Of all the home spaces that tend to get the styling shaft, closets often find themselves at the forefront of neglect. But they also have the potential to provide a sense of tranquility when given some extra attention. Plus when you know what’s in your wardrobe, you’re less likely to spend money on things you don’t need or have a meltdown when you can’t find the outfit you’ve been saving for a special occasion. How can you overhaul your closet without a fully custom build-out? Fake it till you make it. Check out these IKEA closet hacks that spark joy in the pursuit of streamlining even the most jumbled spaces. 

For a Bit of Reflection

In designer Chloé Mason Gray’s experience, three-and-a-half months was a bit too long to wait for a replacement front for a mirrored Pax wardrobe in this Mexico home. She thought it would be a breeze to have the fronts custom-made elsewhere, so she purchased the unit sans mirrors and began her search for glass. “It turned out that hardly anyone makes ones with the particular thickness needed for this closet,” says Gray. But the time it took to find a fabricator was worth the wait: When her client wakes up each morning, he’s greeted by the reflection of the unique Cerami plaster walls. 

If You’re Starting From Scratch 

Domino’s own Julia Stevens and her roommates finally found the perfect NYC apartment. The only problem? Not a closet in sight. They converted the hallway by the entryway into their affectionately termed “walk-in closet” with IKEA’s Mulig clothes bars at $7 each. Six in total for the project only set them back $36. The racks stretch from 23 to 35 inches, so they expanded the top row to fit longer dresses and the bottom row for shirts and pants. Each roommate has her own section, with the option to share.

To Add Extra Room for Activities

Instead of a dresser that would take up valuable real estate, Judith Achumba-Wöllenstein’s IKEA closet hack meant installing a wall-mounted Boaxel system in her preteen brother-in-law’s room. (Bonus: More room for TikTok dances!) The showstopping red frame was another practical choice. “Because the wardrobe doesn’t have doors, all we needed to do was screw the MDF wood frame to the ceiling and to the side of the walls,” she explains. 

For a Complete Overhaul

When you have the luxury of a walk-in closet, make sure that every square inch lives up to its reputation. Erin Kestenbaum did just that with the help of IKEA’s Pax wardrobe system, which she outfitted with recessed lighting, crown molding, blue paint, and gold hardware. Sure, it’s a big to-do, but the results will be worth it. 

To Incorporate Extra Drawers

Sometimes your closet simply doesn’t have the room for your collection of knickknacks. And when that happens, you should slide in this chest of drawers from Full Time Fiesta. This idea takes an Alex drawer unit and paints it in an ombré design for a fun finish that’ll stand out among the rest of your possessions. Use it to store scarves, jewelry, and other accessories all in one place. 

Shop More Closet Savers Here

Pax Wardrobe Frames, IKEA ($250)

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MULIG Clothes Bar, Ikea ($7)

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Alex Drawer Unit, Ikea ($89)

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Pax Hinged Doors, IKEA ($75)

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The post 5 IKEA Closet Hacks to Get That Custom Wardrobe Look appeared first on domino.

Buying an IKEA sofa is a rite of passage—it’s practically written in the starter apartment handbook. After a few moves or a couple of wine spills, that new-sofa smell wears off and you’re left with the question: To keep or not to keep? We vote keep. Like any beloved product from the Swedish retailer (think: Besta cabinets, Pax wardrobes), you can easily customize any one of the company’s couches. The easiest IKEA sofa hack? Reupholster it. Before you reach for the sewing machine, keep in mind that there are a number of companies out there making stylish, ready-made slipcovers for IKEA couches. Then again,  you can always go the easy DIY route. Either way, these six makeovers will convince you to play dress-up.

Give It a Dye Job 

Designer Robin Heller had swapped the legs on her Söderhamn several times to give it a refresh, but when she moved into her Baltimore dream home, she had a vision of tie-dye for the nine-year-old sofa. She turned to a brand called Upstate to bring that idea to life. It made a custom cover hand-dyed in swirls of yellow, pink, red, and blue that has not only become the focal point of the room but cleverly disguises messes. Bonus points for the matching curtains. 

Create Your Own Fabric

IKEA’s Ekebol sofa was seemingly designed for tiny spaces: It has built-in shelving, removable cushions, and can squeeze into tight corners. The only catch? Its washed gray fabric isn’t quite as inspiring. Pro DIYer Lana Red gave her piece a floral flair by wrapping it in a bold print she designed herself and sent to Spoonflower for manufacturing.

