One of my first major purchases at Ikea was for two Expedit bookcases that I had seen on one of my favorite organizational blogs IHeart Organzing. I had the perfect corner spot in the playroom for these babies so off to Ikea I went. Here is where my excitement to have the benches completely blinded me from measuring the space where I planned to put them. Once I had the benches assembled, I realized that they wouldn't fit in that corner of the playroom. So onto plan B, I moved them to the other corner in the playroom. Don't worry I found another use for that other corner, by making it into a reading nook. You can read more about that here.
We were all ready to move forward with this design. My husband had built a piece to go in that corner spot and the plan was to put a seating bench on top made of MDF, foam and fabric to make it a more cohesive unit. Well, while I was on a hunt for the perfect fabric we moved the units to go along the wall with the window. We would still make it into a seating bench, but this design gave us back one wall for the girls' play kitchen.
I apologize for the not so great photo - I wasn't able to get both benches in the picture, but hopefully you get the idea. They were in this arrangement for a while and then I had another idea. I thought maybe I can frame the window with the Expedit shelving units...this meant purchasing another one, but what can I say I love these units! So here they are in their final resting place....at least for a while.
I cannot express how much I love the Expedit series, the uses for these shelving units are endless. We actually have two more in our office that are on each side of our desk (another inspiration from IHeart Organizing). I am super pleased with the current arrangement in our playroom. I was able to bring out our games and some more books into the playroom. I was also able to put out the kiddos coloring books and crayons instead of hiding them in a drawer that we always forgot about. It is very functional for our space to have it all in one spot. I feel the girls are playing with their colors more and our reading time has expanded to include lots more books. I do plan to make a labeling system for the bins so it makes finding the toys they want easier as well as clean up can go smoother.
Stay tuned for a step-by-step process where I will make sure to take lots of pictures as I attempt to make the bench. Wish me luck! I wish you all a happy Friday and most importantly to enjoy your weekend and Labor Day!
With much love,
Kristin
We were all ready to move forward with this design. My husband had built a piece to go in that corner spot and the plan was to put a seating bench on top made of MDF, foam and fabric to make it a more cohesive unit. Well, while I was on a hunt for the perfect fabric we moved the units to go along the wall with the window. We would still make it into a seating bench, but this design gave us back one wall for the girls' play kitchen.
I apologize for the not so great photo - I wasn't able to get both benches in the picture, but hopefully you get the idea. They were in this arrangement for a while and then I had another idea. I thought maybe I can frame the window with the Expedit shelving units...this meant purchasing another one, but what can I say I love these units! So here they are in their final resting place....at least for a while.
I cannot express how much I love the Expedit series, the uses for these shelving units are endless. We actually have two more in our office that are on each side of our desk (another inspiration from IHeart Organizing). I am super pleased with the current arrangement in our playroom. I was able to bring out our games and some more books into the playroom. I was also able to put out the kiddos coloring books and crayons instead of hiding them in a drawer that we always forgot about. It is very functional for our space to have it all in one spot. I feel the girls are playing with their colors more and our reading time has expanded to include lots more books. I do plan to make a labeling system for the bins so it makes finding the toys they want easier as well as clean up can go smoother.
While the shuffle dance was going on in the playroom, I was able to find the perfect fabric for the bench seat. I also purchased 3" foam from The Foam Store - actual name no joke! My husband purchased the MDF from Home Depot so now I have everything I need to assemble this bench seat. I am no expert at sewing, but I can manage a staple gun.
Stay tuned for a step-by-step process where I will make sure to take lots of pictures as I attempt to make the bench. Wish me luck! I wish you all a happy Friday and most importantly to enjoy your weekend and Labor Day!
With much love,
Kristin
You found the MDF! I asked at my Lowe's and they had no idea what I was talking about. Can't wait to see the finished product.
ReplyDeleteWe got the MDF in a 4'x8' board and had them cut it down to the size we need. We have extra if you need any!
DeleteLOVE this! I'm going to do the same thing in our playroom. Where did you get the baskets?
ReplyDeleteThank you!!! I bought the bins at Target online when they were on clearance, unfortunately I can't find them on their site now. I did find something similar though: http://www.target.com/p/room-essentials-blue-15-5in-large-fabric-bin-s-3-large/-/A-14226467#prodSlot=medium_1_31&term=fabric+storage+bins
DeleteDo you have an Ikea near by? They have some fabric bins...not the sturdiest, but fit perfectly in the shelving unit. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30219281/#/70244900
Thank you so much! Very helpful!!!
DeleteCan't wait to see pictures when yours is done!!
DeleteI just bought some blue and green baskets from Ikea today and the bookcases. Can't wait to get them up. Where did you get that fabric? It would match my bins perfectly! :)
DeleteI love those baskets and the bookcases from Ikea!!!! I got the fabric from Calico Corners, but I also saw it online as well at fabric.com and amazon. Fabric.com actually has it on sale right now, http://www.fabric.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=6ccae999-e8de-4f3a-9125-ab876dc4fda5
DeleteHow high are your ceilings? We just bought these this week and plan on putting them together tonight. However I know they won't reach to the top of the whole window because we have 9 foot ceilings - would this look ok? Thanks again for this awesome idea!
DeleteHi there!! We too have 9 foot ceilings and our bookcases don't reach the top of the window either. I honestly hadn't noticed, I love how it frames the window :) Would love to see pictures when your is all done!!
DeleteThanks! My husband put one together tonight and I put it under the window and I love it. That would have been such a waste of space otherwise. He's going to do the other two this weekend. Thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome!!! :)
DeleteDo you have a picture of what the fabric looks like on the bench? I want to order the same, but would like to see your finished project. :)
ReplyDeleteHere is the link for the completed bench http://mybellabug.blogspot.com/2013/09/playroom-seating-bench-part-2.html I absolutely love this fabric!! It has held up so well!
DeleteHi, by any chance do you know the size of your window? We are converting our garage into av playroom and I love this setting! Thanks
ReplyDeleteHi there! Thank you for stopping by, the width of the window is almost 70 1/2 inches and the height is 58 inches.
DeleteHi! Love this idea and I want to do it in my girls playroom--IKEA does not sell the expedit shelves like this anymore. Any idea of another shelf I can use? Our window is the same size as yours. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for stopping by!!! Ikea does sell the Kallax system, which is what they replaced the Expedit series with. The look is pretty much identical, but it is a little shorter than Expedit: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/series/27534/ I know it isn't ideal, but maybe you can make a box the same dimension as the others and screw it into the shelf to give you that additional length.
DeleteHello! could you tell me please the seat dimension? We want to do something you did, but we can`t do it deeper than 30 cm (around 11.81 inches). It would be ok for a reading seat? Thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteThe seat dimensions are a depth of 15 3/8 inches and a little over 72 inches long. It might be a little small, but I could see it definitely working as a reading seat for a toddler.
DeleteHi, I stumbled across this blog from a pinterest pin. I looked for the Expedit Series from Ikea, and it appears as if they have changed the name?
ReplyDeleteThe ones I found, which look exactly like this, are now called KALLAX.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90275844/#/00275848
Yes, Ikea retired the Expedit series some time last year I believe. The new system is the Kallax, which is very similar, but the dimensions are slightly different. I haven't purchased any from this series yet, but have heard great things about them as well!
DeleteLooks so cute, I love the green fabric boxes!
ReplyDeleteThank you!! 😊
Delete