Great Gorm Guitar Rack

FROM ONE OF MY FAVORITE BLOGS

During my regular peruse of Ikea Hacker, I came across this wonderful DIY guitar stand made from the Gorm shelves and wine rack.

 

 

Unfortunately, the specific instructions aren't in English. But the pictures should suffice.

Corkboard Tiles For Practical Decor

WHEN POSTED ON A BULLETIN BOARD

 One of my first jobs in the new apartment was to tackle the kitchen and make it look... less cookie-cutter and, if possible, more tailored to us.

I removed the doors on a few cabinets (I really love the sparkle of light shining through clean wine glasses). Next, since I'm a gal who takes pleasure in texture, form, and function, I added cork tiles to the side of one cabinet. I'd call it a budget, tailored effect:

(side view)

(kitchen view)

And yes, future Recipe's of The Week are posted on the board right now!

Magnetic Spice Rack

The organizer in me loves this kind of magnetic spice rack because of the accessibility, industrial look and addition of color to the kitchen. HOWEVER, I don't like the prices; some of them go for over $100 (NOT including the cost of spices)!

The main impediment to this style is price if I want: (1) 20 plus spice jars, and (2) To spend under $50.

On the left is an example of these spice arrangement for that achieves #2. However, it provides for only an assortment of 12 spices. Similarly, for $20 could purchase a set of Kamenstein 6-Canister Magnetic-Strip Spice Rack, but I would still spend $80 if I wanted over 20 spice jars...
 

... Thus, and perhaps not surprisingly, I've decided to make my own...

Although this DIY Wall-Mounted Spice Rack from The Kitchn is cool, I wanted the containers to have clear tops like in the above images. I discovered this Instructables only after I finished my own magnetic spice rack. Here's my own, amateur solution:

Supplies:

- 25 x Tin Flat Containers 2.5 oz w/Clear Top = $15.75 plus shipping
- 25 x Neodymium magnets = $16.25 plus shipping
- Some double-sided 3M tape (I was lazy- I would have used glue, but this is what I had laying around the house.)

- An erasable pen like the kind your teacher used on the whiteboard (again, it's what I had laying around the house and I didn't want to wait until I got around to buying a labeler). I actually like this feature since it means I can use the containers interchangeably.

VOILA! For a total of $32 plus shipping, I managed to get 25 magnetic spice jars. They're currently on my fridge, but I may get a magnetic sheet for them once we're more settled into our new digs.

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Project: Renter's Indoor Bike Rack

Floor-to-Ceiling, MOVEABLE Bike Storage Using Tension -   An EXCELLENT and INEXPENSIVE Small Space Solution.

I’ve lived in the city for a while and 2 bikes have already “disappeared” from their racks outside. I love the idea of storing my bikes in the apartment, but then there is the frustration of having to climb over bikes if you’re trying to get to the bathroom or get the milk out of the fridge (I *might* be exaggerating, but you get the point). The options for storing bikes off the floor aren’t many when you are renting. Here were my requirements for bike storage indoors:
- No holes in the wall or ceiling
- Capacity to store two bikes off the ground
- A system that is tall enough for 11′ ceilings
- Minimal cost – no more than $50 – $60.
- STURDY
- Not ugly. seriously.

REI and Amazon.com sell nice, sleek bike racks like what I’m looking for, but nothing fit my style/utility/price criteria.

I concluded that I’d have to “invent” my own. I researched how to join pipes to create a sturdy tension rod, and researched various methods for securing “racks”. But then I found an inexpensive DIY solution on one of my FAVORITE sites, Ikea Hacker:

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2008/02/stolmen-bike-rack.html

Thank you, Michael, for posting your bike rack solution!

Thus, I spent a weekend collecting the materials, cutting pipe, and assembling. With the help of my lovely boyfriend to mount the bikes…..

VOILA!

Cost: 

Square Aluminum Pipe- $10 (Home Depot)

1 Ikea-Stolmen Tension Rod – $15 (from Craigslist)

4 Ikea-Stolmen hooks – $4 (Ikea)

2 Ikea-Stolmen attachments – $5 (Craigslist again)

6 2″ Bolts & nuts – $2 (Home Depot)

Total: $36.00

Project: Musician’s Workspace. A Small Space Solution

As we were moving into our new apartment last July, I was challenged to find a way that my beau’s active music career could mesh with my need for a de-cluttered space. To clarify, dating and living with a musician means instruments, the instruments’ various cases, cds, cds, CDS, mics, amps, and the zillions of cords that connect one to the other to the other to the other…. In short: there is the potential for a lot of clutter.

He was NOT enthused about my idea when I presented it- putting his workspace in the closet. (How do I explain to him that I was not trying to hide his stuff, when that clearly seems to be the case?)

I had to act quickly before he got up the nerve to stop me- I measured, double-measured, went to Home Depot to buy and cut wood (it’s my dream someday to own a table saw), went to Target for some free-standing organizer shelves. Got online and bought 3M Command hooks, pantry organizers, baskets, boxes, etc….

And created:

Working...



Relaxing...



I even developed a crude sort of guitar over-door hangar with a nice little foam pad behind the guitar body so that it won’t bang against the door when its opened. I didn’t want to put holes in the door when attaching  his guitar wall hook (made from a metal wreath hangar, wood guitar wall hook, and some screws). The guitar would typically be hanging on the right door in the above picture, with an Iron Maiden poster flag serving to cover the foam.



 (As an aside, here is the email conversation that I had with a gentleman who invented “guitar hangars” to hang in your closet, when I asked him about guitar over-door hangars:

Me:
Hello,
I would like to purchase two hangers. How much are they? I am actually looking for something that is like a wall hangar, but can be fit over the door. Have you invented something like that yet?
Very sincerely.

 Response:
Jill;
[...ordering info...]
The hanging on the door I do not believe would work well.  Every time you open or close your door the guitar and going to bang, and even the hardest coatings will chip off.
Side note: my mother always bought those over the door shoe hangers and they never really worked, the door never really closed properly etc.
Thanks for the interest.

 Oh well, I made something that works GREAT!

I’ve been making tweaks to the set-up since its completion; I look forward to posting more detailed pictures!
And at the end of the day, he can close up shop and nobody will bother his work.