Go High-Low

Swathing a basic sofa in ultra-luxe fabric is a surefire way to elevate the piece. Christene Barberich likens her re-covered Vallentuna sleeper sofa to “1960s atomic Italian modernism.” The funky printed velvet fabric in question is Princesa by Gaston y Daniela and was fitted by Brooklyn-based Y&C Upholstery.

Customize It From Top to Bottom 

When Black and Blooms blogger Sara Toufali and her boyfriend moved into their sunny Los Angeles apartment, they realized their dark gray Söderhamn sectional was dampening the mood of the bright and airy living room. Instead of scrapping the four-seater, Toufali worked with Comfort Works to create a custom cream-colored slipcover. They also switched out the metal legs for pinewood ones that picked up on the warm honey tones of the many rattan planters.

Cover It in a Flash

Self-professed “Scandiphile” Rebecca Thandi Norman, one half of the pair behind the blog Scandinavian Standard, upgraded her Söderhamn sofa with a made-to-order slipcover by Bemz in pale pink. The process, as Norman outlines, is super-straightforward: Request a few fabric samples and place your order—and it arrives at your doorstep six to eight weeks later.

Box It Up

This isn’t an upholstery trick per se, but you might want to level up your DIY skills after learning that this IKEA sofa hack saved a new San Francisco resident $5,000. Designer Erin Roberts was tasked with fitting an L-shaped sofa in a living room corner. When she couldn’t find the perfect fit and custom options clocked in way over budget, she rolled up her sleeves and made her own. All it took was two love seats connected by a matching corner table, all encased in a cherrywood frame. It looks built in, but luckily for the renters, the sofa is free-floating just inside the platform.

Get the Look

Söderhamn Sectional, IKEA ($1,249)

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Friheten/Klagshamn Sleeper Sectional w/Storage, IKEA ($999)

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Plant-Based Dye Kit in Rose, Upstate ($48)

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Söderhamn 3-Seater Sofa Cover, Bemz ($349)

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The post These Chic Custom Couches Are Really IKEA Sofas in Disguise appeared first on domino.

Ivar, Pax, Kallax, Billy. These IKEA storage systems might come to mind when you want to declutter your home for good. But for the frequent mover or small-space dweller, the front-runners can fall short when you realize you barely have room for a dining table or that the cabinets in your galley kitchen just won’t cut it. When nothing seems to fit, we turn to the Swedish retailer’s modular marvel: the Besta. Whether you stack them, paint them, or mount them on a wall, it’s easy to make these units your own. From a color-blocked filing system to a minimalist book nook, these IKEA Besta hacks are the absolute best.

Besta Frame, IKEA ($65)

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Besta Shelf Unit With Doors, IKEA ($157)

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A Besta Breakfast Nook

Kendra Joseph, the Bay Area–based designer and founder of Rise Up Home, combined two Besta base units in this kitchen corner, topped them with a waterfall of wood, and painted the bottom with Benjamin Moore’s Midnight. The result is a $300 banquette that makes room for everything from morning coffee to midnight snacks. 

A Facebook Find

Jacky Mack, a DIY dabbler based on the Dorset coast of England, came across her Besta unit on Facebook Marketplace—for free. She initially planned to use just the doors for another project in her living room, but after measuring the base, she found out it was the exact width of her king-size mattress. She plopped a long cushion on top, and now the benchlike cubby lives at the foot of the bed and corrals extra pillows in between sleeps.

An Artful Perch

As an artist, Agi Raw couldn’t resist tackling a few hands-on projects in her 580-square-foot Berlin apartment. As well as creating foam picture frames and tiling a nightstand, her IKEA Besta hack included adding a slab of stone to fancify the unit in her main living space. Extra seating, ample storage, and a spot to display objets d’art are all part of the masterpiece.

A Jewel-Toned Moment

Kelly Mindell’s colorful take hinges on the plywood frame she added to the top and sides of the original item. The wood is infinitely easier to paint than the original glossy surface. The seasoned DIYer gave the piece a vintage touch by swapping the drawer fronts with cane inserts.

A Fluted Seat

For her daughter’s bedroom, Chelsea Foy sandwiched a Besta unit in between two bookcases to create a cozy window seat. The Lappviken doors she chose have a smooth finish that allows wood glue to grip onto them, which was key to her plan to cover them with 3/4-inch wood half-round trim.

A Picture-Perfect Pass-Through

Ashley Rose made her IKEA Besta hack look truly built in by covering the open space underneath it with a toe-kick and buying fresh doors from Norse Interiors.

