As mentioned in our crazy-weekend-teaser post last Thursday, we slipped through two different Ikeas in two different states two days in a row (one just to poke around and the second to decorate Carrie’s awesome new high-rise apartment). Well, here are a few photos we snapped during our just-browsing trip. What’s not to love about these fabulous finds? Oh Ikea, you’re the banana to our peanut butter sandwich.
First we have this awesome red glass hutch. We’ve been oggling this thing since last year so it had to make our Ikea favorites round up:
And wouldn’t it look awesome in a living room with these punchy curtains…
… and these sleek little red side table lamps?
If the rest of the room was neutral, those few pops of color would really go a long way- all on an Ikea budget!
And speaking of implementing a few Ikea ideas en masse, we love these hanging basket pendant lamps with the punchy table runners and the slate blue color on the back wall (Try Benjamin Moore’s Bella Blue for something similar). It’s practically a room to go!
If you’re looking for something a bit softer, these new tone on tone botanical curtains totally had us at hello:
We also loved how these two curtains came together to form a gorgeous layered look. The top panel is a sheer with some white swirls and we just placed it in front of a leafy green curtain for ooh la la elegance. We love the almost-lattice effect that it evokes:
And sticking with the patterned golden-green accessories, we love this geometric duvet cover that adds modern jute-like movement to any space- all for just $19.
And for slightly more than $19, this amazing kitchen concept had us drooling. We especially loved the oversized dark pendants and cabinets paired with the super light countertops and mosaic backsplash. Dramatic but still totally liveable and classic.
Here are two oversized pendants again, this time in white above a gorgeous oversized parson’s dining table. A piece like this wooden beauty will virtually never go out of style, and we love the curvy chairs they paired with such a boxy table.
Look there’s John, being reflected in one of the best Ikea deals ever. This floor mirror is giant. It’ll practically double your room’s perceived size. And it’s $99 (as opposed to this dead ringer from CB2 which is $300 more!). Heck at that price you can get two to flank your media cabinet or even splurge for a sconce for either side like they did below.
There were also tons of fun finds in the marketplace, like these intricate and exotic little elephant drinking glasses…
… and these delicate printed OJ glasses (we actually snatched up a set of six for $6).
And you guys know we’re suckers for all things natural- so these woven planter baskets get us every time. We love the idea of using them beyond the holding-plants agenda, like as chic little wastebaskets or even a place to corral magazines next to the couch. Heck you can even top some of the bigger ones with a round of glass to create a super cool living room side table.
And on the subject of woven wonders, have you guys seen the latest basket pendant that just came out this month in the new catalog (the hemisphere-shaped beaut on the right)? We love the vintage-modern-meets-beachy vibe that it has going on.
And we can’t forget these oldies-but-goodies that we’ve been loving for ages. White Ikea planters are so cheap (sometimes under a buck!) and so sleek for popping plants into throughout your home that you really can’t go wrong snagging a few each time you visit. Plus they can also be used a chic little storage containers for everything from toiletries to keys. We’re always sure to have a few extras on hand… just in case.
When it comes to rugs, we must admit that sometimes we think Ikea is hit or miss, but this bold and gorgeous orange-swirled circle rug is a showstopper in any room (check it out in one of the homes we House Crashed here).
And this little square rug woos us to no end. If only our bathroom was bigger- how cute would two of these look in front of a nice big double sink? Sigh.
So that concludes our camera-in-hand-Ikea roundup. For more info on the items featured above (prices, measurements, etc) just head on over to Ikea’s website– or better yet, swing through Ikea whenever you get a chance. We like to think of it as the equivalent to a ball pit or a moon bounce for adults. There’s just so much zipping around and grinning like a fool.
And while we’re on the subject of favorites, sound off about your favorite Ikea items (old or new) and feel free to include links to them so we can all check ’em out (either in your flickr photos of your home or on the Ikea website). Think of it as a book club meeting except it’s an online Ikea catalog club gathering. And of course we should point out that we are in no way affiliated with Ikea nor are we receiving any compensation for this gushing little post. We just like ’em and we think most of you guys do too! So let’s chat Malm and Lack and all those other funny names that have become a part of our decorating vernacular. Spill the Expedit beans.
