Discuss Cabinets into bench on IKEAFANS.com. We're Personalizing the IKEA Experience. Cabinets into bench - Post here about your modification project details or questions. Share ideas and take some away - mods are cool!.
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.
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.
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
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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
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
.
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.
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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.
