TV Cabinet

It's not really a "craft" but wanted to share.   I'm pretty proud of how it turned out.

I've been trying to think of a way to hide my TV.  I hate when the TV is the main focus point in a room and I hate having the TV on when company is over.   Well I started browsing the web and found that Pottery Barn sold a TV cabinet that was 2 mirrors and behind it was your TV.  When closed you didn't even know the TV was there.  Problem is, that cabinet was $600.   Yikes.

I thought about mirrors but they are so heavy.  I started doing a search on line and found the perfect thing.  At Wayfair I found 3 canvas prints that go together as a set.   Now the challenge was how to make a cabinet.    Well, I stared at the pictures for about a month until I finally got up the nerve to tackle this project.  I took this back and forth off the wall no less than 6 times....oh and once even fell off the ladder.    But needless to say it's finished, it's perfect and it didn't cost $600, in fact I like it even better than the one I saw at Pottery Barn.

I originally hadn't planned on putting a top to the box but had to add it.   The pictures wouldn't close correctly and I needed to add that part so I could put a magnet to hold it closed.

I'm getting closer!

It's perfect.   Now I have to take it back down so that I can stain all the wood.   I know, should have done before I mounted it but I wanted to make sure it was right.  

Cords all hidden and wood stained.   I love it!

IKEA Hacks

I've been busy trying to reorganize my sewing/craft room.   That's a bigger challenge than it sounds.   Once it's all done I'll post pics of the finished room.  For now I want to share my 2 IKEA hacks.   

I'm pretty pleased how it turned out. I know not every has bolts in their sewing room, but I also sell on etsy. I purchased an IKEA wardrobe frame, actually it was in the clearance section. 

Next I purchased shoe racks that fit in a wardrobe that's not as deep.  When I was talking with the IKEA salesperson he kept arguing that I'm buying the wrong shoe racks.   "I know, it's not for shoes, it's for fabric."  He just looked at me like I was nuts.    Well, maybe I am.   I did have to add 2x4 boards to give the metal shoe shelves better support. Bolts of fabric are just too heavy.

First I painted some 2"x4" boards cut the same width as the shoe racks. 

I had originally cut and painted enough of them to support the front and back of the shelf.   It didn't seem like the front was really needed once I put the supports in the back.  Only time will tell if I need to add the front supports.    If I do I'll probably use 2"x2".

Here's a close up photo of the shelf with the wood support in the back.

.....and the moment you have all been waiting for.......the finished product.  

 I couldn't be happier how it turned out. Now I'm going to have to stalk the clearance and hopefully find another one.

My second IKEA hack was my cutting table.   I purchased 2 Kallax shelves.    I also purchased 2 furniture dollies from Harbor Freight so that I could sit the shelves on the dollies and easily move my table around.   NE Furniture Mart has a great clearance section and I found a table top only for get this.....$49.   Steal of a deal.   

My cutting table is perfect.