A Marble Marvel

Leftover marble scraps from this Brooklyn kitchen renovation came in handy in the living room. Designer Crystal Sinclair had the offcuts honed to fit on top of the Besta cabinets that line the TV wall.

A Chunky Support System 

Sarah Sherman Samuel’s cabinet looks like it’s sitting on the ground, but the two Besta units are actually hooked into the wall with suspension rails. Using an orbital sander, she flattened the top and bottom of four wood balls and screwed them to the bottom of the furniture so they look like proper feet. To get a flat plane on the balls, the designer recommends holding the sander as still as possible. If your floors aren’t level, sand a bit, test it out, sand a bit, test it out, until it’s perfect.

A Floating Bedroom Credenza

Ashley Rose wanted to give her daughter’s bedroom a more mature look while still making it easy for her to put toys away. She used the shell of the high-gloss Besta shelf as her base and upgraded the top with a panel of aspen, cut down to size and stained at her local hardware store. 

A Family Room Bench

Designer Laura Melling went for a custom millwork look in this family room by pairing crisp wood paneling with a configuration of mounted Besta modules. To take her wall-to-wall storage solution one step further, Melling incorporated a gray felt bench in one corner that can double as a reading nook for little ones or a bonus seat for guests.

A Daybed for Days

Sarah and Wes Day of This Maine House wanted to create a space near their kitchen where they, along with their little one, could comfortably lounge post-dinner. A daybed-and-bench combination with soft closing drawers proved to be the perfect fix. The couple went outside the box with brass cabinet knobs from Schoolhouse Electric and five coats of Sherwin-Williams Inkwell paint.

A Little Side Action

Here, Sarah Sherman Samuel used her Besta storage unit as a building block for a larger credenza made from birch plywood, and incorporated sleek side channels into the design for added stability. It’s easiest to build around the Besta if you assemble it upside down. For every joint, she used wood glue and a ton of screws.

A Color-Blocked Cupboard

Ashley Rose’s other big IKEA Besta hack comes in the form of a rainbow-infused credenza. Before assembling the doors, the blogger coated each front in spray paint, adding a clear shellac coat on top to seal the vibrant hues.

A Shaker-Shiplap Scene

Erin Broege of The Heart and Haven used a Besta TV unit as a divider between her shiplap built-in shelving units. She swapped out the original doors for Semihandmade’s supermatte white Shaker fronts in order to seamlessly merge the piece with the farmhouse-fresh look of the built-ins.

An Adult-Approved Toy Cabinet

DIY blogger Angela Rose also opted for a natural finish with Semihandmade fronts. To complement the design of her newly completed mural, she chose the brand’s Cove doors by Chris Loves Julia and bone knobs from CB2. Semihandmade’s cabinet fronts come with the hinge cup hole already drilled. When you’re drilling to make pilot holes for the screws, be sure not to drill all the way through the door.

The post 15 IKEA Besta Hacks to Incorporate Sneaky Storage Just About Anywhere appeared first on domino.

Renovations are pricey—those involving the heart of the home, even more so: According to the Real Remodeling Costs calculator on Houzz, the average cost of a kitchen remodel rings in anywhere from $13,700 to a whopping $44,100. So when you find little shortcuts that can save a few bucks, it’s best to go ahead and take them. Maybe it’s peel-and-stick tile for the backsplash you’ve always wanted or heading to a certain Swedish retailer for your new cupboards. The problem is, IKEA cabinet doors aren’t always the most stylish…and that’s where these companies come in. 

The brand’s cult following has spawned an entire generation of companies aimed at dressing up pared-back basics. You can get slipcovers for your Söderhamn sectional and legs for your Besta—though we’re most interested in the zhuzhed-up fronts that will transform the most basic of cabinetry. If you’re planning an upgrade involving IKEA cabinet doors—even if it’s not for a few months—these makers will convince you to ditch the sledgehammer. 

Plykea

Pairs best with: The Metod system. 

The price point: It varies but is estimated at $877 for a small kitchen to $6,153 for a large kitchen. 

What it’s known for: If a colorful dinnerware collection is as bold as you’re willing to go, these are the fronts for you. Plykea offers three different materials—each customizable in a number of hues—but is best known for its classic Scandi style: simple, timeless, and categorically minimalist. They’re best served as is, sans decorative pulls or knobs. 

Birch Ply Doors, Plykea

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Formica Faced Ply Doors, Plykea

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Kokeena

Pairs best with: The Sektion and Godmorgon systems.   

