Booth seating on a shoestring

Materials: Faktum, Meltorp

Description: Having moved to a new home I was faced with the problem of it being very small. We had only a 3x4m living room and a very small 3m x 1.9m kitchen. In our living room we had no space for a full sized dining table or large sofa suite. So this is what I did do overcome our problem.

We had been given a Meltorp table when we purchased some folding chairs off the local classified ads. When we brought it to our new house we could not accommodate the table or the chairs as there just wasn't enough space. We was going to chuck the table until one day I had a great idea.

I built a bench seat in an alcove in the living room using 4 Faktum 35cm fan units. I purchased just the frame without the doors because I was going to make my own sliding doors using the backs of the frame and some cheap plastic vivarium runners.

For the bench seat we used Ikea Iris seat pads until we can afford to get a custom made cushion to go on top of the seats. Ihe Iris pads fit perfectly on top of the units.

I have added strength to the units by added some vertical 1x2 in the middle of the units and have tested them with 18 stone mates. I would have used the deeper 60cm overfridge units but my alcove was 37cm so that's why I went with the 35cm fan units. The size is perfect and is a joy to have lunch, breakfast on.

For the table I had to take the legs off the Meltorp table and make a custom center post to make it easier to get in and out of the booth. I have made a secret shelf on the post for condiments such as ketchup and hot sauce. I then clad the post with contiboard. I think the table looks pretty good and looks very expensive designer table cost me about £15 because I got the Meltorp free.

Here is a rough cost of materials of the bench and table

4 x faktum fan units £44
2x base frame studwork 89MM x 38mm £8
sliding vivarium runners £5
381mm top panel contiboard
7x iris seat pads £3 each

Table
Meltorp table (free) or £28 from ikea
offcuts of timber from house renovation

~ Abdul Manik, East London

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Melltorp to Sewing Desk

Materials: Melltorp, Effektiv door.

Description: A sewing machine sitting on top of a desk isn't the most ergonomic or comfortable. Hands are perched in the air to reach the sewing bed, kinda like The Thriller dance. Amy's idea was to mount the Effectiv door panel below the surface of the desk and create an under table support for the Bernina. This would let the sewing bed sit flush to the desk.

Bolts were used to mount the panel so that it can be easily adjustable up and down to assure the surface was flat.

Here's how it's done:
1. Trace the outline of the sewing machine and sewing bed onto the MELLTORP table allowing slightly extra room for cords.

2. Use a jigsaw to cut it out.
3. Sand out the rough bits of the cut out with an orbital sander.
4. Mark out the holes for the bolts to mount the EFFEKTIV door below the desk.

5. Adjust the bolts up and down to make sure the sewing bed sat flush with the desk
6. Reinforce it all with nuts.

See step by step instructions & more photos of the sewing desk.

~ Amy Badskirt, Australia

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