Watch One IKEA Bookcase Being Revamped By Two Designers In Their Distinct Styles
By Mikelle Leow, 18 Jan 2022
BILLY might just be IKEA’s GOAT. There are few names quite as archetypal of the furniture giant as this series of bookcases and shelves. With their simple design, they are also some of the most-hacked IKEA pieces ever.
You’ve probably seen creative home owners transform the iconic bookcases into makeshift libraries and bar cabinets, and the possibilities don’t just stop there. Take it from these two designers who have overhauled a US$49.99 BILLY bookcase into artsy storage units that look far more expensive than they really are.
A new video by Architectural Digest introduces two awe-inspiring DIY interpretations by Lone Fox’s Drew Scott, who gave the bookcase an Art Deco-esque makeover with architectural columns and clean lines; and Leonard Bessemer of Objects for Objects, who gave it a bold lick of paint along with fun, wavy outlines. Both versions are distinct and—more importantly—unrecognizable from a furniture piece that seems to live in every home.
See how the designers have put their own spins on the BILLY bookcase in the video below. Architectural Digest has also published a feature with step-by-step assembly instructions for Scott’s concept, as well as a more open-ended guide by Bessemer leading you to create your own statement piece.
[via Architectural Digest, images via various sources]