Next up, was installing the baseboards to the front of the units. Forever exploring! I needed a solid clean, but cleaned up very well. Another go-to paint for cabinetry is Benjamin Moore Advance, which has held up really well on our downstairs bathroom vanity and is more widely available and more budget-friendly. Was putting a shelf divider on top of a shelf an issue? We just added the drawer fronts right on top of the existing drawer, so theyre super sturdy and stable, making the drawer fronts purely cosmetic . There is about an extra 2 inches on each side, so it doesnt fit wall to wall on the side. Let me know if you need further clarification. Combining your wardrobe and home office is a great way to make use of your space. Fantastic! I absolutely love the color choice! It seems like a lot of work and I was going to ask if you or your husband were experienced cabinet makers, but then I read at the begining that youd never made cabinetry before. We are in the midst of doing ours much like you have and I have a question. We set a routing depth equal to the thickness of the puck light, so it would be completely flush with the lower surface of the shelf. The kitchen is often a big selling point, and we knew our now 13yr old lowest tier ikea kitchen would hurt the value. Im sure many people make the same mistake though. Would greatly appreciate any input! Hi Erin, just coming across this post and its great! And secondly thank you for posting such a comprehensive blog, weve just moved into our dream home but it is a MASSIVE DO-ER UP-ER, think 1840s house with everything ripped and and replaced in the 70s and then not touched since. Incredibly well done. 
You can see that the color looks different, but once it was all painted, youre none the wiser. I also wish that they offered smaller height and width, paneled, hinged doors, so if one wanted to cover just the top or bottom part of the wardrobe frame with the doors, it could be done. On the left side, (where theres hanging rods), we left the top shelves in place because we had built them into place and sprayed those shelves in place. There are a few spots that require touch-ups (mostly due to some cracks in the caulk at the seams), but beyond that the paint has held up incredibly well certainly better than we expected! I told her I already had!. We are doing a similar closet design now, inspired by your amazing blog!! I am considering using the 3/4 inch think boards on all the cabinet drawer fronts. I just looked back again on the photos and I actually didnt prime the boards first before wallpapering :/ We didnt have any issues with peeling though on application. Thank you! Once we had test fit all the drawer fronts, we used tape to label the drawer and the drawer front, so we could match them up later once they were painted, and then separated the drawer fronts from the drawers. Im curious, I noticed that in one of the unfinished pictures I can see the puck light wiring on the outside of the pax unit. Did you fixed the metal studs to the ceiling, walls and/or cabinets? Good luck! Thanks. We shimmed under the units to ensure they were completely level, ensuring that the units were level to one another, so when we ran the baseboards across the front of them, everything looked flush. Ive been designing cabinetry for 30 years and this is stunning. Were strongly considering picking up the Wagner Flexio 3000, though, since weve ended up using the sprayer SO much more frequently than expected! Thank you!! You can also add some art prints, your most treasured shopped purchases and fashion books. Hi, I love what youve done! You have mentioned that On the exterior sides of the Pax units, we added some additional strips of poplar to give the sides a more finished look once painted.. My question is, could we add a mirror the same height as the PAX frame, to fit in between these strips? Dark green, really? Any suggestions? Hi! Hi! Hi! BEAUTIFUL work! Your email address will not be published. great job, but why didnt you fill up the holes prior to priming Can you clarify the steps: Did you actually remove them and wallpaper the entire MDF, or did you take the time to wallpaper each section to shape/size? Did you just add the fronts to increase the depth of the drawers, or did you remove the original PAX drawer fronts and install your own? Your closet turned out really beautifully, and I wanted to do something similar. Any chipping or lifting of the paint form the laminate? Was the baseboard you used more in height than the actual base of the wardrobe frame? This amazingly beautiful! We assumed the same thing until we went deep into the ikea hackers forums and discovered how important the back panel is, and thus settled on how to mask the backs rather than do away with them. So, I sought out a closet system that I could customize and paint to match my vision. This wasnt our first carpentry project, but it was definitely our biggest one to date. Is it separating at all from the melamine? Hi. Sure! Beyond that, it looks as good as when we originally painted it a few years ago. Since the paper is pretty thick, it completely hides the seam when painted out (it was still visible through the paper before it was painted as it was somewhat transparent). We left an 1/8 inch