The price point: Since everything is tailor-made to your space, you’ll have to reach out for a custom quote. 

What it’s known for: Traditional but make it eco-friendly: The Portland, Oregon–based brand is so committed to sustainability that it’s one of the core values of the company. (It uses low- to zero-VOC paints and varnishes and relies on recycled plant fibers to round out its materials.) This means you can’t go wrong with any of the polished wood doors, but don’t sleep on the Townsend Home collection if you’re craving a deeper dose of color. 

Sage Cabinet, Kokeena

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Moss Cabinet, Kokeena

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Reform

Pairs best with: All IKEA kitchen systems. 

The price point: Individual pieces range from $76 for drawers to $1,504 for side covers. 

What it’s known for: The eccentric rich aunt of the kitchen cabinet family: There are luxe finishes, yes, but they’re paired with funkier features like color-blocked fronts and little round handles. This is because of the numerous architects and designers Reform routinely collaborates with, from Norm Architects to Cecilie Manz; it’s high-end on a budget. 

Frame Cabinet Fronts, Reform

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Basis Cabinet Fronts, Reform

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Superfront

Pairs best with: The Metod system. 

The price point: Expect to shell out between $39 for a tiny drawer and $293 for a larger cupboard. 

What it’s known for: This collection is all about prints. Pick between fish scales, geometric shapes, and stripes to add a bit of texture in place of cookie-cutter IKEA cabinet doors—or mix and match your lowers and uppers for some real pattern play. 

Geometric Fronts, Superfront

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Fields Fronts, Superfront

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Husk

Pairs best with: The Metod system. 

The price point: Husk quotes by kitchen not individual items—it calculates between $1,704 for a small space and $6,344 for bigger sizes. 

What it’s known for: If you suffer from serious shopping indecision, start here. There is exactly one front style, making for the ultimate no-fuss design. But that doesn’t mean the products are boring: You’ll have your choice of 19 colors, going from rich jewel tones to soft neutrals; just don’t overthink the details. 

Giallo Kashmir, Husk

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Nero Ingo, Husk

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Semihandmade

Pairs best with: The Sektion and now-discontinued Akurum systems. 

The price point: From $12 to $190, depending on the size and style. 

What it’s known for: The Instagram-famous kitchens you see in all your favorite design stars’ homes. Semihandmade has teamed up with both Sarah Sherman Samuel and Chris Loves Julia for different lines, culminating in an offering that has those classic vibes—e.g., natural-colored wood and Shaker silhouettes—but also includes a few more playful options.  

SSS Desert Grey Beaded, Semihandmade

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Supermatte Night Sky Shaker, Semihandmade

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Holte

Pairs best with: The Metod system. 

The price point: Starting at around $1,431 and topping out at $6,450. 

What it’s known for: For anyone looking for something punchier, don’t sleep on Holte’s vivid orange fronts and half-moon–shaped steel pulls (the cobalt shade is also a favorite). There are 120 total colors and six different handles, so if you’re on the hunt for something truly bespoke, you’ll find it in the mix. 

Cobalt HPL Front, Holte

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Mint HPL Front, Holte

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The post 7 Brands to Shop for Your IKEA Cabinet Doors Upgrade appeared first on domino.

Who says you have to completely demo your kitchen (not to mention, your budget) to make it yours? In our new series, The No-Reno Kitchen, we’re highlighting total transformations that prove the power of paint, fixtures, and a little elbow grease.

“Necessity breeds creativity,” says Katie Sarokhanian, summing up her kitchen renovation for the One Room Challenge. The Dallas-based designer DIYed practically everything, from the painted refrigerator to the scalloped trim. Inspired by the Palladian terrazzo floors that are ubiquitous in Italy, the mosaic backsplash was no exception. The whole thing, mortar and all, came to a total of $150. Her secret? The 14-by-6-foot surface is swathed in marble remnants left over from past design projects, as well as broken chunks Sarokhanian salvaged from Facebook Marketplace and a local tile store. “I asked for anything that had a crack in it,” she says. 

A central arch consisting of smashed-up pieces of pink marble is surrounded by milky white marble, onyx, and Venetian gold marble, giving the 1980s house an old-world vibe. While the weeklong project was time-consuming (Sarokhanian thought about the placement of each slab carefully), she admits it was stress-free.“ Tiling is more of an art than a contractor’s skill,” she explains. Ahead, Sarokhanian walks us through the mini masterpiece. 

