Sarah Sherman Samuel’s IKEA hack is the secret to a monochromatic space

The Swedish flatpack has met a leader in Nordic design – and you can recreate the look anywhere

IKEA hack by Sarah Sherman Samuel
(Image credit: Jason Varney)
Megan Slack
By Megan Slack
published

Los Angeles designer Sarah Sherman Samuel is a master of Scandinavian style – so it is only inevitable that she teams up with the most famous Nordic powerhouse of them all. Sarah has announced a sleek new take on her Quarterline collection with Semihandmade – a design house that allows you to customize your IKEA cabinets into works of art (that are unrecognizable from their flatpack roots). 

The designer and founder of SSS Atelier is no stranger to Semihandmade. In 2013 she experimented with a two-toned IKEA hack in her kitchen in Venice, California, and the rest is history. 

In her SoCal cool kitchen, Sarah designed a contemporary take on the traditional shaker cabinet – that looked clean – with just the right amount of rustic. 

IKEA hack by Sarah Sherman Samuel

(Image credit: Semihandmade)

2017 saw Sarah Sherman Samuel introduce her modern decorating idea to the masses as she launched her first Quarterline with Semihandmade. Her latest design is her most monochromatic to date – and it will transform IKEA’s units in every room. 

‘I love a good monochrome look in a room, and with these DIY doors, you can paint the cabinet fronts to match your wall color, countertop material [or] tile,’ Sarah says. ‘It can really create an unexpected, modern look to a room that I personally am very into.’

IKEA hack by Sarah Sherman Samuel

(Image credit: Jason Varney)

Since launching Quarterline, Sarah has encouraged a host of unrecognizable IKEA hacks – from the kitchen to the bathroom and beyond. Notable makeovers include the studio kitchen of photographer Jason Varney (as seen above) and a mudroom that was painted by design enthusiast Angela Treat (below).

IKEA hack by Sarah Sherman Samuel

(Image credit: Semihandmade)

Designer Malcolm Simmons also used Quarterline in his home office to create a moody dark green-hued space (below) that has set the standard for home office ideas. 

‘The DIY version of our Quarterline cabinets opens up endless possibilities with color and creativity, and having this DIY option not only makes my collection more customizable but also more affordable,’ Sarah adds. 

IKEA hack by Sarah Sherman Samuel

(Image credit: Semihandmade)

If you’re not looking for a whole room transformation, you can still use Quarterline to create bespoke furniture-style pieces. Semihandmade recommends experimenting with the collection on media consoles or bedroom storage cabinets for a subtle (yet sophisticated) nod to Sarah Sherman Samuel’s style. 

The only thing left to decide is which IKEA icon you should begin with. 

Megan Slack
Megan Slack

Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens. She first joined Future Plc as a News Writer across their interiors titles, including Livingetc and Real Homes, before becoming H&G's News Editor in April 2022. She now leads the Celebrity/ News team.


Before joining Future, Megan worked as a News Explainer at The Telegraph, following her MA in International Journalism at the University of Leeds. During her BA in English Literature and Creative Writing, she gained writing experience in the US whilst studying in New York. Megan also focused on travel writing during her time living in Paris, where she produced content for a French travel site.


Megan currently lives in London, where she relocated from her hometown in Yorkshire. In her home, she experiments with interior design trends and draws inspiration from the home decor ideas she observes in her everyday work life. Her favorite pieces include her antique typewriter and her expansive collection of houseplants. When she isn’t writing, she is browsing London’s coffee shops and bookstores to add to her ever-growing library, taking over the open shelving in her apartment. 

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