IKEA Hack - Borgsjo

When we moved in to our new place we realized pretty quickly that there was not enough storage for our base kitchen needs as a family of four.  

We planned to get 2-3 upper kitchen cabinets like the ones that were installed during the kitchen rehab. We figured the upper cabinets would be perfect lower down as they are tall for ease of working on counter space and narrow so as to not take up lots of floor space. Excited, we ordered a custom butcher block counter. The warmth of the butcher block would warm up the kitchen with it's stainless appliances, white and black granite counters and white backsplash with stainless tiles

Then we went to order the cabinets and got sticker shock! For months we tried to come up with creative solutions that were not outrageously expensive. Nada. Nothing. Zip. We had specific dimensions because the butcher block was cut and paid for! Tall (at least 32"). Narrow (max 18.5"). Wide (less than 72"). 

For months we searched online and locally, home stores, closeouts, etc.  I even found this amazing blue cabinet on Craigslist that was almost perfect. One day, we went to Ikea for a nightstand. I came upon this brown cabinet and said "How about this for the kitchen?" I fully expected there to be some reason to keep moving on. 

But this Borgsjo cabinet was perfect. Especially the price!!! We got quickly snapped up two cabinets and decided to get the plain doors.  There are options for glass inserts.

 

We painted the kitchen wall in chalkboard paint. Let it sit for three days like the can says. I put together the cabinets. I held the cabinets together while J used a screw gun to screw the cabinets to each other at the top and bottom on the inside. And I held it steady while J screwed the tops of the cabinets to the bottom of the butcher block. 

The Borgsjo cabinet doors come with round brown knobs. The Ikea online catalog makes it look like the knobs are silver. Maybe they are but the floor model and the package we brought home had brown knobs. I had stainless drawer knobs leftover from another project - they match the main cabinet pulls perfectly - so I used those and tossed the brown ones. 

There is so much storage now! One side has all of our pots and pans, mixing bowls, and juice jugs. The other side has all of our party plates, glasses, and even a few appliances. I'm amazed at how much I am able to store in the cabinets and still have them look neat and tidy without being cramped or hard to access.

We are pleased with the finished results. The doors even match our existing cabinets. We got it all for less than we would have paid for one set of cabinets. Thanks, Ikea!

The bar stool is great for friends or kids to keep me company in the kitchen. But we are planning to build a wine rack there instead one day. Until then, we are enjoying our Ikea Hack!

Chalkboard Paint in Kitchen

I love this frame! We painted one wall in our kitchen with chalkboard paint. To add a bit of oomph, we repurposed this frame. 

About 12 years ago, we were driving through Catoosa, Oklahoma when I spotted an old bronze-ish, gold-ish frame with a '70's landscape scene inside. I yelled for J to "Stop the car!" I don't think I paid even $10 for it. 

J spray painted the frame gold. We had a mirror installed in it. The new framed mirror adorned the wall in our guest bedroom at Widney House in Tulsa for years. 


Then we moved to Widney Loft in Chicago. The mirror came apart from the frame in the move. It is actually a hollow plastic frame that just barely handled the mirror in the first place. J spray painted the frame gray and hung the empty frame on an orange wall next to white accessories. 

Then we moved to Widney Crib (in Chicago still). Once we painted the chalkboard wall we knew just the thing it needed - the frame! J spray painted the frame blue. And now here it sits on our kitchen wall. 

One frame that has been reinvented three times. Gotta love spray paint and garage sales!

Family Shift

You'd think that with their own bedrooms, a new playroom and an upstairs living room to themselves we would never see our kids in our new home.

Kids' Play Room

Nope! In fact, they hang out with us more than when we lived in Widney Loft! The kids seek us out to spend time together. It could be cuddling with me on the sofa while I watch a classic movie or playing their iPods while J is on his laptop in the master suite. Not complaining! Just loving the family shift since moving to Widney Crib.

Master Sitting Room

Black Closet - Black Master Closet

Our master closet is black! It looks so chic and was so easy and inexpensive. All that's missing (aside from the clothes and shoes) is an ottoman. We are on the hunt!

Materials:
- can of matte paint ($20-30)
- dark gray carpet ($25)
- 3 Ikea chandeliers ($20/each)
- curtain is just fabric pooled ($2.99/yard x 6)
- do it yourself dark gray closet organizer from Home Depot

How We Did It:
We painted the walls and ceiling black.
The Ikea chandeliers are 5 years old and were repurposed from our kitchen island lighting from our old loft. They are hung using a track which enables you to use your existing light socket.

We actually do have a window in our closet that needed to be covered up. We used a pipe as the curtain rod. You can sew a pocket for the rod or just use straight pins.

Shelving system is from Home Depot. I love the gray instead of stark white wire shelving. Not shown: Lower rack for pants, more built-ins for purses, sweaters, etc. Just pick and choose what is right for your space.

This project can easily be completed in a weekend.

Master Bath Spa

It's finally done! It's finally done! I can hardly wait to try out our new master bath!

The white towels give our master bad a spa feel.

Sneak Peek!

Our master bath is almost ready to be inhabited! I can hardly wait!!! Yet I am paralyzed by the amount of work to make the area inhabitable. Work that was not going to be an issue before I broke my finger. Or before Memorial Day when it was all supposed to be done and we had a three day weekend.

There is so much construction dust that I think we need a shop vac and two weeks to get it cleaned. We don't have two weeks! House guests arrive in 12 days!!!

After the dust clears - literally - we need to move four rooms of furniture, boxes and clothes. It will be so nice once it is done though. The kids will finally have their playroom set up and their toys and books back! Our laundry room and garage will be free boxes and furniture. Finally.

Sneak Peek!
You'll have to wait to see the shower, second vanity and master closet. J designed the tile placement. It's a really cool 12x24 tile mixed with a few pieces of 12x12 tile.

Craigslist Find

$20. Craigslist. It's even more beautiful in real life. The guy paid $500+ for it originally. He said: "You got a steal." To which I said: "Yes, sir, we did. Thank you."

Highlight of my weekend was hauling this home in our itty bitty city car. I love the ridiculosity of cramming a big piece of furniture in a little car.

Corner Stones

This is a little peek at the flat stones just outside our garage door, leading to the backyard. J planted ground cover that will grow between the stones. I'm excited to see how it will look as it matures.

Home Surprise

I love my husband!!!!!!!!!

I came home to find that J had partially set up the kids' bedrooms and the dining room!!! It meant so much to me that I hugged him and cried. 

We've been pushing it so hard for so many months. Last week, we did as much as possible and had to crash most of this weekend. It was necessary! 

It was J's day off and he said he slept most of the day. I didn't think twice about that because I knew he needed it. When I got home, both kids' beds were moved and on their frames, their night stands and computer was set up, and he managed to setup part of our dining room. 

This is a pic of the first thing J hung in our house today. It's one of the last gifts Grandma Barbara gave us. 

Pretty emotional night for me.