I had a selection between putting in the brand new studio rest room wallpaper or putting in the studio cupboards this weekend, and I made a decision to put in so the studio cupboards. So for those who confirmed up right here immediately hoping to see the wallpaper put in, I’m so sorry! You’ll have to attend a bit longer. However seeing the IKEA Sektion cupboards lastly put in on the lengthy wall of the studio is fairly thrilling!
This wasn’t precisely a simple set up of IKEA Sektion cupboards. The Sektion cupboards are made for use in a kitchen, and commonplace kitchen cupboard top is 36 inches. So the cupboard bins are 30 inches excessive, and when you add the legs that IKEA sells for them, after which add a regular thickness countertop, that places the countertop proper at 36 inches excessive.
Effectively, I didn’t have 36 inches of top to work with since I’m utilizing these in my studio on a wall with two home windows which have been put in on the excellent top to permit for the standard desk-height countertop, which is 30 inches excessive.
Since I’m probably not utilizing this as a desktop, I don’t thoughts the completed countertop being a bit greater than 30 inches, so it simply wanted to be someplace between 30 inches excessive and round 34 inches excessive.
That implies that the IKEA legs wouldn’t work for my functions. The minimal top for the IKEA legs is 3.5 inches, and the very best I may use is 3 inches. So I ended up making my very own very tough toes out of 1×4 lumber that I ripped down to three inches, after which minimize into 4-inch-long items. I made every foot out of 4 items, glued and nailed collectively utilizing 16-gauge 1.5-inch nails in my nail gun.
I wasn’t involved with them being fairly since they gained’t present on the completed cupboards as soon as all the trim is put in. I simply wanted all the toes to be a constant 3 inches excessive.
As soon as I had all the toes made, I positioned my cupboard bins on the ground entrance down, after which hooked up the toes utilizing sizzling glue. I do know lots of people don’t belief sizzling glue as a result of they’ve solely ever used these dinky little sizzling glue weapons that you just purchase on the craft retailer. However once I discuss sizzling glue, I’m speaking about an precise sizzling glue gun that you just purchase within the device division of House Depot or Lowe’s that places out a really thick bead of glue.
When attaching the entrance toes, I made certain the entrance of every foot was flush with the entrance of the cupboard (which was easy to do with the cupboard face down on the ground) since I don’t plan on having a toe kick on these cupboards. If I had wished a toe kick, I’d have moved these entrance toes again 4 inches.
As soon as I had these hooked up, I positioned the cupboard proper aspect up, and it regarded like this…
Once I ordered my cupboards, I wasn’t actually certain precisely how I used to be going to put in them (I used to be nonetheless deciding on how I wished my completed cupboards to look), so I didn’t order the suspension rails which are usually used to put in the Sektion cupboards. Ordering them individually at a later date would have value $120 only for transport. So I made a decision to skip the suspension rail and simply connect the cupboards to the wall with out the suspension rails.
The issue is that the studs within the wall weren’t instantly lined up with the brackets which are used to screw the cupboards to the wall. (These brackets include the cupboards.) So earlier than attempting to connect the cupboards to the wall, I screwed some 1″x4″ boards horizontally to the wall, screwed into the studs. That approach I may set up the cupboards anyplace alongside the wall and have them screwed securely into these boards.
I additionally ripped a small strip of lumber to put near the underside of the wall in order that the underside of the cupboard could be plumb with the highest.
Earlier than screwing the cupboards to the wall, I needed to make one small modification. These brackets that include the Sektion cupboards are adjustable. When you’re going to make use of them with the IKEA suspension rails, you put in them utilizing the screw holes nearer to the entrance of the cupboard (pictured under) in order that the bracket protrudes out the again of the cupboard barely. Then the bracket attaches to the suspension rail in an identical option to a French cleat.
However for those who’re not utilizing the suspension rails, and also you’re simply screwing the cupboard on to the wall, you employ the again holes to connect the brackets. This brings the bracket ahead and makes the again of the bracket flush with the again of the cupboard.
After which these little black filler items insert into the bracket on the bottom.
Under is a aspect view displaying what the bracket seems like when it’s put in for use with the suspension rail. The metallic bracket simply hooks excessive of the suspension rail, which is why it must be set again additional and never be flush with the again of the cupboard.
However right here’s the aspect view when the bracket is put in for the cupboard to be screwed on to the wall. As soon as the black plastic piece is inserted, it’s flush with the again of the cupboard in order that the cupboard will sit proper in opposition to the wall (or in my case, proper in opposition to the wooden strips that I hooked up to the wall).
As soon as I had all the brackets adjusted, I positioned the primary cupboard as a substitute, after which put screws by means of the center of those massive holes within the brackets and into the wooden.
After which I positioned these little metallic items (which include the cupboards) over the screws.
I didn’t tighten the screws simply but. I waited till I had all the cupboards in place earlier than going again and tightening these screws.
And right here’s a aspect view of the primary cupboard put in…
With that first heart cupboard put in, then I labored out from there. I moved the following cupboard into place, clamped it to the primary cupboard, predrilled 4 holes, and screwed it to the primary cupboard utilizing the screws supplied with the Sektion cupboards. After which I screwed it to the wall (however didn’t tighten the screws fully), and moved on to the following cupboard.
The method wasn’t tough in any respect. With an additional set of palms, it will have been a really fast course of. Working on my own undoubtedly slowed issues down, nevertheless it was very manageable.
As soon as I acquired all the cupboards screwed to one another and screwed to the wall, I began within the center and tightened all the wall screws.
As soon as these screws have been safe, I coated the brackets with the plastic covers that include the Sektion cupboards.
The very last thing I wanted to do to organize for trim set up was to fill within the areas at every finish. I used 2″x2″ lumber minimize to the right top, and utilizing my trusty sizzling glue gun as soon as once more, I hooked up these to the perimeters of the tip cupboards, ensuring that the entrance of the board was flush with the entrance of the cupboard body.
That approach, once I connect the 5/8-inch-thick trim board to the entrance of this spacer board, the trim board will likely be flush with the fronts of the cupboard doorways.
So that is so far as I acquired this weekend. Subsequent up, I’ll be trimming out these decrease cupboards, after which putting in the countertop.
My objective is to have the countertop completed and the 2 higher cupboards put collectively by Wednesday evening in order that some sturdy males in our Wednesday evening group can elevate these higher cupboards and put them into place for me. ?
I’m so excited in regards to the progress! I’ve been dreaming about this room, and particularly this wall, for therefore lengthy, and I’m so anxious to see it completed!
Addicted 2 Adorning is the place I share my DIY and adorning journey as I rework and enhance the 1948 fixer higher that my husband, Matt, and I purchased in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do bodily work, so I do nearly all of the work on the home on my own. You’ll be able to be taught extra about me right here.
