Recess

[darkemeralds]

The large gaping hole in my living room wall is now filled with plaster. The plaster is almost dry. I should be able to sand it smooth and prime it in the morning, and paint tomorrow afternoon.

Then, Project Empty can continue in earnest with the installation of the "Lack" shelving I got last week. (IKEA product names are cute, aren't they? Once I've put up these Lack Shelves, my TV area won't Lack Shelves. Har-har.)

So anyway, did you know there's this whole world of IKEA hacks? There is! There's a blog dedicated to the subject, where people share the creative, off-label ways they've used IKEA stuff.



I bought these shelves for twelve bucks apiece. They're built just like a hollow-core door, with a thin skin over a particle-board frame. The standard installation looks something like this:



But mine, being brown-black in color and installed in a dark corner, are gonna need lights, especially if I hope to read the names of the DVDs I intend to display on them.

The available option seemed to be some kind of add-on fixture that would be too hot, or take up too much shelf-space, or have ugly cords running all over the place, with a separate switch for each shelf. But that was before I found these cheap plastic LED pucks at the 'Pot ("You can do it. We can help. If you can find one of us.")--up to six of them can be on on the same switch--and sank them into the hollow shelves, with the cords running out the back, like this:





My very own home-made recessed lighting. I tell ya, this corner of my house is going to look classy, baby. Classy.

Comments

[kispexi2.livejournal.com]

*covets the lovely shelves*

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

It's my understanding tat IKEA carries the 'zact same stuff in every store worldwide...

[kispexi2.livejournal.com]

Let me clarify ... *covets the already-put-up-and-dressed shelves* :-)

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

Oh. Gotcha.

Hee! Me too.

[emungere.livejournal.com]

Oooh, awesome idea. I might need to try that.

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

It was way, way easier than I planned. Seriously, the skin on these shelves is about an eighth of an inch thick, and inside is nothing but a sort of wide honeycomb of brown paper. The hardest parts were walking to the local corner hardware store for the right size hole saw, and me spraining my wrist testing the hole saw on a more substantial board. (Torque is kind of a two-edged sword.)

Otherwise, it was a piece of cake.

[executrix.livejournal.com]

Oooh, shiny shelves!

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

I can't believe you have an icon about my shelves. That's hilarious! Seriously, what's it really about?

[executrix.livejournal.com]

It's a Virtual LOLCAT! Instead of an invisible bicycle or guitar, my invisible cat has a corresponding lack...

[vchrusch.livejournal.com]

I like the way you think. That is a fantastic idea.

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Photos soon, I hope.

[llaras.livejournal.com]

I'm impressed! Go, you!

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It's coming along.