comScore
ADVERTISEMENT
Your browser is not supported. We do our best to optimize our websites to the most current web browsers. Please try another browser.
Skip to main content

Simple IKEA Hack Evolves into Booming Business for Two Forward Thinkers

Simple IKEA Hack Evolves into Booming Business for Two Forward Thinkers

Hacking IKEA furniture has become something of a hobby for creative furniture lovers who have figured out inventive ways to take the Swedish manufacturers’ home furnishings to the next level.

ADVERTISEMENT

For a new startup based in London, England, transforming garden-variety IKEA cabinetry into sleek, stylish kitchens isn’t just a cottage industry, but has evolved into a full-fledged business dubbed Plykea.

The concept is simple yet brilliant: birch plywood doors and worktops are designed and built that can be adhered to IKEA’s Metod line of kichen cabinets.

Plykea-Kitchen-3

Plykea’s wooden facades are engineered to create a perfect fit with the originals, created to appeal to homeowners on a limited kitchen-reno budget who are looking for different finishes than those offered by IKEA.

The idea came to Plykea co-founder Tim Diacon as he renovated his own kitchen and struggled to find bespoke cabinetry in the kind of material he was looking for – and at a price point he could afford.

Plykea-Kitchen-2

“I assumed it would be fairly easy to find a company supplying ply fronts for IKEA, but to my surprise couldn’t find one when I looked,” said Diacon in an interview with Dezeen. “We went to IKEA and bought one of their cheapest fronts, measured them precisely including all the drill holes, and then CNC-ed our fronts.”

The results were so spectacular that Diacon decided to team up with furniture designer Adam Vergette to manufacture fronts and worktops that would seamlessly fit on top of IKEA’s cabinets for an easy and relatively inexpensive solution.

“IKEA makes great quality mass-manufactured furniture. This naturally restricts the choice of materials they make available in their product range. What we add essentially is choice,” noted Diacon. “Kitchens these days are more often than not the central hub of the home and we’re finding that people want to spend a little extra to get something of higher quality, that’s more unique or personal.”

After the material is precision-cut, it’s then hand-finished, with wooden faces and edges sanded before several coasts of clear hard wax oil are applied to create a finish that is attractive, highly durable and water-resistant.

ADVERTISEMENT

Plykea-Kitchen-1

Options include wood and formica-faced plywood surfaces, in addition to wooden spacer panels meant to be placed between cupboards, which provides an elegant bespoke feel. Plus, Plykea also offers a range of handles, including brass pulls, while some feature round or rectangular cut-outs.

Why plywood? Diacon answered that question in an interview with Co.Design. “For me personally, I’ve always thought [plywood] has a really beautiful esthetic, there’s something about the exposed edge where you can clearly see how the material is constructed that gives it a kind of honesty,” he noted. “It’s not pretending to be a solid piece of wood like a piece of MDF veneered on all sides, it’s just being what is it and it’s all the more beautiful because of that.”

While IKEA has yet to either endorse Plykea or send a cease-and-desist letter from its lawyers, Diacon hopes the company will see the value that Plykea brings when it comes to driving renovators into the IKEA showroom.

“At the end of the day we’re only encouraging more people to buy IKEA kitchens,” he added. “We think IKEA is an amazing company, and we hope they see what we’re doing as complimenting them. I guess we’ll find out.”



Latest News

These 15 beautiful holiday gift ideas for the men in your life are curated to surprise and delight.
November 1, 2024
Use these 10 best Amazon bedroom organization products to tame the clothes chaos and easily organize any closet.
November 1, 2024
DIY
In just three steps and next to no materials, let's transform a simple drop cloth into a chic haunted house for Halloween.
October 31, 2024
DIY
If you're looking for an elegant Halloween craft, these viral floral clay ghosts are the perfect mix of spooky and refined.
October 31, 2024
'Tis the season for sophisticated holiday decor that's merry and bright.
October 29, 2024
Is this viral artificial Christmas tree worth all the TikTok hype?
October 28, 2024
Get ready to explore new destinations in 2025 with eight of the hottest travel trends.
October 25, 2024
Shop the looks of Rock Solid Builds season 3.
October 24, 2024
October 8-9, 2024 is Prime Big Deal Days, so check out these amazing home deals and start shopping!
October 8, 2024
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
This content is restricted to adults of legal age.
Please enter your birthdate to confirm.
Date of Birth