3/01/2025

LENNART Drawer Unit (30x34x56 cm)

I have three pieces of this Lennart drawer unit at home. I bought them because of the sweet clean simple design and great price. I can put these units under my desk or forming a mini console against the wall. I use them to store A4 notepads and loose paper sheets, acrylic paints tubes and inks. Despite its feeble appearance, this unit holds a lot of stuff and weight, 5 kilos per drawer, and a bit extra on the top. 
 
Personally, I'd buy a different drawer unit if I wanted to store office documents or have it in a home office that receives visitors. However, this unit is great for arts and crafts storage, especially if you're on a budget and you expect paint splashes to fall on it. Said differently, I wouldn't cry if this got ruined by my paints.
 
Assembly is easy, and the resulting unit is light, cute and compact.  

I suggest reinforcing the drawers base with thick cardboard to make it stronger. 

DOWNSIDES
  • > The unit only has castor on the back legs. It had been great if it had it on the four legs. They are OK to move the unit, by lifting the front and rolling the back. Yet, if the drawers are full, they aren't the best rolling castors.
  • > The front lowest side has a lot of empty space that could have been used to place another drawer.   
  • > The back crossbar doesn't properly protect the drawers rear. The bar is meant to act as a stop for the drawers not to fall off backwards, but the crossbar is a bit too thin and on the short side; shorter than they should be, I think.  
DESIGNER Jon Karlsson.

SANNAHED Frame (White, 50x50 cm)

This Sannahed frame is the largest of the line and is made of a sturdy fibreboard conglomerate coated in matte white. It comes with an enclosed acid-free paper mount, a glass-like glossy plastic cover, a back rest flap and wall hook. It's easy to assemble especially if you follow your intuition and not the confusing assembly leaflet! 
 
This frame is really large but still looks amazing. Like the rest of the line, it's minimalist, stylish and contemporary. I cannot stress enough the compliments that this frame gets me. I placed it on an easel with a painting of mine, and it looks like taken out of an art gallery.

The thickness of the edge is the same as that of the smallest frame, 6 cms. That being the case, I wouldn't place this large frame vertically on its edge because would tip-over. Use the back flap, an easel or hang it from the wall instead. 
 
MIND
> The 'glass' cover is coated with a thin piece of removable self-adhesive film that you have to remove before display. 
> This 'glass' is very glossy, so mind the light source and where you place the frame; otherwise, the glare would ruin the display. 
> If you use the mount, you can only showcase a 30x30 painting/picture; or a 50x50cm painting without the mount.
> Frame overall sizing is 52x52 cms.  
> Instructions leaflet isn't the best.

DESIGNER  Who knows.

ASSEMBLY LEAFLET

 


SANNAHED Frame (White, 25x25 cm)

This Sannahed frame is made of a solid sturdy conglomerate coated in matte white paint and comes with an enclosed acid-free paper passepartout (mount). The 'glass' is actually a translucent glossy plastic. The frame comes with a resting back flap and a wall hook attached to it. 
 
This frame is perfect for both small paintings and dimensional art projects (light boxes for example). It looks classy, stylish, contemporary and professionally made. I cannot stress enough the compliments that this little frame gets me. People are surprised when I tell them that this is from Ikea and the price I paid for it. 

My preferred display position is not on the wall, but resting vertically on its edge on a shelf, console or similar, something easily achievable due to the edge being 6cm thick.  You can easily recline it by using the back flap.
 
THINGS TO MIND
> The 'glass' cover is coated with a thin piece of removable film that you have to remove before display. 
> This 'glass' is very shiny, so mind the light source and where you place the frame, as, otherwise, the glare would ruin the display experience. 
> If using the passepartout, you can only showcase a 13x13 painting or picture; or a 25x25 painting without the passepartout.
> The frame overall sizing is 27x27 cms. 

DESIGNER  Not mentioned.

ASSEMBLY LEAFLET

BERGENES Holder for mobile phone/tablet

Less is more and this Bergenes phone holder is the perfect example. It's made of a solid piece of bamboo protected by a translucent lacquer coat. It looks stylish, it's environmentally friendly and lasts for a long time. I'd dare to say that it's almost unbreakable. I've had this for years and still looks as new.

The two slots have different thickness, which allow phones and tablets of different sizes (up to 11") to fit in. The phone or tablet stands in an inclined vertical position that is really handy if you put it on the table while video-calling. 
 
You can store this holder anywhere and, if you want to keep it in view, it occupies barely any space. Price is ridiculously cheap. 
 
DESIGNER Ikea of Sweden team. 

TROTTEN Storage Unit on Castors (White, 35x47 cm)

I have two of these and I was going to buy another two when the product was discontinued in Australia (still available in other countries' Ikea). 

The versatility of the product, how easy is to tuck it away and the many rooms I can use it in, make it a perfect storage solution for my home. I can use it as office storage, which is what was designed for. I can also use this unit as a sofa coffee table in my living room to keep a water bottle, mugs, glasses, napkins and other coffee/tea tools easily tucket away. I can use it as bedside table to store my pyjamas, sleepers/ugg boots, and a light throw). I currently use it as an office storage box with materials that I don't use often, and I've put an Eket cube with door on it, and they look fabulous together.  
 
The Skandi style is minimalist but eye-catching. The bamboo lid is excellent quality, very thick, sturdy and good looking. The shell is metallic, coated in an elegant matte antique-white epoxy. It's easy to carry around by hand if I don't put much stuff inside; otherwise, the castors do the job. Despite it's apparently wobbliness, this unit can securely hold tons of stuff inside and on top of it. The castors are also excellent, and roll smoothly.
 
The main downside of this unit was the tricky assembly. The instructions leaflet is good. You have to click in the different panels together, align them properly, and then insert the castors' screws perfectly as these are the only thing that hold the structure together. Getting all perfectly aligned without the structure falling apart was difficult. The unit looks less sturdy than it is. 
 
DESIGNER Francis Cayouette

RISATORP Square Basket (White, 25x26x18 cm)

This is the first Risatorp basket that came to the market and the first one I bought. I have several already and they are a must at home. This basket looks small but accommodates tons of stuff, and it's easy to store anywhere. If you want to keep it outside,  looks great and stylish. I've given this basket different uses, from my office to my laundry, from my kitchen to my bedroom and currently sit in my bathroom.  The mesh body makes it light, and the bamboo handle makes carrying stuff inside a breeze. This is an Ikea classic  design, easily recognizable, and has has been imitated by big stores (Target and Kmart for example).
 
DESIGNER Wiebke Braasch

 

RISATORP Rectangular Basket (White, 27x42x23 cm)

I love the Risatorp baskets line, and this model is the most useful of the many models I have. This has proven to be the most versatile, the one with most capacity and the easiest one to store. I've moved this around my place many times and and I've given it different uses. As  storage for my laundry cleaning products on top of my washing machine. I've used it as shower "caddy" to put all my most used daily toiletries. I've used it as sockets and stockings 'drawer'. I've used it as stationary storage.  

This basket is great. It looks good in my studio/office, laundry, bathroom and kitchen. It hasn't broken or deteriorated despite the weight I've put inside. It's easy to move around thanks to the sturdy handles. It's easy to clean. The rectangular narrow shape makes it easy to use in small spaces, and it's easy to stack too. I've had it for several years and still looks as new. In one word, this is a must at home and I have a couple o them.  

DESIGNER Wiebke Braasch