If you’re wondering how to transform a basic Ikea vanity into a custom built-in: this post is for you! Today I’m sharing how we modified and installed the Godmorgon vanity with customized wood panels for an elevated look.
After our microcement walls and floor tile install was complete, the next big task in the primary bathroom was installing the vanity. I had a very specific look in mind: a minimalist built-in light wood floating vanity with a shelf underneath:
There were two options to get this look: build it from scratch, or use inexpensive Ikea Godmorgon vanities with custom wood fronts and panels. In an effort to save on costs/time, I opted for the latter.
Customizing An Ikea Silveran Bathroom Vanity
I reached out to my friends at The Cabinet Face after seeing their selection of Godmorgon fronts. I ordered several samples and landed on their Brushed White Oak, which has a really nice wood grain texture and tone.
I sent over a mockup with my measurements, and asked if they could build a custom shelf as well. After a few emails back and forth, my custom panels were sent off to production and arrived nine weeks later.
My design included two 40” Godmorgon vanities with two ~5.5” filler pieces on either side against the wall. Total width = 90 1/4”. The vanities were mounted 10” off the ground in order to keep them at standard counter height (34”) and leave enough room under the faucets.
Ikea Vanity Hack
After assembling the vanities, the first step was to build a base for our floating shelf. Since we didn’t have much vertical space to work with, we built the 2×4” frame directly on the floor and made the depth shallower so you wouldn’t see the frame underneath.
We also ripped down a strip of thin plywood to cover the front of the frame and block the gaps made by the shims. This would prevent small things from finding their way back there and getting lost under the shelf.
Our shelf came pre-mitered which was a huge help (thank you, The Cabinet Face!) and just needed to be cut down to fit the width. Sanding was also required in some areas to scribe the edge to our uneven textured walls.
Clever Ikea Kitchen Design Ideas
Ikea’s installation instructions left us scratching our heads, because there only four pre-determined locations to attach the vanity to the wall, and a 99% chance they won’t land on studs. Ikea: tell me how a few drywall anchors will support an entire vanity, carrying the weight of a stone counter and sink and everything else inside?? Sketchy.
So, we did things our own way. Starting with a support piece (made from a ripped down 2×4) attached to the wall, which the bottom of the vanities would sit on. We also added metal L brackets to connect the vanities to the support ledge.
Before installing the counters, blocking was added on the sides of the vanity for the filler pieces. This can be done a couple different ways. On one side, a strip of 2×4’ was secured flush to the front edge of the vanity, and then three cross pieces were attached to the wall with pocket hole screws (not into studs).
Ikea Hack: A Custom Godmorgon Vanity
On the right side, we tried a different method to see if it would be easier. The same vertical strip was attached to the vanity, but then two smaller pieces were clamped to the top and bottom using wood glue. The wood glue bonds the wood together to form one solid piece. This method worked well and saved a little time.
Note: this would also be the be best time to install the filler pieces. We decided to wait until after the drawers were in so we could cut the pieces exactly to match the height, but that proved to be a mistake. It was extremely tricky to screw the filler pieces in from the back after the counter was installed, as there was hardly any room and no way to see back there. We made it work (barely), but would not recommend it.
For the countertops, I chose Hanstone Quartz, 3cm in the color Coast. It is a light gray with subtle white veining and a really neat honed ‘river washed’ texture that feels like natural stone.
An Ikea Metod Cabinet Hack Has Transformed This Bathroom
Since we’re using undermount sinks, the Godmorgon drawers have to be modified to accommodate the plumbing. You can route the plumbing to avoid the bottom drawer, but our plumber didn’t, so we had to modify both drawers.
Fortunately, this is a relatively simple process. Ikea provides removable dividers that you can attach to the cut edge for a cleaner look. We notched out a section of the back with a Dremel, then screwed each slat into the back of the divider.
The same process was repeated for the bottom drawer, but only the slats had to be cut on this so you don’t see any unfinished edges.
