[pencapchew]

I have seen a few people turn over the fridge cabinets into benches. We have a really tricky kitchen / dining area that doesn't allow for any furniture (awkward design) so we decided to get a corner unit. Problem: dining nooks are pretty awful looking. So we are thinking about modifying some cabinets. I was wondering if anyone knew the best way to reinforce the cabinets to hold the weight of people. I have read some conflicting reports (and some accounts where they didn't change anything about the cabinets) and I just want our seats to hold up!

So if anyone knows the best way to go about doing this let me know.

Thanks!

[kisaacs]

I'm pretty sure you don't need to do anything. Those legs are rated for somewhere around 250 lbs each. So, unless you're playing "clown car" on your bench, I doubt you'll have a problem. If you figure at the most 2 grown ups per 36" cabinet, you're still fine.

Kristen

[DulcineaK]

i don't use legs on mine (just 2x4), but i like upholstered benches, so i use either mdf or plywood and upholster that.... the wood/mdf bridges the sides and gives extra support (since the sides carry the weight). we often had a friend over who came in at over 350lbs and the benches are still standing
hth

[jgsearls]

We didn't reinforce our kitchen bench at all except to place it on top of some cover panels. The reason we used the cover panels was to give us just a bit more height on the seat. We've had anywhere from three small children up to 3 adults (and not light ones) sitting on the bench and have had no problems.

[brooklynkitchen]

To gjsearls -- the photo of your kitchen nook looks exactly like what we're envisioning. What are the dimensions of the cabinets you used? and the table?

[DulcineaK]

Jen hasn't been around much lately, so i don't know if she'll come answer. but i believe those are 362415 (the doors are longer than they are tall, which is why i think that) and then the corner is hollow with the two cabs just butting at the corner.

[GardenOfDarwin]

There's an article in the Articles section on benches, and Jen's is discussed. I don't remember if the particulars are in tehre, but you will get a more comprehensive description there at the least.

Susan

[jgsearls]

Hey brooklynkitchen -

Here's the thread where I posted the cabinets that we got
Building a bench with Ikea cabs

Keep in mind that I didn't want to use the 24" deep cabinets because I have a really small space in my kitchen nook. If you had more space and could create cushy seat back cushions, a lot of people use the 24" deep cabs.

Also, we ended up changing some things around
Can I rest cabinets directly on the floor?

because with the legs, the bench was way too high.

I hope that helps.

The table is the Docksta from Ikea so it's 41-3/8" in diameter. A word of caution though - the base is a pain in the buttocks to keep clean and it picks up every possible streak, stain and piece of dirt. The table top scratches easily too. But for $149 (and I think I got it for $129) it was a bargain.
IKEA | Tables & desks | Dining tables | DOCKSTA | Dining table

[DulcineaK]

fine, be that way... just when i say you're mia you show up. (hmmm, maybe that's a good way to see you more often?)
and the 24" is overkill for most spaces, imo.

[jgsearls]

Sorry Dulci! I didn't mean to make a fibber out of you It's a subscribed thread so I get an email when someone posts to it. I have been shamefully MIA - I have been reading posts but I've just not been able to post at all.