Jennifer S. says
The bathroom cabinent is the Godmorgon Sink Cabinent with 4 drawers. The link above didn’t work. Try this one.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/bathroom/15093/
Meghan says
Oh, IKEA… le sigh. I’ve been SERIOUSLY jonesin’ for a shopping trip, and I’m only slightly embarrassed that when y’all Malm, Lack, Expedit, or Ektorp name-drop, I know EXACTLY what product or line you’re talking about.
High on my hit list: baskets for magazines and keeping the puppy’s stuff together, a filing cabinet/storage piece (probably Effektiv, if we can work out the budget for it) for the office, a new duvet for the guest room, lightbulbs, batteries, and plastic feeties for a wooden bookshelf that will be moving down to the basement soon. Oh, and as a coffee snob, I can attest: their beans are delish. So I’ll stock up on those too.
One question for you, J&S: what did you do with Burger while you went shopping, since you were traveling? I don’t think we could leave Ella for the 8 hours or so that a round-trip from RVA to Dale City would entail. You didn’t sneak him in, didja? (I’ve been thinking about putting our doxie in a travel bag and bringing her in on the DL…)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Meghan,
Good question! For a spoiled member of the family like Burger (who even went on our honeymoon to Alaska with us!) there’s no way we could slip through Ikea on our road trips without him. Luckily we have a little canvas doggy bag with mesh on the sides to keep him cool… and he LOVES it (he slept so soundly in it on the plane to and from Alaska that people didn’t believe there was really a dog in there). And the kind folks at Ikea don’t seem to mind since he’s hidden away in a bag that keeps him contained and quiet. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Jessica C says
I’m so excited because I bought those curtains a couple of years ago and made roman shades out of them! They look so good in my recently painted den.
Jen says
Love your Ikea pics… we used to live 10 min from one… now we’re 2 hours from the closest one (sniffle). Last time we were there, we managed to snag an outdoor dining set (2 chairs, a bench, and table) for $100 in the already built section — probably the best deal we’ve found there.
We also picked up the Traby bookshelves ( http://www.ikea.com/us/en/search/?query=traby ), which I promptly hacked – painted and decoupaged book pages to the back of the shelves ( http://homeinthecountry.wordpress.com/2009/07/21/wordy-bookshelves/ ).
We’ve also used a bunch of their Grundtal shelves (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00011428) in our recent kitchen and bathroom remodels ( http://homeinthecountry.wordpress.com/2009/08/18/black-kitchen-cart/ and http://homeinthecountry.wordpress.com/2009/08/17/bathroom-reveal/ ). I love the industrial feel of the shelves, and that I can use little hooks to hang things below the shelves!
Julia says
Anyone have any thoughts on a room dividing screen. I tried to see if Ikea has one but can’t seem to find it. We need it to put up in front of a window that has a shear on it for when friends stay in that room on the fold out sofa. It needs to be sort of light so that we can fold it up and put it away in the basement. Thanks! I wish we had Ikea in MO too! Come on Ikea!
Lisa says
I did exactly the same thing this past weekend with my iPhone! I love wandering around IKEA!!!
brickton says
Question: What are those cabinets in the kitchen photo? They look like a brown/black wood door with shaker doors (ie awesome) but the closest I can find to the color is the
Nexus but the doors look more like the Adel. Is this a new style? And normally I wouldn’t love black(ish) cabinets but when combined with the light counters and mosaic backsplash it’s kitchen nirvana.
As for my Ikea favorites. I love the entire Hemnes line. And these Foto pendant lights are a ridiculous steal in a semi-modern but still classic way.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Brickton,
We’re afraid we don’t know what cabinets those are offhand, but I’m sure if you pay Ikea a visit they’ll have that same set-up on display so you can find out easily enough. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Wendy says
Oh, I love Ikea!