The Supplies

• Large-scale marble tiles 
• Mallet
• Plastic bin 
• Large stone mortar
• Sanded grout 
• Angle grinder
• Penetrating sealer 

Step 1: Start With a Moisture-Resistant Slate 

Big grout spaces mean you don’t have to use as much stone as you would if you were doing a usual streamlined backsplash. (Sarokhanian suggests buying 30 percent less tile than you normally would.) Also, be sure to source pieces that are all the same thickness. “Otherwise it will look weird and collect dust,” says the designer. After removing the old upper cabinets in her space, Sarokhanian hung green board, which, unlike drywall, is a material that won’t absorb moisture and is mold resistant. 

Step 2: Make Your Puzzle Pieces 

Using a rubber mallet, the designer broke the marble tiles into large and small chunks. She dumped the stone pieces into large plastic storage bins so she could sift through them as she worked her way across the wall.

Step 3: Lay Away

Before applying mortar to the surface, Sarokhanian outlined the arch with a pencil. This gave her a general idea of where to place the slabs to help create a curved shape. The designer filled in the gaps between the biggest chunks with 1-inch-size remnants. Once the pink stone was set, she went over it with sanded grout. For the white and yellow marbles outside of the main arch, she skipped the grout and instead coated it with more mortar. 

Step 4: Clean Up the Edges 

Sarokhanian’s hottest tip: Only use natural stone for this project. “The edges are going to be sharp after you break them,” she explains. “And when you sand ceramic tile, it loses its top coat of color.” After setting the stone in the mortar and grouting it, she buffed out any rough spots with an angle grinder. 

Step 5: Finish It With a Top Coat 

Apply the penetrating sealer with either a pump sprayer, sponge, or brush. This is especially important to use in any areas that weren’t covered with grout, which has a natural sealant in it. Leave it to cure and dry for 24 hours, then stand back and enjoy your one-of-a-kind collage. 

Try It Out

DEWALT Angle Grinder, Amazon ($80 was $183)

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Polished Marble Remnants, Terrazzo & Marble Supple

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Calcita Blue Marble Remnant, Stone Remnants by Euro Stone Craft

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Impregnator Sealer by Mircale Sealants, Amazon ($32)

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The post This $150 DIY Backsplash Is Made Entirely of Marble Remnants No One Else Wanted appeared first on domino.

When a San Francisco newcomer tapped designer Erin Roberts to furnish their future living room by the day they moved in, Roberts enlisted a small workshop in Los Angeles to bring her custom renderings to life. The wait times associated with one-of-a-kind pieces (we’re talking five months, at best) weren’t going to work with the homeowner’s tight schedule, but a semi-custom IKEA Söderhamn hack would.

Roberts searched high and low for an in-stock, testable sectional, but there weren’t any in the exact L-shape she wanted. So she decided to combine the budget-friendliness of IKEA and the streamlined minimalism of the Japandi aesthetic. Her vision: two love seats connected by a matching corner table, all encased in a cherrywood frame. Despite hiring out the actual construction, Roberts insists the base is totally DIY-able. “I didn’t have the space or the bandwidth to do it on my own time,” she says, but she told us exactly how to achieve professional-level results.

Drop It Low

The key to determining what style sofa works for this type of project is all in the height. The low-slung seat of the Söderhamn was already platform level at 5.5 inches high. “You need to know it won’t look weird when you take the legs off,” explains Roberts. When it comes to the upholstery, Japandi’s signature elements are calming colors and sleek lines, so keep it neutral and the tufting to a minimum.

Roberts opted for a cherry base to warm up the cool white fabric without taking away from the light and airy atmosphere. (The wood was also readily available at her favorite workshop, so supply chain worries begone!)

Don’t Give Yourself Any Wiggle Room

“IKEA is supposed to be an exact science, but the reality is, no two measurements are the same,” says Roberts. Don’t trust the online descriptions, and measure for every wood piece yourself to avoid redoing your work. 

Keep the frame as snug as possible, with only 1/8 inch of leeway on all sides to allow for the sofa to slot perfectly into place. “If the frame is too loose, it ruins the look,” says Roberts. “An estimated fit takes away from the idea of one cohesive piece.” A few screws at each seam will hold the wood foundation together.

Fake the Built-In

Luckily for renters, the sofa is secretly free-floating. By setting the Söderhamns inside platform bases that are half an inch taller than the legs, you get the illusion of a built-in—without any additional holes in the wall (or the upholstery). Plus the all-around frame means that the configuration possibilities are endless; Roberts knew it wasn’t sustainable to have to source another new sectional when the client moved in a year. “If a room has a more open layout, I want the back to be just as streamlined as the front,” she explains—and the effect will be instantaneous.