gap around the drawers. We far prefer having a more expansive walkway/ space to change over the extra storage we could have eked out of the bigger units but a much more cramped closet. This is stunning!! Hi! Firstly well done your room and the cabinets look incredible! We fed these cords in a chain, where for each unit, one light branched off and fed into the unit from the very top in the back. Im wondering what you used to get the wall paper to stick to the back board? around the sink, stove and dishwasher, that the kitchen would not last long. We added the drawer fronts purely for aesthetics and to make the cabinetry look built in and custom. We then caulked all the seams. How did you move the electrical outlet? Its counterintuitive, but the MDF back actually does provide quite a bit of structure. Were so thrilled with how it came together! the 6 IKEA units + drawers + shelves were $1,300, and we spent about another $1,200 on the wood, trimwork (sponsored, but included at retail cost), primer, lights, paintable wallpaper, caulk, wood rods, and paint. I love how this room has used the wardrobe to divide the bedroom space. Thanks! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Mother. They sell packs of 100 plugs for $1, and while they are more difficult to install than expected they are totally worth the effort. We have high ceilings (108) so we probably have the height to build a platform on which these PAX units can sit, and then cover the edges of the platform all around with base board molding to give it a seamless, built in look. Im also wondering how you continued the wire between units that werent connected, such as unit on opposite sides of the closet. (Yes, not basketball, netball). Oh yes, we nailed the wood strips on to the front edge of the shelves and then also on the frame surrounding the narrower stack of drawers in the unit on the right. This isnt to say that they arent helpful to maximize storage, but its very challenging to make them look seamless in a high-end custom closet. Em xxx, Thank you! For this, we used some scrap strips of 1/8th inch tempered hardboard to bring the shelf up to level and secured it with screws. Ive seen a million Ike hacks! You two really did such a brilliant job with it; I cannot get enough! AH-MAZING!! This is so amazing! This is so great! Nice job! My question is regarding the wallpaper. Just found your blog and LOVE it! Thank you! 
This is awesome! I was wondering how well the paint is holding up after all this time with use? Thank you! Im debating it because I doubt that the IKEA closet would last 10 years with it being constructed out of particle board. I was thinking about installing the wardrobe frames without the cardboard back and just letting my shiplap walls show through the back. We gave them a light sand and stained the wood rods using leftover Rubio Monocoat Oil from when we refinished the floors. Thank you for sharing! 1 tip, if you dont want to use Zinsser, is to use Fusion Mineral Paint Ultragrip, that will make the paint stick to anything and its water soluable so low fume. beautiful closet! (Thank you for making the correction on priming) how were you able to get the wallpaper to fit so perfectly after you assembled the wardrobe being that its hard to reach the back w/o stepping on the bottom of the unit to reach the back? Thank you so much for your response. On the right side (with the shoes), we took out all the shelves, including the adjustment pieces and sprayed both the shelves and the plastic things that hold the shelves up separately. I put some heavy weights on the base and took out the self-leveling laser. Hi Bonnie for sure, it took a lot of searching to find the perfect size, so I feel you! We masked off the interior area where the drawers all slide in so we wouldnt waste paint there and left them white on the interior to match the interior of the drawers (you never actually see this space though). This closet is beautiful! on Hacking the IKEA Pax into a Fully Custom Closet, Hacking the IKEA Pax into a Fully Custom Closet, https://erinkestenbaum.com/2018/11/07/one-room-challenge-fall-2018-the-reveal-week-six-master-bedroom-closet/, https://www.chrislovesjulia.com/master-closet-ikea-pax/, http://sarahgunn.com/one-room-challenge-the-reveal-2/, https://www.domino.com/content/ikea-pax-wardrobe-closet-jenny-komenda-little-green-notebook-hack/, WEEKEND READING, Vol. On the exterior sides of the Pax units, we added some additional strips of poplar to give the sides a more finished look once painted. These we attached with construction adhesive and used clamps to hold them in place. The side panels stick out 2-3mm more than the panel in between, so that would leave an opening to be filled somehow. Thanks Erin. If so how did you get the drawer front edging smooth, did you put a wood veneer tape on them edges:? This looks stunning!! