I recently put together a small credenza from the TRÄBY line. We put it in place under our window, right away we noticed that it just blended into our floor. I purchased some high gloss white paint and painted the perimeter with about 8 coats of paint. I think it looks much better. See the results after the jump.
Related Posts
Comments ( 44 )
[...] more of Tyler’s modern credenza on his [...]
Here’s an affordable modern credenza « tissue paper : Mar 07 09 at 3:08 amGeeMod: Apr 08 08 at 1:03 pmWow! You’ve made it on Apartment Therapy 3 times already, fun for you! Keep up the good work “8 coats guy”
bicoastal: Apr 08 08 at 7:37 pmLove It! Did you change the legs? Can’t find this piece on the ikea site.
admin: Apr 08 08 at 7:55 pmBICOSTAL,
Anonymous: Apr 22 08 at 4:29 pmWow! I love what you’ve done! Do you offer instructions anywhere on your website?
admin: Apr 22 08 at 4:43 pmANONYMOUS, the real trick is bolting the two boxes together. I used bolts with really large washers to provide more surface area. Then I used flat metal brackets on the bottom. Hope this helps a little.
Katy: Apr 22 08 at 4:49 pmThat does help indeed (although I don’t know why my name is coming up as anonymous–I’m Katy!)
Where did you get the wood for the doors?
admin: Apr 22 08 at 5:07 pmHi Katy the doors are found at Ikea as well
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60105061
The door pulls I got from Ebay
lou: Jul 21 08 at 8:41 amLooks great, but shouldn’t you put some legs in the middle of the unit to prevent sagging?
admin: Jul 21 08 at 9:01 amLOU, I did buy a leg for the middle, but the large flat metal brackets I used on the bottom have held up well and prevented sagging. I guess if you put a lot of books and other heavy items in it you might want to put in a middle leg.
Brad: Jul 21 08 at 11:15 amTyler,
That’s some sweet lacquer you have there! Did you have that professionally sprayed, or is that a rolled-on finish? Excellent work!!
Brad
admin: Jul 21 08 at 11:52 amBrad, I actually brushed it on. It took a few coats because I did not want to see the texture of the ”
wood” I wanted the smooth glossy look.
Josh: Jul 23 08 at 1:27 amwow, veryyyyyy nice.
to be honest, i’ve always hated the boring, blah look of draby…….er i mean traby. but that white on the frame, looks so nice against the wood doors. and the feet were a MAJOR upgrade
ps: what brand/type of paint did you use?
i’ve been looking for some high gloss / lacquer-ish stuff to paint my lack coffee table with.thanks!
admin: Jul 23 08 at 8:25 amJosh, Thanks for the comments, I just went to my local Lowe’s and found the highest whitest gloss paint. Make sure to prime first. The high gloss paint dries really fast, so you need to move quickly. Could maybe use a spray but it helps when you can put it on thick.
wen: Jul 25 08 at 1:04 pmhey, loved the white. but eight coats? how’s the finish? been thinking of doing this but lack the courage. *heh heh* how’s the finish? smooth? tough getting the paint to stick?
WB: Jul 25 08 at 1:19 pmLooks great! Do you know the overall dimensions for the completed project? It’s inspired some possible bedroom modifications. Thanks!
admin: Jul 25 08 at 1:34 pmWEN
The finish is good, smooth and glossy, I had to use 8 coats because I wanted the lacquered look and the traby has a pretty deep texture. Make sure you prime before paint.WB
Width: 63″
Depth: 15 3/8 ”
Height: 21 “
Lauren: Jul 25 08 at 9:15 pmWow, wow, wow. You are my hero. I am rushing out to IKEA tomorrow to purchase this project. What a great idea!
emmitt: Aug 11 08 at 8:16 amI was thinking of staining a Traby (I already have an ash veneer set of shelves that are stained black) - do you think that is possible (ie how did the veneer look when you stripped the lacquer)?
admin: Aug 11 08 at 10:20 amEmmitt, I did try a stain on the Traby, It did not take at all, I think that is why I painted it instead.
emmitt: Aug 12 08 at 2:16 pmThanks - you just saved me a lot of heartache!