SÖDERHAMN Sofa, IKEA ($949)

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The post How an IKEA Söderhamn Sofa Hack Saved One Renter $5,000 appeared first on domino.

Who says you have to completely demo your kitchen (not to mention your budget) to make it yours? In our new series, The No-Reno Kitchen, we’re highlighting total transformations that prove the power of paint, fixtures, and a little elbow grease. 

Drew Michael Scott knows he’s not supposed to put his copper pots and pans in the dishwasher, but that didn’t stop him from covering the appliance itself in the metal. For his latest kitchen upgrade, the serial DIYer and creator behind Lone Fox wrapped his 24-inch-wide stainless steel Samsung dishwasher in a solid sheet of copper that not only looks great alongside his dark brown cabinets but matches said cookware collection. “I started the process with hope, just trusting myself,” says Scott. The risk factor was especially high on this project: He’d only get one go at it. “I was like, okay, if I just take the door off and wrap it like a present, I feel like it would work,” he remembers.

The 3-by-4-foot copper sheet, which he sourced through Van Dyke’s Restorers, totaled to $446 with shipping. But Scott says the splurge was worth it for this transformation. “I definitely thought about contact paper and spray paint, but I knew they’d look very mediocre,” he says. “I really wanted that authentic metal look.” Scott documented the project in a recent YouTube tutorial, but you can also catch his step-by-step, below. Plus he tells us how it’s holding up one month later.

 The Supplies

• Screwdriver
• Solid copper sheet
• Two tubes of steel reinforced epoxy
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Clamps
• Metal scraper
• Wooden spoon
• Optional: Copper pot rack bar to use as handle
• Drill
• Screws
• Pliers
• Wing nuts

Step 1: Remove the Panel 

Turn off your dishwasher and open it up. You should be able to remove the front panel by unscrewing it from the inside of the machine’s door. After some brief wiggling around and shifting wires out of the way, the front should pop right off. Set the hardware aside. Next, unscrew the existing handle.

Step 2: Account for Any Lights

In Scott’s case, his dishwasher had three tiny holes on the front for the “on” lights. If you also need to account for buttons or lighting, lay your dishwasher panel on a flat surface and place a sheet of painter’s paper on top of it. Cut the paper to match the door’s dimensions, accounting for all four sides as well as the front. Then, with a pencil, lightly scribble over any holes so the markings transfer to the paper. Use a hole puncher to make the markings even more clear. This is your template. 

Step 3: Trim It Down

Lay the paper on top of your copper sheet, securing it with blue tape. Trim off the large amounts of excess metal with scissors (Scott allowed for approximately an inch of extra sheeting on all four sides). Pulling out your hole puncher again, create the openings for the lights in the copper sheeting.

Step 4: Fuse the Old and New

With your dishwasher panel laying flat on a table, face up, begin to apply a thin coat of epoxy across its surface. Warning: You’ll have to work fast, as the adhesive’s drying time is only six minutes. A metal scraper will allow you to spread the glue quickly and evenly.

Gently set your copper sheet on top of the door, using the holes for the lights as your guide for perfect alignment. Leave it to cure, plopping a few coffee-table books on top of the copper sheet to help the process along. Scott waited around an hour and a half, but the product’s directions suggest up to six hours of setting time.

Step 5: Wrap the Edges Like a Present

Lightly fold the overhanging metal around the edges of the dishwasher panel with your hands. For tidy corners, make a small slice with your scissors and then use jewelry pliers to neatly fold and press the sheeting. Then cut off the excess material, leaving only ¼ inch of copper sheeting around the border (the rest will be hidden by your cabinets). You want to get it as tightly wrapped as possible, so continue to crease the edges with a wooden spoon, as it won’t mark up the surface. Where needed, apply extra epoxy or use books, clamps, painter’s tape, or screws to help fully seal the metal to the sides.

Step 5: Get a New Grip on Things

Scott decided to swap out the dishwasher’s handle, too. Well, technically, it’s a pot rack that turned out to be the perfect size. To do the same, flip over your finished panel and locate the holes where the old handle was mounted. Press lightly into the openings with pliers, just enough to leave a small dent on the front side. Flip the door back over and mark those indentations with a pencil before drilling through them. Scott used screws, wing nuts, and mounting plates to secure his new brass bar in place. Finally, grab the original appliance screws and reattach your brand-new panel.

