity. My friend had been given two lovely diamond-set cocktail rings that she didn't wear. They were beautiful, set in platinum, and in their day would have been "on trend" and prized for their beauty and quality. She wanted something she could wear every day that was also versatile enough to dress up at night. We decided to turn her two rings into three that she can stack, wear one at a time, or mix with other rings as you can see below. Here's a look at the before and after....

the settings...

the diamonds...

the final product...the bezels are cone shaped and we burnished the smaller diamonds into the bands.  My friend loves peridot, so we added one to the mix. Mixing color into the stack is a fun option. Bringing an heirloom into the 21st Century is a meaningful way of keeping family memories and traditions alive. For my friend, these rings will forever be conversation pieces with a great history to share!

Humble Abode...before & after

When you turn your hobby into your livelihood, and it's no longer just a hobby, it's incredibly rewarding. In my case, and I'm sure I'm not alone, I found myself craving a new creative outlet. Something purely extracurricular. Something fun! My house in Florida has been my escape from NYC for the last few years - and working on the design elements has become a new passion. I have become completely design obsessed. I posted about the kitchen overhaul a while ago. When I first got this house, it was pretty much a blank slate with country French tones. I have nothing against country French - my family had a house in the south of France and I spent much of my childhood there. I think it's great - in France. And, while a little taste of any style is ok for me, I wouldn't want a whole house of all one thing. I like a more eclectic, un-done home. That being said, I tend to be a creature of habit when it comes to the foundation of design, relying on a neutral black and white canvas for decor that is punctuated with pops of color and texture. Sort of like my jewelry. I like classic pieces that tell a story and I like things to be hand made, full of character and integrity. I'm not afraid to mix it up - combining vintage with modern elements for an "undecorated" look. I've learned a lot over the years from my Mom. She personifies casual, understated elegance in both her dress and her home. Unfortunately, I did not get her green thumb...but more about that another time. And, my grandmother was a renaissance woman who lived way before her time. I often remember her standing in her apartment in Boston staring at a wall, analyzing the placement of her artwork. Or, in front of her sofa, pondering the array of throw pillows she so deliberately chose -- but made it look effortless and casual. I definitely inherited her anything goes as long as it has substance, character and integrity approach to decorating...and living. That's what gives it style, she would say. Here's a peek at the before and after.

before....we were very beige...

...and sort of country French...

after... I stained the floors a dark mix of ebony & jacobean and painted the walls in Benjamin Moore Super White - it's so bright and airy now.

my grandmother gave me the Barcelona table...an original from Design Research in Boston

fireplace details...

 a painting by Conger Metcalf

dining room buffet & details....the sideboard is a built-in work of art in itself. More on that later...

the original icebox...I use it for a bread pantry

Otis loves his place in the sun...

photos by Marcie Fry, Stephanie Albertson