That black kitchen that you show there reminds me so much of a kitchen that Candice Olson did on her show. I think she had white cabinets with a black granite countertop.. and then made a reverse island with black cabinets and a white marble top. I think it was in one of her neighborhood friends’ home. Loved it! Great pick!
I’m also loving that green rug you chose. I’m in desperate need of a new non-rubber back rug for my bathroom, but it must be in a beige or a blue. I’ve put that on my faves list, though. I’ll find a place for it!
I currently have an Expedit cabinet (as someone mentioned.. doesn’t everyone? ;) ), an Aneboda wardrobe, a smaller cabinet that I cannot recall the name, and this Kroby lamp (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40089397). I am always running into the framing section and have umpteen Ribba frames throughout my home. My “headboard” is actually a serious of 5 square Ribba frames with Steven Meyer’s xray flower photography.
I also love the white planters. You guys have gotten me addicted to using the smaller ones for a number of different things so my last trip there two weeks ago I bought 5. Now I have to figure out where I’ll put them. (And I might steal your wicker planter basket idea for a storage table. Love it!)
My favorite find lately is a seasonal item. Ikea first introduced me to a fabulous ponytail palm. (http://976easy.com/bonsai-trees/images/bonsai12.jpg) I have this crazy plant at home and at work, and have gotten a couple for friends. It’s an eye-catcher.
(Thanks to the person that showed the Knubbig lamp. Must.run.now.!) heh
Lindsey says
Hi Youngsters!
I have the green duvet you pointed out…and I love it! I have already washed it a few times since bringing it home in March and it hasn’t faded at all. Why you ask, have I already had to wash it so many times? Well, my two big dogs love to sleep with us, no matter how much we try to keep them off of the bed :)
I also l.o.v.e the red hutch and the red side table lamps. I have been writing out an Ikea wish-list lately and your post has sent me into an I-need-to-go-now frenzy!
Thanks always for the inspiration,
Lindsey (aspiringivory.blogspot.com)
Jennie says
totally ripped this idea off of a photographer’s blog (can’t find the link now to give her credit), but we picked up 9 of these bad boys in 19.75×19.75 to create a dramatic photo wall in our living room, which i am going to attempt to convert into a dining room so we can have more room in our currently eat-in kitchen. :-) doing 3 across and 3 down. thank goodness for laser levels!
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/96471400
Kristin says
I love Ikea! I was just there last week! Ours is only 7 miles from where we live. :)
I love the Grundtal shelves for the kitchen; inexpensive, functional and good looking! :) :) You can see them on my blog! :)
Lindsay says
I just posted an update on my blog (you can click on my face to the right) about the Merete Curtains I bought at Ikea. They are fantastic and I love them! Totally reasonably priced as well for what they are. You can’t get much cheaper items from places like Pottery Barn or Ballard Designs for under $100. Also, the Grommets are great on these curtains because it makes sliding the curtains open/closed super easy – an important tip for a heavily used door/window combo like what we have.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40111987
Colleen in MA says
We love our tall desk that our laptops live on. At IKEA you can combine myriad desk tops with legs – we paired our desk top with tall legs so that we could sit behind the sofa at our laptops and still watch TV:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bookdesigngirl/2446196320/in/set-72157611434521669/
In the far wall in that picture are Billy bookcases. I have to say I think that they are one of the most sturdiest things that IKEA makes – and so affordable we were able to stand them end to end to fill the whole wall space.
I live and work five minutes away from my local IKEA is fun but oh so “dangerous”! It has come in sooo handy for my many moves.
Autumn says
Ikea is great–even if you just walk through and get inspired by how they design for small spaces. I love the botanical prints curtains…though I’m not sure we’re allowed to hang curtains in our apartment. Ikea was great for our wedding decor–I bought tealight holders and lanterns and river rocks there for great centerpieces on a budget!
