Closeup detail of new cherry butcherblock countertop installed on Ikea VÄRDE Base cabinet

Hacked Ikea VÄRDE freestanding cabinet with cherry butcherblock

Before

The Breakfast nook as we purchased it in 2006 (before)

The Breakfast nook as we purchased it in 2006

 

Partly Finished

The breakfast nook in 2007 after receiving a fresh coat of paint, a small cafe table, and a bakers rack

The breakfast nook in 2007 after receiving a fresh coat of paint, a small cafe table, and a bakers rack

 

The Finished Project

The finished Updated Breakfast Nook

Updated Breakfast Nook

 

We purchased an Ikea freestanding VÄRDE Base cabinet for about $400.

 

Photo of Ikea Varde Base Cabinet

Ikea Varde Base Cabinet

 

We repainted the VÄRDE cabinet white to match our cabinets and replaced the countertop to match our kitchen’s butcherblock. The butcherblock is manufactured by Williamsburg Butcher Block Co. (product: 1 1/2″ x 25″ x 8 lft American Cherry Butcher Block) and was purchased for about $300 from Lumber Liquidators. Lumber Liquidators offers butcherblock counters in 8′ and 12′ lengths in cherry, maple, white oak, and walnut. The slabs we purchased took a few weeks to arrive in Austin.

 

Ikea freestanding VÄRDE Base cabinet which was repainted and received a replacement cherry butcherblock top and drawer handles

Ikea freestanding VÄRDE Base cabinet which was repainted and received a replacement cherry butcherblock top and drawer handles

Closeup detail of cherry butcherblock top showing camfer detail and replacement drawer handles

Closeup detail of cherry butcherblock top showing camfer detail and replacement drawer handles

After cross-cutting the Lumber Liquidators butcher block slab to length, I spent a good bit of time filling small joint lines with wood filler and sanding the slabs. I also added a small camfer detail on the edges with a 45-degree router bit. I finished the counters with 3 coats of Waterlox Original Sealer/Finish and 1 coat of Waterlox Original Satin Finish. I allowed the finish to cure for 30 days before installing it on the base cabinet.

Wide shot of cherry butcherblock top showing camfer detail and replacement drawer handles

Wide shot of cherry butcherblock top showing camfer detail and replacement drawer handles

Ikea freestanding VÄRDE Base cabinet which was repainted and received a replacement cherry butcherblock top and drawer handles

Ikea freestanding VÄRDE Base cabinet which was repainted and received a replacement cherry butcherblock top and drawer handles

Ikea freestanding VÄRDE Base cabinet which was repainted and received a replacement cherry butcherblock top and drawer handles

Ikea freestanding VÄRDE Base cabinet which was repainted and received a replacement cherry butcherblock top and drawer handles

Big Brother is Watching You - Obey the Pug

Big Brother is Watching You – Obey the Pug

Total cost for the Hacked Ikea VÄRDE freestanding cabinet with cherry butcherblock was approximately $850 (cabinet, butcher block, handles, paint, waterlox).