The Ikea Kitchen Doors Hack
Before we moved on to the filler pieces, we had to address an unsightly issue. See that big gap in the center? The drawers didn’t line up perfectly, and there’s no way to adjust them left and right (we researched and called customer service to confirm).
So, my solution to hide the large gap was edge banding veneer. This would make those visible cabinet edges look like wood, and it would blend in much more than a white cabinet frame. You can see the difference closeup, with a strip of edge banding on the bottom:
Now, onto those filler pieces that we should have installed before the counters… it took some tricky maneuvering, but Lucas was able to squeeze a drill up in there to blindly screw through the back and secure them to the support blocks.
Gorgeous Diy Bathroom Vanity Ideas
The custom European oak panels from The Cabinet Face are really what set this apart and make it hard to believe it’s an Ikea vanity. The texture is gorgeous in person!
The two Godmorgon vanities cost $406, the custom panels/shelf from The Cabinet Face came in at $1, 361, and the drawer pulls were $15. Total cost: $1, 782.
Honestly if we would have built this entirely from scratch, I think the materials alone would have cost more. This really is the most cost effective and quickest/easiest route if you want a custom, built-in look.
The Kid's Bathroom Remodel Is Done!
Next on the to-do list: hang mirrors and hooks, update the doors, hang a DIY pendant light over the tub and accessorize! If all goes as planned, I’ll have the big reveal on the blog in two weeks. Can’t wait to cross another Hacienda Hideaway space off the list!
Hi, I’m Jenna and I’ve been designing and DIY’ing my way through homes since 2008. Join me as I learn, share my experience, and hopefully encourage/inspire you along the way!Bathrooms give us a chance to get creative and indulgent because they are smaller rooms, so your investment goes a lot further.
Vanity units are especially important in the overall look as you can add a bit of colour or texture. These gorgeous Ikea bathroom vanity hacks will certainly help inspire your bathroom makeover.
Ikea Hacks That We're Bookmarking Asap
I hope you’ll agree, there are some pretty impressive things you can do to create some exquisite looking bathroom vanity units with Ikea furniture and a clever hack.
This awesome Ikea bathroom vanity hack from Oak Apple Decor uses both Godmorgon units and Billy shelves to create a multi-level and multi-coloured vanity.
Ikea kitchen units are not just for the kitchen! This wonderful project from Semi Handmade uses Ikea Metod kitchen units combined with Semi Handmade shaker style doors to create an extensive vanity unit.
Ikea Vanity Hacks
This time using Ikea’s own Savedal door and drawer fronts, but painting them to tie in with the stunning botanical theme of the bathroom.
I won’t be highlighting Ikea kitchen units all the way through this, but just to emphasize how perfect they are for creating beautiful, yet practical vanity units, here is a project from Jackie Ziznewski that uses Ikea Sektion units.
These have been upgraded with some Semi Handmade door and drawer fronts too. With the simple addition of some elegant black handles, these units give a subtle modern farmhouse feel to this bathroom.
Ikea Kitchens Hacked By Danish Architects Including Big
Ikea Godmorgon units give you a great base to have large, wide drawers in your vanity units. When you pair them with some stunning drawer fronts such as these by Sarah Sherman Samuel at Semi Handmade, then it’s an instant design win!
Superfront makes some really unique and impactful door and drawer fronts for Ikea products and these amazing teal fish scale fronts are our favourite!
We especially love the combo of teal, concrete and copper. It’s a great design trick of going for all the top trending colours/textures/materials and putting them together in one setting. Don’t go overboard though! Three is a good amount (some say the magic number..)
Ikea Bathroom Hacks
Same trick here… White, wood and black. Although they have also gone for the fourth element of brass for some of the fittings… and it works!
Don’t be afraid to add some textiles to a bathroom. This vintage rug is exactly what the room needed to add a little more texture.
We just had to show you another example from Superfront to demonstrate how creative they are with
0 Comments
Posting Komentar