Chrissy says
Oh, Ikea! The closest to me is 8 hours. I love looking through the catalog and am giddy anytime I get to visit one. My inlaws live near one, so that’s my first destination when we visit and I’m anxiously awaiting a visit from them with a stash of requests. Molger benches for my daughter’s room and Branas baskets. Lack shelves. Unfortunately the Vivan drapes and Merete drapes I wanted were temporarily oversold. I’m dreaming of some Leksvik pieces for my guest/exercise/office. I was gushing over IKEA and some finds I brought home recently http://homekidslife.blogspot.com/2009/08/what-gets-you-giddy.html
Anyone know if Ektrop sofas hold up to young kids? Love the slipcovers and the price, but not sure if they’ll hold up with two active children.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Chrissy,
We’ve heard from many a mom that Ektorp sofas (even the ones with white slipcovers) are great, even for families with messy jam-handed kids. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Megan says
Huge Ikea fan here. I used to live in Houston where there was one but lived far enough away that it was still a treat when I went. Now I live in Nashville where the closest one is 4 hours away in Atlanta! Arg! THANK GOODNESS for the two ingenius guys (Nick and Ray!) that came up with MODERNASH, which brings Ikea goods back to Nashville for a heckofalot cheaper than it would normally cost to order Ikea goods online. Several of my friends have used them, and we bought an Ikea desk via Modernash earlier this year. They hit the Hot-lanta Ikea about once a week and bring back the goods that you order from their website http://www.modernash.com. It is SUPER HANDY!!
PJ says
Although I adore IKEA as much as the next gal, I must say your reference to the peanut butter & banana sandwich made my day! Yummmmmmy!
- Sarah :-) says
Hello, my name is Sarah and I’m an Ikeaholic.
*breath*
so then tell me how it’s possible that i Haven’t made ONE single trip to Ikea since buying our home last September. Can you bleieve it?? almost an ENTIRE year! That doesn’t mean I don’t drool over each and every page in the catalog… but I’m rewarding my year-long sbbatical with a trip to Ikea this SATURDAY!!! (at least that’s the plan, anyways). I cannot WAIT to go home!! -Er… I mean… back to Ikea?!
Jenn says
My favorite IKEA purchases:
LACK floating wall shelves
RIBBA frames
MONGSTAD mirror
Traci says
Love this post and I love your blog! Question…I looked back at your post about removing your linen closet door. I’m thinking about giving it a try. Where did you buy those adorable personalized towel hooks on the back of the bathroom door? They are so cute!
Thank you for all the great advice!!!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Traci,
Those are from Anthropologie. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
JenO says
Another idea is to check Craigslist for IKEA finds. Granted, you’ll have better luck if you have an IKEA in the area, but you can find some awesome deals. I found 2 TULLSTA chairs in pretty good condition (a few smudges, but no need for a slipcover) for half the price I would have paid for them new!
Valerie says
That table looks amazing! But are you sure it’s the same one that you linked to? http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70116262
It just looks so different on the IKEA site pictures (with ridges on the sides, not as minimal), and the one you linked to actually expands but the one in the blog post looks very solid and non-expanding.
I hope I’m making sense – just want to make sure it’s the right table since I’m very intrigued about it for my own space!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Valerie,
You’re right. When you look closely it appears that the table we love isn’t on ikea.com at all (but it’s in their new catalog, which is where we first discovered it). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Cindy says
Love, love, love your blog and pics!!
Ikea is great, so many items that look way more expensive than they actually cost. Unfortunately, I don’t have a store close by, so it is fab to see these pics to inspire me.
Keep it coming!
~Cindy
Andrea says
Sorry to do this, but I have to: its “ay caramba”. Carumba reminds me of a vaccuum machine.
Heidi Jo says
… and now I have to go to Ikea. I love those botanical pale curtains and the duvet and the elephant cups! AMAZING!
Kirsten says
Hi Guys!
My oldest son, my husband and I went to our nearest Ikea (about 25 min. away!) just last week and were there for 3 1/2 hours. We were literally running to cash out before the store closed! So many things to see . . . we took lots of notes and pics for the next time we go back. We want to make sure things will actually fit before we buy them. We didn’t even have time to go through the marketplace!
Christy says
YOu have inspired me …once again! My best friend & I just planned a day trip to Charlotte just so we can roam the store for HOURS!!
