flat pack furniture – The Interiors Addict

Built-in TV unit DIY using flatpack kitchen cabinets

Made entirely out of Kaboodle flat pack furniture, Brisbane builder Rachael Turner, of Front Porch Properties, created a very impressive looking custom built-in TV unit recently that we just had to share. “I’d rather a built-in than a standalone piece of furniture as it looks much sleeker and more custom,” says Rachael and we couldn’t agree more.

1. Buy Kaboodle flat packs from Bunnings (and assemble them)
First up was purchasing the flat packs and Rachael selected overhead kitchen cupboards from Kaboodle due to their shallow depth. “Because the fireplace is 600mm deep we wanted the cabinetry to be set back a bit,” says Rachael who used 300mm deep cupboards to create the custom piece.

2. Build a plinth
“We made a plinth out of framing timber and put it under the cupboards, so they had something to sit on. This was covered with a kick panel after the timber floor went in,” says Rachael.

3. Install the bench tops
When it came to the bench top, Rachael pre-ordered a 400mm deep Kaboodle one (in ‘Hazelnut’ which is a rustic oak shade) from Bunnings and it took about a month to arrive. “If you give Bunnings the measurements, they will cut it to size for you! They send it out pre-cut and they even did a mason’s mitre on the return,” says Rachael referring to the corner where the cabinet wraps around and meets the fireplace.

“Kaboodle also sent a bench join kit which resulted in a much nicer finish than having a standard butt join,” says Rachael.

5. Install the doors
Next up was the installation of the cupboard doors which were finished off with Kaboodle black mushroom shaped knobs.

6. Timber panelling
“We finished off the wall above the cupboards with grid patterned panelling to complete the entertainment unit area and remove the blandness of a plain wall,” says Rachael who painted it in a dark charcoal shade to disguise the TV.

7. Floating shelves

Sitting to the right-hand side of the stone-clad fireplace, the floating shelves really complete the entire entertainment nook and Rachael accessorised them with baskets and greenery to lift the space.

If you’d like to know more you can check out the step-by-step video guide to the project below.

For more on Rachael Turner | Budget DIY ideas: Our six most popular posts!

Flat pack shelves by Henry Wilson for under $200. Seriously!

Customisable, stylish and arriving as a flat pack (but with no tools required for set up!), the Chevron Shelves created exclusively for Nomi by renowned designer Henry Wilson are an exciting addition to their range.

Drawing its name from the interlocking zig-zag pattern first seen in ancient Greece, the chevron pattern informs the beautiful simplicity of the shelves — both in the way in which they are put together and the shape they create when they are stacked. “I love the simplicity and elegance of the design,” explains Henry. “You can add more shelves to the system as your collection grows and simply stack them up. If you’re moving house, you don’t have to empty them all, you can just carry them like a box.”

Consisting of four pieces of precision milled Birch-ply, known for its superior strength and refined pale grain, the shelves come flat packed and can be assembled easily and intuitively with no tools. Just what we like to hear!

A first for Henry, who normally makes high-end designer pieces, he is excited to be branching out into the world of affordable flat pack. “Other products of mine are usually made from premium materials with high levels of handwork which means they sit at a higher price point. The Chevron Shelves are optimised for mass production which means they can be retailed at this reasonable price point which is great for the consumer who loves design but has a budget to stick to.”

Customisable in both size and colour, with a stunning array of subtler pastel shades including ethereal green, teal, olive and rose, Henry designed the shelves to be either used as a single unit for magazines, books and files, or stacked in several configurations to emphasise their unique design.

With a unit starting from as little as $150, the Chevron Shelves sing true to Nomi’s aim of making designer furniture accessible to all.

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