Hey DIY friends! Welcome back to the blog. You know I’ve been putting the finishing touches on my dream maker studio, and there was one area that was screaming for a cool makeover: my boring art storage, aka, my trusty IKEA IVAR cabinets.
I stared at those plain pine doors, and my creative brain started whirring. What truly sparks joy for me in design? Three key elements kept popping up: Dark Academia, rustic charm, and a touch of pure whimsy.
SHOP THIS EPISODE
So, what was the plan? First, those light pine cabinets needed a much warmer feel with a rich, dark stain. I also envisioned adding a new top and a base to lift them slightly (functionality and aesthetics, win-win!).Then came the real spark of inspiration. I recently acquired these gorgeous botanical, tarot-esque 4x6 cards, and the imagery was captivating. What if I could find a way to display these fun, unique images right on the front of the cabinet doors?
To balance the visual interest of the photos, the two inner cabinets would get a cool, modern slated detail. And to inject even more personality, I planned to add a unique trim to the top and bottom of the doors.
The plan
For the top, I had some leftover tongue and groove flooring boards from the studio build – perfect for a repurposed DIY! A little glue and clamping, and voila – a beautiful, solid top was taking shape.
Then it was onto the doors and the slated detail. To achieve a flush finish, I decided to essentially create a frame within the door. My plunge saw made quick work of the straight cuts, and a handsaw finished the corners.
Next was all about bringing warmth and depth to the wood. Laminated pine can be tricky to stain evenly, so I opted for my go-to technique: a stain/paint wash. First, a coat of Jacobean stain covered all the pine.
Then came the “wash” part. I simply dipped a brush into a water-based brown furniture paint, then into water, and applied it over the stain. This technique helps to even out the blotchiness of the laminate while adding a rich, consistent tone without losing the wood grain. It might be a bit of a “hack,” but hey, if it works, it works!
To protect the finish and enhance the color even further, I applied the first coat of a water-based satin polyurethane. This really brought the wood to life. Like all poly finishes, a light sanding and a second coat would be needed.
Finally, my favorite part: adding the vintage, botanical, tarot-esque art!
Carefully selecting the images that resonated with me and fit the apothecary vibe (think butterflies, mushrooms, frogs, and tarot), I moved on to framing them. I found a delicate trim that felt perfectly cottage-quaint, adding that extra layer of rustic charm.
Hours of measuring and cutting trim later (96 pieces to be exact!), it was time for assembly. To ensure perfect alignment, I used my laser level to mark a straight path across the doors. Double-sided tape held the art in place temporarily until the frames could do their job.
Using a glue and accelerator, I carefully secured each trim piece around the artwork. This was when the concept truly came to life. While I’m calling it “apothecary-esque,” it’s more about capturing that magical, whimsical, cottagecore feeling. This project brought me so much joy!
A little wood filler to clean up any small gaps in the frames, followed by a touch of Jacobean stain to blend everything seamlessly, and then a final protective finish. Finally, the cabinet top was secured, and chocolate-inspired trim was added to the sides to hide the IKEA IVAR hardware.
The doors were installed – a truly exciting moment, even through the exhaustion! And as the final touch, two gold hardware pulls were added to the inner cabinet doors, a subtle pop of brass for a touch of sophistication.
The IKEA IVAR cabinet hack was complete! Looking back at the plain IKEA IVAR cabinets, it’s hard to believe the transformation! With a little DIY magic, I now have the coolest cabinet in all the witchy apothecary lands! This project could have gone either way, but it turned out exactly as I’d hoped: a unique, one-of-a-kind piece that creatively inspires me and adds so much personality to my studio space.
I love the displayed photos, and I love that it captures the essence of an apothecary piece without being a carbon copy of everything else out there. It’s playful, it’s whimsical, and it’s totally me. Another IKEA hack for the books!
