Thinking Out of the Box

Sometimes when you are working on a project, measurements may go haywire due to the materials that does not measure up or for ANY particular reason.  So you have to make amends and think out of the box.  You have to be creative.  You have to see BEYOND the project, beyond what the material or project can offer.

For our latest project, the DIY Bathroom Counter Top (you can read about it here), that was what happen.  

We bought the Ikea Freden series cabinets which are for bathroom storage. We used the cabinet for the sink but because our counter top was long and over lapped over the cabinet, and we did not want to cut the beautiful Chenggal wood, there was an empty space below the counter top.

So we decided to cut the Ikea Freden shelve.  By cutting the shelve, we got one cabinet and one side table.  The cabinet was inserted into the empty space and the shelve will be used for another project.

Hopefully the pictures below will give you a visual understanding ... 

The counter top that over lapped from the cabinet.
Hence, there was an empty space at the right.

The Ikea Freden shelve which was cut into half.
Used only the cabinet.

The cabinet fits nicely into the empty space as you can see on the right.

DIY Bathroom Counter Top

After 2.5 years of moving into our new home, we finally got around to install the counter top and cabinet in our master bathroom.  We purchased the Freden series cabinets at the discount corner in Ikea before we moved in.  The counter top is recycled Chenggal wood which we bought from our local lumber yard.  Plumbing was done by Hubby himself.

Here are the pictures of our master bathroom.

Before : Our bathroom, plain and simple.

After : The counter top and cabinet installed!

For now, this will be the decoration ...
intend to add more color later

In progress : Adding the counter top.  

So much storage now!

A look at the plumbing and how we manage to
incorporate it with the cabinet

Another look of the plumbing and cabinet

Missing Links ...

It's been 7 months since we've moved into our new home.  We are still in the settling down mode.  Some items are still in their boxes, so many stuff to clear and get rid off.  So many projects lining up:-

1. Fix knobs on all room doors
2. Varnish all room doors
3. Make study table for daughter's room
4. Clear Mezzanine floor
5. Put up photos & picture frames
6. Make back splash for kitchen
7. Refurbish a few furnitures
8. Re decorate master bedroom
9. Put up curtain rails  
10. Sew curtains
11. Build patio
12. Sofa hunting

And the list goes on and on ...

One item on this list that we are taking our time is the sofa, we are taking our time as we do not want to rush and end up buying something that we are not happy with.  We do know roughly what we want but we have to look around at other retailers.  The EKTORP three seater sofa from Ikea is one that we are considering.

EKTORP three seater sofa in White - RM999.00

EKTORP three seater sofa in Risane Beige - RM1,499.00

Right now, we are temporary using a Teak two seater chair that is meant for the patio.  We purchased this Teak two seater chair from Kedai Kaki Lelong in Ara Damansara.

The Teak two seater chair in our Hall

Another picture of the same Teak two seater chair