Before & After: A designer has transformed her IKEA HEMNES cabinet into a boutique staple

What happens when the holy trinity of modern home trends come together? You get the IKEA HEMNES makeover of dreams. 

Yes, Australian designer Nicole Rosenberg has reset the bar for IKEA hacks with her transformed HEMNES cabinet that features a sweeping arch, stylish rattan, and all-black palette – in a nod to the most popular interior design trends of the year. 

It is perhaps only inevitable that you will want to recreate this HEMNES’s aesthetic in your home – so we have taken note from Nicole (@liberty.interiors), who shared an insight into the design process. This is how to go from flatpack to high-fashion via our favorite Scandi-cool chain. 

IKEA HEMNES hack – before  

After picking up a HEMNES unit, Nicole started work on the arch, which she made from a cardboard template. Using this template, Nicole cut a piece of MDF (you can also use craft wood or laminex) down to size. She then drew her arch and began cutting with a ‘steady hand’ and a jigsaw. 

Nicole adds that she achieved the perfect arch shape by attaching a thin piece of timber to move from one end to the other to draw the arch with a pencil. After drawing the arch, she attached it to her HEMNES unit by gluing the edges with heavy-duty wood bonding glue. She then secured the arch in place with screws. 

Once the glue had dried, Nicole used fiberglass putty to fill the joins to create a seamless finish. She emphasized the bespoke result by sanding down the unit with sandpaper.

IKEA HEMNES hack – after 

Once the arch was complete, Nicole began work on the doors. She carefully removed the original HEMNES glass with a drill – but recommends smashing the glass over a large bin to capture any loose glass shards.

Nicole then painted the unit with primer laminate, followed by two coats of black paint. For optimum results, she recommends sanding in between each coat. Once the paint had dried, she added some rattan webbing which she picked up online. 

She suggests cutting the webbing to ensure there is room for the hot glue (applied with a glue gun) on either side. However, before gluing, Nicole stapled the webbing to secure around the edges of where the glass previously sat. 

Finally, Nicole picked up some gold handles to complement the dark paint and rattan hues and attached them to the door. 

Is this the modern living room idea your space deserves? We certainly think so.