Jack Knife Sofa MOD

[jtrhodes99]

I have a 5.5 ft jack knife sofa with storage underneath. DW does not like lifting and bending to grab her stuff. Considering removing kick area/front of sofa, making a frame and and drawers for easier access. Has anyone modified their sofa with drawers?

 

[Octopus Prime]

Following. The area under the jackknife sofa is our “pantry” and I would love for it to be more accessible.

 

[GarlicDude]

I've considered doing the same. I've looked at how the kick panel is attached without seeing screws etc. Not seeing a way to easily remove it wife said let's not do it now. Will be following this thread

 

[kurv]

I put 2 hinges at the top edge of mine so it flips up. Still awkward to access. I use it to store random, hardly used stuff.

 

[jtrhodes99]

Looks like people have the same idea. Will take pics when I draw up an idea. May take awhile for me to mull it over. (ie. 1 or 2 drawers, slide lengths etc)

 

[JKDheart]

My GreyhawkDS used to have the Jack Knife Sofa. The kickplate was screwed in from the inside. I removed it and mounted 5 circular magnets, the magnet had a recess for screwing it on, to the back of the kickplate. Found on Ebay. Magnets held the plate to the metal frame really well. Put a few plastic containers from Wal-Mart underneath. Measure to see what height you can use. You can slide them out pretty easily. Used this for awhile. Price was right. Took out the Jack Knife Sofa and replaced with a RecPro wall hugger recliner love seat. So much more comfortable.

 

[madmaxmutt]

This may be nothing like yours, but my last Outback a sofa like that. I used it as a better access to my water heater.

I just removed the screws that were hiding behind the buttons.



I got a piece of aluminum from HD. I cut it in half and bent each piece twice making it a hanger.

I painted them black, only because the sofa had a black frame.

I attached the brackets to the kickplate. The kickplate simply hangs on the frame now. Barely visible when the sofa is up or down.




Also added, small rubber bumpers at the bottom on the back side, at the bottom to keep it from moving around.

 

[jtrhodes99]

Ok. Took my measurement s and didn't like the 7 inch opening. So I am going with the magnet solution. I'm using the neodymium bar magnets with the base on Amazon listed in "mounting magnets. Will beef up the top of the kick plate with 1 1/2 x 1 1/2. This allows the front to be removed and half the space to be used with a bin and the other half for my compound bow. Also dw likes this solution better. She thinks ant swinging doors or drawers would be in the way. Happy wife, happy........

 

[JKDheart]

Nice part is you can put everything back the way it was. And the best part is your DW is happy.