Olivia: Oct 09 08 at 10:33 amLove the hack.
I’m thinking about doing the same thing myself.
I want to put this in my dining room and would like to sand it a dark dark brown.
Did you sand it first, then prime and then add the 8 layers of high gloss? or did you only primt and add the high gloss?
Thanks!
admin: Oct 09 08 at 11:57 amOLIVIA, I did not do the sanding first, but it probably would be a good idea to do that.
ben: Nov 02 08 at 8:53 pmThis looks great! I wonder if you could send the dimensions of the cubes - I want to see if I could fit my electronics in the unit and close the doors. Thanks!
admin: Nov 03 08 at 12:11 pmBen
Thanks For the kind words.
You can find a link in the comments of this post that will give you the dimensions.
sabrina de haan: Nov 11 08 at 5:16 pmVery nice! Like many others I might use this idea!
Greetings from Amsterdam
Michael Gibson: Nov 15 08 at 1:42 amhi, i love the idea like everyone else, however, have you noticed any caving in around the middle of the credenza unit? i’m a little weary that it might cave in over time.
admin: Nov 15 08 at 11:31 amMichael, no caving or bowing yet but I guess that would depend on how much pressure is being applied. In the two cabinets we have them full of magazines. other than that, that’s all we have in them. I am sure if someone took a seat in the middle it would not be pretty.
pugsfly: Jan 14 09 at 10:22 pmIs there any smell or odor after the painting? I painted my cabinets once and the odor lasts for weeks…
Tyler: Jan 15 09 at 1:12 amPUGSFLY, It wasn’t too bad but I did have it next to an open window. If you can it would be best to paint it outside or in a garage.
Myou: Jan 27 09 at 7:55 amHi, I love this. I have these myself and was contemplating window seats. I was wondering did you sand before you primed/painted? I have been checking around and hearing a few things however after seeing your finished piece I think I will definite take your advice. Anything you could offer would be helpful. Thanks.
Tyler: Jan 27 09 at 10:38 amMYOU, I would for sure use a middle leg if people are going to sit on these. You could lightly sand first, prime then paint. I did not sand due to the texture that was already on the traby.
Victor: Jan 31 09 at 5:15 pmThanks for the great idea! Did you use a latex or oil-based paint?
Tyler: Jan 31 09 at 5:38 pmVictor, I used a Latex based paint
Jem N' Tonic: Apr 03 09 at 9:18 amI always have liked the wood and white contrast of a credenza. It looks really nice
Kam: May 12 09 at 10:54 amWOW! My IKEA/DWELL brother. One look at this site and I knew you were a Dwell recipient. I love the DIY work. Job Well Done.
Tyler: May 12 09 at 11:02 amKam, thanks for the kind words, Dwell is the one mag we kept after we cut back.
M. Wanzer: Jun 04 09 at 11:27 amDo you always use latex based paint for painting the Veneer/Particle board wood. A guy in the paint shop once told me I would need to use oil based paint, but I have heard its unsafe. Have you ever used oil based paint in any of your projects?
Tyler: Jun 04 09 at 11:39 amM. WANZER, for the most part yes I use latex, never really messed around with oil based
Mariah: Oct 04 09 at 11:02 pmDrat! It doesn’t look like the TRABY link works anymore, and I can’t find it on the Ikea site. It is possible they’ve discontinued these pieces? It’s pretty much exactly what I want to make, I’m not intimidated by a few hacks, and the versions I’ve found elsewhere are far too pricey!
A. Oaks: Nov 15 09 at 3:13 pmYes, in one of its worst moves ever, IKEA discontinued its wonderful Traby, their best quality modular bookcase series. It can be found in its UK and Ireland sites, though.
If I could, I’d still buy a lot more of these, if only they were available at my local IKEA store.
alice q.: Dec 09 09 at 7:23 pmLove it! I also loooove the lamp you have displayed here! Where can I find one?
Tyler: Dec 09 09 at 7:39 pmAlice, the lamp is from West Elm it was originally white but I painted it orange.
