They Put IKEA Cabinets Made for Above the Fridge Beneath Their Living Room Windows
IKEA cabinets designed to sit above a refrigerator became the base for a long bench beneath living room windows. Wood fronts conceal the white cabinet boxes, while a matching top continues around the corner toward the fireplace.
Reddit creator u/michaelasnider shared the project using SEKTION above-fridge cabinets, MAXIMERA drawers, and custom doors and panels. Built during construction of the home, the installation combines window seating with storage that pulls out into the room.
Closed, the fronts resemble wood paneling beneath the glass; open, they reveal rows of drawers holding household supplies. That change in view exposes the kitchen components behind the fitted exterior.
Above-fridge cabinet boxes formed the base
The construction photo shows white cabinet boxes lined up beneath the windows before the wood fronts were fitted. Their low proportions leave the glazing clear, with the run extending toward the corner beside the fireplace.
The creator installed the cabinets using a wall-mounted aluminum suspension rail and a plywood base. Raising the boxes brought the bench into line with the fireplace ledge, connecting the two features at the same height.
MAXIMERA drawers bring the contents out from beneath the seat
Open drawers reveal how the bench stores belongings beneath its long top. Instead of lifting a seat panel or reaching into a deep compartment, the drawers bring containers and supplies into view from the front.
MAXIMERA fittings sit inside the SEKTION boxes, paired with custom wood fronts. A gap along the bottom provides an edge to grip, allowing the drawers to open without knobs or pulls interrupting the face.
Custom wood panels carry the bench around the corner
Wood covers the top, drawer fronts, and exposed end, concealing the cabinet construction visible in the earlier image. The surface turns beneath the corner window and meets the white fireplace surround, giving the installation a continuous outline.
A local business that makes fronts for IKEA kitchens supplied the custom panels. That distinction explains the finished appearance: IKEA provides the cabinet and drawer system, while the added wood exterior fits it to the room.
Floor registers remain in front of the bench rather than beneath it, according to the creator, leaving the visible vents clear.
Another fitted bench uses the same storage approach
A separate nook contains a shorter bench with matching wood fronts and a curved top edge. Side-by-side views show the drawers closed and extended, with packaged bedding and other items resting above.
The rounded corner changes the outline of the seat, while the pull-out storage follows the same approach as the window installation. It shows how the cabinet system can serve a smaller recess without repeating the long rectangular form.
Would you use above-fridge cabinets beneath a window, or choose the shorter bench for an entrance nook?
Image credits go to u/michaelasnider.