IKEA items used: Billy Bookcase
I’m an interior designer in NYC and have 2 clients that wanted to make over their living room dining room. They are avid readers and have a ton of books. The wife had always hated the dark brown IKEA Billy Bookcase that sat in the corner of their living room because it was a blob of darkness.
However, with everything that we wanted to do, it just wasn’t possible to spend the money on something nicer. So I suggested we wallpaper the doors (we didn’t want to take them off because they have a curious infant) and the back of the cases to lighten them up. I used a Wolf-Gordon vinyl wallpaper that was a faux grasscloth to add lightness and texture.
The vinyl was quite easy to work with because it doesn’t crease like paper paper and cut pretty easily. It’s also super easy to clean. I then added oversized drop ring pulls from Look in the Attic. The total makeover with cost of paper and hardware was less than $300. But the way it changed the look and feel of the space is priceless.
~ Cary Jones of J Logan Interiors
Jules is the author of IKEAHackers.net: 25 Biggest and Best Projects".
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