First Ikea unit

The first part of the Ikea Pax wardrobe and storage unit in bedroom one. It will be fitted across the full width and to the full height of the alcove that I built into the wall and will consist of two units 1 metre in width and one of 0.5 metre. The four boxes that took two of us to load into the van at Nantes were the 1 meter wide units for the two bedrooms, one and two, and this is the first of those.

It’s quite fearsome and Ikea recommend that two people are involved in building it. However, I’m doing it just by myself and although very heavy to lift and move due to the thickness of the ‘melaminé’ board from which it’s constructed, it’s no more daunting than other projects I’ve taken on. It’s height is the most impressive thing about it. I took a shot of its components early this morning (around 6.00 am) when I first started.

It’s sides and back all come connected and folded together wrapped around with securing bands so you don’t have the choice of moving it piece by piece. When you have stood it vertical you remove the bands and unfold them like a giant birthday card and having done so add front and rear bottom rails to stiffen the structure followed by its top and bottom. I’ve only fitted its top for now as after moving it into place I have to raise it by a couple of centimetres so I can fit the floor’s wall plinth across its front. The next shot is of it standing in position waiting to be raised.

I’ll be nipping out to Leroy Merlin after typing this to buy four lengths of 2.5cm thick timber (2 per room) on which to stand the cabinets in each bedroom and raise them to the required height. When the whole job’s finished I’ll probably need a long ladder to place things on the top shelves… 😕