They Joined Three IKEA KALLAX Shelves and Turned Them Into More Than Kitchen Storage
Three white IKEA KALLAX units provided the starting point for a kitchen island with open storage on several sides. Arranged beneath a single desktop, the cube shelves became the body of a freestanding work surface.
Imgur creator roy5432 documented the build, combining the shelving with a plywood base, Gorilla wood glue, edge banding, screws, and casters. The project was assembled upside down, with the desktop underneath while the base went on above.
Once turned upright, the finished piece held cookware, dishes, and baskets beneath a gray top. Wheels added movement, giving the island a function that fixed cabinetry could not provide.
Three KALLAX units formed the island’s footprint
The shelving units were grouped with their openings facing outward, keeping the cubes accessible from different sides. Their solid backs met within the arrangement, creating a compact block beneath the larger desktop.
That top extended beyond the shelves along one edge. Leaving an overhang changed the proportions from a cluster of storage units into a piece with a usable work surface above.
Assembly began with the desktop face down
Gorilla wood glue went onto the underside of the desktop where the shelves would make contact, leaving the overhanging section clear. The three units were placed against it, followed by more glue and the plywood base.
Centering the front-facing shelf left narrow gaps at either side, visible in the close-up. Those offsets came from the way the units fitted together beneath the shared top.
Household weights held the glued sections together
Without clamps, the builder used books, weights, and other heavy objects to press the assembly together for 24 hours. The load sat across the plywood while the island remained upside down.
Glue squeezed out along some edges during that period. The project notes describe wiping away excess as it appeared, with dried residue left to be scraped off.
Iron-on banding covered the plywood edge
White melamine edge banding concealed the exposed plywood layers. An iron applied heat to bond the strip around the perimeter, giving the base an edge that matched the shelving.
The close-up shows the difference this small addition made: raw plywood no longer remained visible beside the white cabinet surfaces.
Screws supplemented the glued assembly
A fastening detail shows a screw positioned at the shelf edge during construction. Alongside the adhesive, screws added mechanical connections between the assembled parts.
The photo records the builder’s approach but does not establish a load rating for the modified furniture.
Casters gave the island movement
Eight plate-mounted casters were laid out with their fasteners before installation. With the plywood facing upward, the wheels could be attached before the island was turned over.
Several casters have visible brake levers, allowing movement to be restrained when parked. Their placement beneath the base kept the wheels close to the shelving footprint.
Trim finished the lower perimeter
Turned upright, the assembly revealed its gray desktop above the white cube openings. The top covered the joints between the units, making them read as one island.
Narrow trim finished the bottom edge, covering the transition around the base. Open compartments remained visible without doors concealing the KALLAX grid.
Cookware and baskets filled the outward-facing cubes
The finished kitchen views show plates, bowls, cookware, and storage baskets distributed across the shelves. Different sides offer access to separate compartments, reducing the need to reach through one deep cabinet.
A small drawer insert adds enclosed storage among the open cubes, while the uninterrupted top provides extra space beside the existing kitchen counters.
Would you keep the cubes open for cookware, or add more inserts to hide the smaller items?
Image credits go to @roy5432