making this: the ikea rast campaign hack
Mainly the reason I started this blog, I tend to look at inspirational DIYs and hacks and try to copy them, this was one of the first cases of me just knowing what I wanted to make and doing it. And people on the internet liked it as much as I did!
After scouring flea markets and craigslist for campaign furniture, I gave up. It is so pretty! Am I the only person that can’t find the pieces in person? So I made my own from the Ikea Rast tiny little dresser.
So here is the step-by-step (well, somewhat.)
I picked up one of these guys for $35, not really positive of what I was going to do with it. So I scoured the internet for the best deals and most attractive brass hardware. Not the easiest thing. I bought three of these corner pieces, which conveniently came in 4 pack. Then purchased the pulls in polished brass. A long time was spent debating paint colors, but I ended up choosing a blue-ish slate color.
I assembled the body of the dresser, and kept the drawer fronts on their own while I patched up the original knob holes.
After patching the holes, I drilled the holes for the corner pieces and pulls. (Sorry! No photos of these steps) A lot of pencil markings. Then painted each drawer front before actually attaching the hardware.
Once the drawer fronts were done, I assembled the drawers and VOILA!
hey – see my rast on Apartment Therapy and Little Green Notebook!
*** AND IF YOU WANT TO SEE HOW THE HARDWARE GOES ON – i’ve done a little follow up update post here!
I love love love this dresser. You turned a piece of doo-doo Ikea dreck into a lively, spicy piece of art.
I was admiring your brass corners on your wall shelving post, and had no idea that this was a RAST dresser. I did a Rast-hack last year, check it out.
http://mydayinpictures.com/2012/07/23/anthropologie-ordinal-nightstands/
I may need to pick up another Rast.
yours looks great! i know – i think i could buy rasts for the rest of my life, but i actually hate the way the drawers open – i don’t know if other people have a problem with the lack of gliders…
I happened to see your post in my DIY newsletter. Thought you might be interested in this link.
The Ikea piece turned out great. Nice color
Best,
Tom
http://www.popularwoodworking.com/techniques/joinery/visiting-wellspring-campaign-furniture
I have three of these exact pulls for sale and five of a very similar antique style. If anyone wants to buy them reply to my craigslist posting and I can ship them to you at cost http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/for/4318949984.html
Also for those of you without a router, like me, I used a chisel and recessed them by hand. It was pretty fast actually because the Pine is such a soft wood.
What did you use to patch up the original holes? Thanks!
Wood filler
Where did you buy the handles from?
Awesome project, and love the way you customized it! We sell all manner of hardware in our store- in case you wanted to customize the drawer slides, hinges, pulls, and other stuff! https://www.woodcraft.com/categories/hardware
Beautiful! I’d also like to try this project too. I have an old cabinet that needs some revamp.