Well hello there! As you can imagine after our last post, things have been a little lax on the DIY front these days. That coupled with squeezing the last drops out of summer have made for a much needed breather. But, the girls are back in school and sawdust is in the air once again!!
There are about 5 million ways to rock a Rast hack. I mean, how can you go wrong with the most basic $35 dresser that has ever existed?! It screams at you to do something exciting with it! While I was at IKEA last month I bought one just for its blank canvas properties and knew that a fun project was just around the corner.
If you know anything about me you know that I am addicted to plants, I say “you guys” waaaaay too much, and I love leather. Specifically the scrap leather that I have laying around my house from doing things like skinning thrift store couches.
This hack is cake. The only tool that you’ll need is a router.
Start by assembling everything on your dresser except the drawer fronts.
The drawer fronts are pre-drilled for handles so we used it to our advantage and that is how we determinted the width of our leather pulls. All you have to do is route a (semi) straight line between the holes.
Use the guide on your tool and it is so easy!
Because we wanted the routing tool to go all the way through the wood, the piece needed to float above the table to create a little pocket for the bit to exit.
One thing that we learned is to move the router smoothly and consistently the entire time it is on, if you pause you’ll create a larger opening in that spot.
When your drawers are routed, give the entire dresser a quick sanding with 220 grit sand paper
I painted my dresser white with RustOleum 2x White in Flat. If you cant find the color that you are looking for in spray paint, I have a great tutorial for using roll on paint that will give you a flawless finish.
When everything is nice and dry, its time to attach your handles!
I had some scrap 3/4” dowels that I put inside the leather because it was so soft and floppy. If you use really stiff leather you probably wouldnt need to use them.
I folded over and stitched the edges of the leather just to finish them off a little, this part is totally optional but I love the way that the stitching gives it a little contrast!
Fold the leather around the dowel and stick it into the hole that you created.
Pull it through the other side, split it open and staple both sides down the inside of the drawer.
And you’re done!!
Can you think of all of the places you can use this!? I think this guy might be going in Ivie’s room as a nightstand.
I love the look of the leather against the white. I really wanted Rasts as nightstands but didn’t have room…so I put three of them together with gold hardware and used them as a dresser instead 🙂
I think Martha has been reading and getting ideas from you . Did you see the cover of the newest issue of Living? Shelves trimmed with strips of leather and fastened with copper tacks! If that’s not a Mandi Gubler inspired idea, well then she just got lucky. And congratulations on your new little one.
This is such a cool upgrade, I love it! And I’m loving that wooden vase your cactus is in on top, please tell me you have a tutorial coming for that, or a link of where to find it!
Tara I just posted about it on Insta! Its a wooden garbage can from Bed Bath and Beyond!! So cute right?!
You are insane! Brilliant! I seriously want to use this idea so bad it hurts!
Love the idea of the leather going through the drawer front – super cool! Congrats on your new bump!
They look fab, so stylish!
thanks for the great ideas
http://www.homemadebyhail.blogspot.com
This may be my favorite RAST hack ever! And I can’t believe that you still have leather left over from that couch! It’s the gift that keeps on giving…
This one is kinda sassy for sure!!!
Love it! So perfect for a nightstand. We’ll be moving in about a month and my first stop will be IKEA for a RAST or two. I see a leather handle hack in my future! Only difference–mine will be painted black. Thanks for yet another great idea!
Won’t these make great handles on any of our storage containers too? ?
Hi I am in the process of making this awesome project! Did you use any type of sealant after you painted everything? I feel like with the flat white it may not hold up well without it?
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