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This inspired me. My width is the same as yours so I am using yours as a guide. I then cut the metal stud profiles to size using metal shears, screwing the long sections into place and just gently pushed the cross joints between them. Btw, is there any way that a pair of Besta unit doors can be used to cover the top part of the frame of a single PAX wardrobe frame, but the bottom part housing the drawers could be left as is, or covered with a separate set of hinged doors from the Besta series?? Thank you! Clean, neutral and simple and will go with most decor. I am considering stacking two shelf dividers one over the other for my project and I would love to know if you had a problem/how your divider was attached to your shelf? You are simplyAmazing!!!! 1. Simple And Beautiful Medal Display Ideas for Every Win, IKEA RSKOG Cart and 14 hacks we love most, IKEA BEST TV unit ideas that are practical and useful, 18 unusual IKEA table lamp hacks and ideas to try at home, How to make a cozy igloo bed for your dog or cat. Thank you! First I fixed them together and to the wall using the standard IKEA methods. But nice build! Your home is beautiful! If your floors are not level (old house problems), always start at the lowest point in the room and simulate where the top edge of the baseboard will fall, so you dont get into any trouble as you make your way around the room. Hoping to create something similar in our master closet. COPYRIGHT 2022 IKEAHACKERS.NET | IKEA is a registered trademark of Inter-IKEA Systems B.V. I looks like it is in line with the top drawer. Its awesome to have such clear steps to follow. How did you handle the transition between vertical trim and baseboards? You have to open both doors before you can pull out the drawers. did you bring wire. I must say again, the results are stunning and I hope youre fully enjoying your suite!!! Id love to do something like this but not sure how to deal with the ceiling heightplus the light switch is 21 inches from the back wall so it is inside the depth of the Pax unit which is 22 7/8 inch deep. Thank you Can you tell me why you replaced the hanging rods? Erin, this is truly outstanding work. Hi. Finally, I fixed the base to the wall at four points using 40mm angle irons. But, it does seem like a TON of work for a DIYer, and that you would need a professional carpenter to help with all the details. It looks amazing can you share what size each of the drawer fronts is? Because we knew we were going to have rattan boxes on a top shelf, we knew the cords would be invisible. Amazing job. Hi Erin! Expertly done and it shows! Hi Johanna, since we did the work ourselves we didnt get a quote for a custom closet, and we wanted a very specific built-in look that equated to the highest end at most closet solution companies. My closet size is similar in size as yours. Are you sure the one side is 29 deep? Hi! We have a 37 walkway and its a really good size it doesnt feel cramped at all! I scanned all info and questions but didnt find. Hi Erin, For instance, Sarah Gunn painted her Pax blue and that change alone makes the IKEA closet look so much more elevated (http://sarahgunn.com/one-room-challenge-the-reveal-2/), and Jenny Komenda hacked hers with paint and added doors, which means much less woodworking is required to achieve a really professional look (https://www.domino.com/content/ikea-pax-wardrobe-closet-jenny-komenda-little-green-notebook-hack/). Not putting anything on back wall makes sense to create a nice walkway. When you look closely at the pictures, you can see the cabinets stick out over the plinth just a bit to hide the MDF base. If yes, how do we do it? Even better, the rails on the shallower 13 drawers aligned perfectly with the deeper 29 Pax units. Once all the lights were installed, we moved on to the next step. 
You can see that the color looks different, but once it was all painted, youre none the wiser. I also wish that they offered smaller height and width, paneled, hinged doors, so if one wanted to cover just the top or bottom part of the wardrobe frame with the doors, it could be done. On the left side, (where theres hanging rods), we left the top shelves in place because we had built them into place and sprayed those shelves in place. There are a few spots that require touch-ups (mostly due to some cracks in the caulk at the seams), but beyond that the paint has held up incredibly well certainly better than we expected! I told her I already had!. We are doing a similar closet design now, inspired by your amazing blog!! I am considering using the 3/4 inch think boards on all the cabinet drawer fronts. I just looked back again on the photos and I actually didnt prime the boards first before wallpapering :/ We didnt have any issues with peeling though on application. Thank you! Once we had test fit all the drawer fronts, we used tape to label the drawer and the drawer front, so we could match them up later once they were painted, and then separated the drawer fronts from the drawers. Im curious, I noticed that in one of the unfinished pictures I can see the puck light wiring on the outside of the pax unit. Did you fixed the metal studs to the ceiling, walls and/or cabinets? Good luck! Thanks. We shimmed under the units to ensure they were completely level, ensuring that the units were level to one another, so when we ran the baseboards across the front of them, everything looked flush. Ive been designing cabinetry for 30 years and this is stunning. Were strongly considering picking up the Wagner Flexio 3000, though, since weve ended up using the sprayer SO much more frequently than