And the Verdict Is…

Copper is an ever-changing material. As the metal reacts with carbon dioxide and water over time, the surface will turn a blue-green patina color—but that’ll take a really long time in this case, Scott points out. “If it turns green, I think that would be so cool, but this copper sheeting has a coating that would have to wear down before it actually starts to oxidize,” he says. And Scott’s not done with the material yet: He plans to use the extra scrap pieces to line open shelves and maybe even cover his base cabinet’s toe kicks.

The post Rather Than Settle for His Dishwasher’s Stainless Steel Door, This DIYer Wrapped It in Copper appeared first on domino.

When my family and I moved into our rental house in Brighton, England, last December, we discovered a modern white box void of its original historical charm. The initial allure of a blank canvas soon faded, leaving us longing for the house’s lost soul. The living room fireplace seemed like a good place to start. But rather than purchase a salvaged wood mantel on eBay (which I considered momentarily), I landed on a more imaginative solution. Enter the ingenious IKEA Lack shelf hack.

Partly inspired by Ferm Living’s Tuck vase and loosely drawing on a DIY tutorial of said vase by Lena from @allthepeachesplease, I opted to transform the simple $25 ledge into a sculptural floating mantel using more than six pounds of air-drying clay. Miraculously, despite the additional weight, the shelf still securely adorns our wall—knock on wood (the kind made of compressed wood chips layered with foam, aluminum foil, and clay)!

The Supplies

• IKEA Lack shelf
• Expanding foam (also called construction)
• Perforated kitchen knife
• Aluminum foil
• Double-sided carpet tape
• 3 modeling clay blocks
• Rolling pin
• Bowl with water
• Paint
• Paintbrush 

Step 1: Expand the Shelf’s Boundaries

Lay the shelf on a flat, protected surface, such as a drop cloth or flattened cardboard box, making sure the screw holes face downward so you don’t accidentally fill them with foam. Follow the instructions on the expanding foam bottle: Apply it to the shelf’s front, sides, and facing surface generously. Skip the back! Let the foam dry completely as per the instructions on the bottle. When applying the foam, remember that as it dries, it will expand to at least twice its size. 

Step 2: Sculpt a Foam-tastic Shape

Grab a perforated kitchen knife—nothing fancy, just make sure it’s not completely dull. Slice off thin slivers of foam, rounding the corners on all three sides of the shelf. The foam volume at the base should be even and smooth.

Step 3: Create Organic Contortions Using Aluminum Foil

Unleash some shape-shifting drama by crumpling recycled paper and wrapping it in aluminum foil, crafting bulky, snakelike formations. Attach these creative twists to the foam using double-sided tape, draping them in an irregular fashion around the shelf’s bottom and sides. I aimed for an organic yet balanced look, embracing randomness and charm.

Step 4: Craft a Clay Cover

Slice sections of air-drying clay from the block, then roll them flat into delicate 2 to 3mm sheets. With care, drape these sheets over the aluminum foil, gradually covering the bottom and sides. Dip your fingers in water and use them to seamlessly blend the clay sections together. Allow the clay to dry, then flip the shelf to repeat the process on the top, ensuring the screw holes stay clear of the clay.

Step 5: Illuminate the Silhouette With Paint

Coat your shelf with ceramic-compatible paint. I chose a glossy green finish to accentuate its lively form by allowing light to dance off the intricate details and shadows it creates.

Step 6: Mount Your Masterpiece

Utilize all the screw holes in the mounting bracket to firmly anchor the shelf to the wall. Because of the extra weight you added, exercise caution and ensure that the screws and plugs can withstand both the shelf’s new load and the wall’s support, safeguarding your pièce de résistance from unexpected wobbles or crashes.

I adorned mine with whimsical lightweight embellishments so as to not exceed the shelf’s 20-pound weight limit (such as my More Liquid vase and McMullin & Co. candleholders). Now my living room isn’t lacking in the character department.

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It was Max Lamb’s terrazzo designs and the floors of Instagrammer and artist Eloeil that Katarina Matsson, content director at Elle Sweden, had in mind when pondering what to do with some uninspired blue and gray checkered linoleum in her south Stockholm row house. “When we first moved in, I immediately knew I wanted a lighter look and considered casting a concrete floor or putting in some kind of stone, but we simply ran out of cash,” admits Matsson. So she followed the design lead of friends Fredrik Paulsen and Axel Bjorklund, who had both used a “confetti” technique to create a DIY terrazzo floor look. “We’d already invested in some of Fredrik’s confetti furniture pieces, so doing our floor in a similar way seemed like the perfect fit,” says Matsson. That her so-called “poor man’s terrazzo” also happens to hide a multitude of child-generated sins has only added to its appeal. “It’s the perfect floor for a family with little kids, since it efficiently hides crumbs and dirt and also camouflages wear and tear!” she notes.