Zoe Feast says
My favorite Ikea purchase is a plain solid unfinished wooden table I bought it from an Ikea in Belgium. I gave it a couple of coats of polyurethane and it has served as my kitchen table ever since. I call it my rough and ready table where anything goes, from glitter projects and much mess to an elegant Thanksgiving feast. I think a kitchen table should be able to accommodate anything and this one has and still does serves us well.
Robin says
The red BERGSBO cabinet you featured is amazing, but I personally prefer the LINNARP in red, seen here: http://www.ikea.com/PIAimages/80390_PE189164_S4.jpg
It’s solid wood and a much richer finish, which is beautiful. Ahh…if only I had all the money and space in the world to fill with IKEA furnishings! I have already replaced all my broken hand-me downs with IKEA standbys, and I still find myself lusting over things as the new catalog comes out! I am an IKEA-holic, so much so that I got a job there! ;)
wondermart says
I have those curtains with the sheer piece in front and the green in back. They look fabulous with the light shining through them. Definitely worth the 16 bucks!
Michele Daggar says
Does anyone know why so many of the IKEA products are only available in stores? I live in Rochester, New York. The closest IKEA store is in Brooklyn!!!
Brooke says
Hey Brickton,
Yes, those kitchen cabinets are Adel doors. We just put them in our own kitchen and love them! Be sure to go check them out before you get them. The black isn’t smooth in person as it looks like on the website and in pictures. Since it wasn’t smooth and we wanted black, we ended up painting Adel Beech black. We are still in progress, you can look at our blog to see how it looks. Some pictures look a little dusty as we haven’t finished the floors so it kicks up dust.
As far as what we are wanting…
Gruvan table top ( I want counter height legs so it looks like I’ll have to build my own)
Bergeso with glass doors for our linens.
Gunver black and white fabric for curtains
2 UTBY Shelving units for our kitchen island which we want to put on wheels.
Robin says
Michele,
A lot of the IKEA products are only available in stores for a lot of reasons. One of the main reasons is that they don’t have their own shipping network all over the country, so shipping is very expensive on products. IKEA uses minimum packaging to cut down on costs, so it has to be sent through special carriers, and that costs extra. Before IKEA came to our city, my sister and I ordered products through the catalog and it cost $200 for what we bought and $250 for the shipping.
If you’re really dying to have something, you can try to call the 800 number in your catalog and see if there’s any way to get it shipped to you, or you could try ebay! Or if you know someone driving to/near your closest store, you could always give them the $$ and ask them to pick it up!
Dennis Bullock says
We just went the other day also and I could stay all day. In fact I even had the ribs special in the diner. So glad we discovered you recently!
http://dennisbullock.net/2009/08/stuff-we-love-%E2%80%93-young-house-love/
Nicole RJ says
Great finds – haven’t been in the store in a while, it’s too tempting!! And I *really* wish Ikea had a registry! Ah well.
Rebie says
Love the post aka “field trip to Ikea”. I’m just so sad Denver, CO still doesn’t have an Ikea store. We just got West Elm. I don’t understand why these fantastic stores have not opened stores in our wonderful city :-(
Laura says
I wish Ikea had a registry too!
I’m getting married in a few months, and I would furnish my whole house from Ikea if I could.
My favorite thing from Ikea is actually those blue bags that you can buy for .59 at the checkout. I used about 8 of them to schlep all of my clothes the last time I moved, and they were perfect- from drawer, to blue bag, then right back into drawer on the other side!
The bags held up really well, stacked on top of each other like boxes would, and even had a handle for carrying- I threw 2 or 3 over my arms and only made a few trips to get all of my clothes transferred.
I keep the bags in my trunk for groceries, too. One of the blue bags holds a lot more than you would think. Usually I can escape Kroger with only one bag over my arm, and I’m being eco friendly!
Abbie says
I LOVE Ikea… but the nearest one is over 6 hours away. A friend of mine stopped on a very quick road trip and called me to see if I wanted anything. I’d been coveting the Alex drawers (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30104322) for my home office, but shipping was more than the cost of the item! I was ecstatic when she pulled up with the two boxes. They are amazing!