expected! Thank you!! You can also add some art prints, your most treasured shopped purchases and fashion books. Hi, I love what youve done! You have mentioned that On the exterior sides of the Pax units, we added some additional strips of poplar to give the sides a more finished look once painted.. My question is, could we add a mirror the same height as the PAX frame, to fit in between these strips? Dark green, really? Any suggestions? Hi! Hi! Hi! BEAUTIFUL work! Your email address will not be published. great job, but why didnt you fill up the holes prior to priming Can you clarify the steps: Did you actually remove them and wallpaper the entire MDF, or did you take the time to wallpaper each section to shape/size? Did you just add the fronts to increase the depth of the drawers, or did you remove the original PAX drawer fronts and install your own? Your closet turned out really beautifully, and I wanted to do something similar. Any chipping or lifting of the paint form the laminate? Was the baseboard you used more in height than the actual base of the wardrobe frame? This amazingly beautiful! We assumed the same thing until we went deep into the ikea hackers forums and discovered how important the back panel is, and thus settled on how to mask the backs rather than do away with them. So, I sought out a closet system that I could customize and paint to match my vision. This wasnt our first carpentry project, but it was definitely our biggest one to date. Is it separating at all from the melamine? Hi. Sure! Beyond that, it looks as good as when we originally painted it a few years ago. Since the paper is pretty thick, it completely hides the seam when painted out (it was still visible through the paper before it was painted as it was somewhat transparent). We left an 1/8 inch gap around the drawers. We far prefer having a more expansive walkway/ space to change over the extra storage we could have eked out of the bigger units but a much more cramped closet. This is stunning!! Hi! Firstly well done your room and the cabinets look incredible! We fed these cords in a chain, where for each unit, one light branched off and fed into the unit from the very top in the back. Im wondering what you used to get the wall paper to stick to the back board? around the sink, stove and dishwasher, that the kitchen would not last long. We added the drawer fronts purely for aesthetics and to make the cabinetry look built in and custom. We then caulked all the seams. How did you move the electrical outlet? Its counterintuitive, but the MDF back actually does provide quite a bit of structure. Were so thrilled with how it came together! the 6 IKEA units + drawers + shelves were $1,300, and we spent about another $1,200 on the wood, trimwork (sponsored, but included at retail cost), primer, lights, paintable wallpaper, caulk, wood rods, and paint. I love how this room has used the wardrobe to divide the bedroom space. Thanks! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Mother. They sell packs of 100 plugs for $1, and while they are more difficult to install than expected they are totally worth the effort. We have high ceilings (108) so we probably have the height to build a platform on which these PAX units can sit, and then cover the edges of the platform all around with base board molding to give it a seamless, built in look. Im also wondering how you continued the wire between units that werent connected, such as unit on opposite sides of the closet. (Yes, not basketball, netball). Oh yes, we nailed the wood strips on to the front edge of the shelves and then also on the frame surrounding the narrower stack of drawers in the unit on the right. This isnt to say that they arent helpful to maximize storage, but its very challenging to make them look seamless in a high-end custom closet. Em xxx, Thank you! For this, we used some scrap strips of 1/8th inch tempered hardboard to bring the shelf up to level and secured it with screws. Ive seen a million Ike hacks! You two really did such a brilliant job with it; I cannot get enough! AH-MAZING!! This is so amazing! This is so great! Nice job! My question is regarding the wallpaper. Just found your blog and LOVE it! Thank you! This is awesome! I was wondering how well the paint is holding up after all this time with use? Thank you! Im debating it because I doubt that the IKEA closet would last 10 years with it being constructed out of particle board. I was thinking about installing the wardrobe frames without the cardboard back and just letting my shiplap walls show through the back. We gave them a light sand and stained the wood rods using leftover Rubio Monocoat Oil from when we refinished the floors. Thank you for sharing! 