Step 1: The Prep

Matsson’s original floor was decades-old linoleum, but she thinks the technique would also work with any kind of plastic or stone surface. “We had never painted a floor before, so we asked a million questions at the hardware store and followed their directions,” says Matsson. She used a floor-specific cleaning product to ready the surface, then roughed it up with abrasive paper, then vacuumed and cleaned it again. Then she taped all the splines with a special protection tape. “Unfortunately the tape was too strong and it took some paint with it when we were done, so beware!” she cautions.

Step 2: The Painting

Once again, the advice Matsson received for the DIY terrazzo floor project from her local hardware store proved indispensable. “We used a special floor paint, Entré Golvfärg from Alcro, in a slightly off-white color so that the white pieces of paint in the confetti would still be visible,” she explains.

She started with two layers of the aforementioned off-white paint (applied with rollers, a small one for the edges closest to the walls and a bigger one for the large areas), but adds that your own floor may require more or less. “After two coats we felt that one more would be enough for the old floor not to shine through, and then the last layer we painted as we simultaneously threw out the confetti,” she explains. For a slightly bolder effect, Matsson suggests using a more prominent color, like a warm beige or a light pink, for the floor.

Step 3: The Confetti

Now, about that confetti. “This is the tricky part…but also the most fun!” says Matsson. The confetti (she used the brand Flügger) is crafted from small pieces of dried paint, and the key is to toss it onto the floor while the paint is still wet so the pieces will stick. Don’t be too precious about your confetti placement: You only get one chance to toss it, and there’s only so much steering you can do. Matsson went from one section of the floor to another, painting and then throwing confetti until the whole area was done. “I aimed to throw the confetti upward for the most even result,” she says. “Throwing it too hard or with too much of a forward trajectory can make it bounce off the walls and pile up, especially in corners.” Matsson’s floor, she confesses, turned out a bit uneven, but she doesn’t mind. “I think it just makes it feel more alive and organic,” she adds.

Step 4: The Sealing

When the confetti-ed paint has dried completely, vacuum and seal the deal with two layers of matte lacquer paint (she used Lacka Matt Golvlack from Alcro), and you’re done. Matsson cleans her DIY terrazzo floor as she does her other floors, using a vacuum and mopping with a natural pine oil soap.

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Is it our Instagram algorithms, or does it seem like everyone is either sailing around Lake Como, strolling the winding streets of Sicily, or taking refuge from the Mediterranean sun under cabana umbrellas? It was the latter that inspired antiques dealer Dorian Caffot de Fawes and his husband, Thomas Daviet, an interior designer, to wrap all their cabinets in bright yellow stripes. 

The idea came from the towels and umbrellas at Hotel Il Pellicano on the Tuscan seaside, where the couple vacation every year. In Sophie Donelson’s new book, Uncommon Kitchens, the duo shares the secret behind their cheerful space in London: painter’s tape. The surprisingly affordable upgrade (you can find a roll on Amazon for just under $4) started with equally budget-friendly IKEA base units. Caffot de Fawes and Daviet both stand by the concept’s durability—and reversibility. In the book, they give their advice for making the DIY project work for you. 

Choose Your Color Wisely (or Don’t)

As Londoners, the couple was craving a daily dose of cheer. “We needed a bit of sun here,” Caffot de Fawes says. “The moment you enter the house you’re welcomed with a splash of sunshine.” The real genius behind the tape is that it’s so easy to remove that you can change the color or nix the design completely whenever you want. 

Go Vertical to Slow Down the Eye

The two recommend keeping the pattern going from top to bottom. “Horizontal stripes are called racer stripes for a reason,” Caffot de Fawes says. Though the happy hue catches your attention immediately, the orientation is actually calming. 

Match the Tile and Stripe Width

The two doubled down on the tip, above, and chose to run the ceramic tile of the backsplash vertically as well. When mixing materials, they say it’s helpful to have a pleasing consistency that makes it look like a harmonious single line. 

Overall the maintenance is as easy as the installation because the washi tape almost never needs replacing, but areas that are prone to more wear can be simply peeled away and reapplied. Just keep a few spare rolls on hand.

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