Love the green rug. I may have to call my dad to pick it up and ship it to me for our bathroom!
Michele Daggar says
Robin,
Thanks for all the info. My sister-in-law lives in Brooklyn, so I guess I’ll have to arrange a visit to her & load up my minivan!!
Thanks again!
Michele says
I’m loving the new Duktig play kitchen.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70129801
Cathy M. says
I love everything you pictured. Makes me want to go to Ikea right this instant! Your site is such an inspiration.
Thanks!
Candi Rodgers says
Last time my husband and I went to Ikea, we almost broke the car! We loaded it down with so much stuff, it just couldn’t take it. Thank God we made it home…
Candied Fabrics says
Ooh! I’ve been dying to share my latest decorating project with you – because you were the inspiration behind new window treatments that finished the room out awesomely! The bulk of the room is Ikea furniture (some old, a couple of new) including my DREAM chaise lounge I snagged at the as-is and dyeing a white slipcover the perfect (for me) shade of green. If you’ve got the time, please take a look at these three posts:
As-is chaise slipcover dyed: http://candiedfabrics.wordpress.com/2009/06/15/ta-dah-slipcover-complete/
House rearranged, new Ikea shelf combines perfectly with old ones: http://candiedfabrics.wordpress.com/2009/06/16/books-moved-entire-house-rearranged/
Window a la Sherry & John compeltes the room: http://candiedfabrics.wordpress.com/2009/06/24/getting-it-done/
Thanks for providing such awesome inspiration – your window dressing posts were just the thing I needed (well, that, and some awesomely discounted bamboo blinds!)to get my room finished! WooHoo!
Candy
YoungHouseLove says
Love it love it! Thanks so much for the links! Gorgeous job with everything.
xo,
s
Lucy Silag says
Hi there-
The thing I often lust over from Ikea is the Extorp sofa bed in the black and white floral fabric. For some reason I just love it! I first heard about it in Real Simple and have been wanting it ever since. We don’t have an Ikea near me, but when I do get a chance to go when visiting other states, I love hitting up the picture frame aisle. The cheap wooden frames are perfect for painting and crafting into something special.
PS–I loooooove that hutch! Great find.
Lucy
http://www.lucysilag.com
Amy says
You guys make Ikea look fun…I go there…and am so overwhelmed that I am lucky if I leave with 1 thing!
Love your blog!!
~Amy
Dorothy says
Question: Do you know the name of this curtain? I’d love to have my boyfriend track it down for me but I’m having no luck with the website right now.
There is (brace yourself) NO IKEA in Louisiana… I moved to New Orleans not knowing this and so have been making do filling an entirely new apartment, since the closest IKEA is in Houston, and I’m originally from California and didn’t think to bring furniture with me at all.
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, we don’t recall the name but we’re sure if you check eBay for ikea curtains you might be able to hunt them down. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Amanda G. says
Oh, I really have a problem with Ikea. I just recently got their latest catalogue and already it’s dog-earred, written in, spilled on, and you know, suffering from basic wear and tear from being flipped through too many times. If I lived closer to one, I’d probably be broke (mine’s almost two hours away!!!).
Oh well, just wanted to say I’m soooo jealous.
Annie, bossy color says
What an awesome post! Great reminder to visit Ikea in person – the website doesn’t do it justice.
Just for fun, here are some pictures of an Ikea catalog from the 1960s! http://tinyurl.com/ktfk9a
Happy Ikea-ing!
lisa says
Great finds! Those soft botanical curtains would go perfectly in our bedroom, but I’ve been looking on the Ikea site and can’t seem to find them? Do you happen to know what the name/style is? The photo was too small for me to see that part of the pricetag.
Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Lisa,
Those curtains are all over the store (and even in the catalog if I remember correctly) but we don’t know the name off-hand. Maybe you can google “Ikea curtain” on ebay to see if they come up with a name or just hit up the store and snag them there? Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Lisa says
Thanks for the curtain advice! I haven’t had any luck online, so I guess I’ll trek on up to the store. Always a dangerous prospect as far as the wallet is concerned!