1 tip, if you dont want to use Zinsser, is to use Fusion Mineral Paint Ultragrip, that will make the paint stick to anything and its water soluable so low fume. beautiful closet! (Thank you for making the correction on priming) how were you able to get the wallpaper to fit so perfectly after you assembled the wardrobe being that its hard to reach the back w/o stepping on the bottom of the unit to reach the back? Thank you so much for your response. On the right side (with the shoes), we took out all the shelves, including the adjustment pieces and sprayed both the shelves and the plastic things that hold the shelves up separately. I put some heavy weights on the base and took out the self-leveling laser. Hi Bonnie for sure, it took a lot of searching to find the perfect size, so I feel you! We masked off the interior area where the drawers all slide in so we wouldnt waste paint there and left them white on the interior to match the interior of the drawers (you never actually see this space though). This closet is beautiful! on Hacking the IKEA Pax into a Fully Custom Closet, Hacking the IKEA Pax into a Fully Custom Closet, https://erinkestenbaum.com/2018/11/07/one-room-challenge-fall-2018-the-reveal-week-six-master-bedroom-closet/, https://www.chrislovesjulia.com/master-closet-ikea-pax/, http://sarahgunn.com/one-room-challenge-the-reveal-2/, https://www.domino.com/content/ikea-pax-wardrobe-closet-jenny-komenda-little-green-notebook-hack/, WEEKEND READING, Vol. On the exterior sides of the Pax units, we added some additional strips of poplar to give the sides a more finished look once painted. These we attached with construction adhesive and used clamps to hold them in place. The side panels stick out 2-3mm more than the panel in between, so that would leave an opening to be filled somehow. Thanks Erin. If so how did you get the drawer front edging smooth, did you put a wood veneer tape on them edges:? This looks stunning!! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This inspired me. My width is the same as yours so I am using yours as a guide. I then cut the metal stud profiles to size using metal shears, screwing the long sections into place and just gently pushed the cross joints between them. Btw, is there any way that a pair of Besta unit doors can be used to cover the top part of the frame of a single PAX wardrobe frame, but the bottom part housing the drawers could be left as is, or covered with a separate set of hinged doors from the Besta series?? Thank you! Clean, neutral and simple and will go with most decor. I am considering stacking two shelf dividers one over the other for my project and I would love to know if you had a problem/how your divider was attached to your shelf? You are simplyAmazing!!!! 1. Simple And Beautiful Medal Display Ideas for Every Win, IKEA RSKOG Cart and 14 hacks we love most, IKEA BEST TV unit ideas that are practical and useful, 18 unusual IKEA table lamp hacks and ideas to try at home, How to make a cozy igloo bed for your dog or cat. Thank you! First I fixed them together and to the wall using the standard IKEA methods. But nice build! Your home is beautiful! If your floors are not level (old house problems), always start at the lowest point in the room and simulate where the top edge of the baseboard will fall, so you dont get into any trouble as you make your way around the room. Hoping to create something similar in our master closet. COPYRIGHT 2022 IKEAHACKERS.NET | IKEA is a registered trademark of Inter-IKEA Systems B.V. I looks like it is in line with the top drawer. Its awesome to have such clear steps to follow. How did you handle the transition between vertical trim and baseboards? You have to open both doors before you can pull out the drawers. did you bring wire. I must say again, the results are stunning and I hope youre fully enjoying your suite!!! Id love to do something like this but not sure how to deal with the ceiling heightplus the light switch is 21 inches from the back wall so it is inside the depth of the Pax unit which is 22 7/8 inch deep. Thank you Can you tell me why you replaced the hanging rods? Erin, this is truly outstanding work. Hi. Finally, I fixed the base to the wall at four points using 40mm angle irons. But, it does seem like a TON of work for a DIYer, and that you would need a professional carpenter to help with all the details. It looks amazing can you share what size each of the drawer fronts is? Because we knew we were going to have rattan boxes on a top shelf, we knew the cords would be invisible. Amazing job. Hi Erin! Expertly done and it shows! Hi Johanna, since we did the work ourselves we didnt get a quote for a custom closet, and we wanted a very specific built-in look that equated to the highest end at most closet solution companies. My closet size is similar in size as yours. Are you sure the one side is 29 deep? Hi! We have a 37 walkway and its a really good size it doesnt feel cramped at all! I scanned all info and questions but didnt find. Hi Erin, For instance, Sarah Gunn painted her Pax blue and that change alone makes the IKEA closet look so much more elevated (http://sarahgunn.com/one-room-challenge-the-reveal-2/), and Jenny Komenda hacked hers with paint and added doors, which means much less woodworking is required to achieve a really professional look (https://www.domino.com/content/ikea-pax-wardrobe-closet-jenny-komenda-little-green-notebook-hack/). Not putting anything on back wall makes sense to create a nice walkway. When you look closely at the pictures, you can see the cabinets stick out over the plinth just a bit to hide the MDF base. If yes, how do we do it? Even better, the rails on the shallower 13 drawers aligned perfectly with the deeper 29 Pax units. Once all the lights were installed, we moved on to the next step.