Vlad’s house is an IKEA house.
I have nothing against IKEA.
I rather like IKEA.
I can spend hours wandering through there stores.
Well, actually, that’s how long it takes to follow the little footprints and elbow one’s way through the crowds.
I think they make very good stuff, particularly for the price, and most of it is quite attractive. We were seriously considering getting our kitchen cabinets from IKEA.
Until we moved into the IKEA House. (The one we are renting whilst waiting to close on ours.)
It’s not that we became disenchanted with IKEA products once living with them on a daily basis. We haven’t.
We haven’t discovered that those, wonderfully smooth, drawer systems became sticky once out of the store. They don’t. They’re still smooth.
We haven’t discovered that the beds are miserable or the armoire doors don’t close or the towels fall apart or the refrigerator light stays on when the door shuts.
Everything seems to be working well, holding up to use and abuse.
What we discovered was how easily recognizable everything is.
When we went to IKEA the other day, we started at the top and walked through (as one does at IKEA). Our conversation went something like this:
Look, there are the beds we have in Vlad’s house.
And the dressers and armoires and shelves.
Oh, and there’s the living room furniture… All of it.
And the bathrooms.
Isn’t this the kitchen table? And chairs? Cabinets? Sink? Dishes? Flatware? Glasses? Pans? Candles?
Towels? Sheets? Toilet paper holder?
Oh wait, they don’t sell those at IKEA.
Explains why we don’t have any in the house.
Everything in this 500 year old house comes from IKEA. It’s as if Vlad went to IKEA, handed them a credit card and said “I have X rooms, all empty, furnish them – but (naturally) no mirrors.”
As I said, I have nothing against IKEA, and I’m pretty sure we’ll be spending a bit of money there ourselves.
But I really don’t want people to mistake our house for an IKEA showroom.
Our house has character now (ahem, such as it is). I would like to remove the dirt and grime, polish up the beams and let the original good parts shine.
I don’t want to make it ‘fake old’ any more than I want to make it ‘fake new’.
It is what it is…. I’d like to keep it that way, just cleaner and fresher…. And with internet.
But I really, really like those IKEA, under-the-kitchen-sink, pull-out drawers with shelves and trash can holders.
And I really, really like that tall cabinet with the pull-out wire baskets.
So, we compromise: I can buy the fancy IKEA drawer inserts but mon mari will build the fronts.
And I’ll get the tall cabinet, in plain white, to go next to the refrigerator.
We’ll get it all sorted…. Eventually.
W ith much discussion.
And with much compromise
As long as we’re compromising…..
Ever find yourself pondering the side dishes to accompany some fantastic main course? Searching for something impressive, yet simple so as to flatter, not detract or confuse?
The recipe, Turned Potatoes & Carrots, has been updated, nutrition information added, and re-posted here: Turned Potatoes & Carrots.
House Update: The closing is now scheduled for the 29th; internet access to be available, we hope, about 2 weeks later.
Sigh….
REALLY BIG SIGH………
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I use IKEA furniture in my house :O
Sign, I’m longing for you to have your clean, something old, something new with internet house soon too. I love your entertaining stories but I also know your heart needs a home (as well as internet).
You’re an artist with the carving. Potatoes and carrots that I really didn’t like as a child are always high on my list of goodness these days.
Yes, that’s a teaser but your soups are worth it.
I like Ikea, too, but agree with you that a mix of styles and ages is a good thing. I have one of those folding get-’em-at-Target bookshelves next to our antique ice box (that we use for wine storage) in the kitchen. They are happy together.
an old place like that with IKEA inside. I think not
I don’t know which is more exciting: the prospect of getting into the new house, or of getting your internet access back! I love IKEA too, and wonder why it took so long to come to New England….
I am not familiar with the IKEA stuffs, pardon me. I hope you’re alright there.
Katie hang in there. It won’t be long now.
And just for the record, I DO NOT like IKEA. Utah has only had it for a little over a year, but I have not been impressed. I did buy two rugs there, but no IKEA furniture for me either.
Tigerfish, and I bet your house is just darling!
Tanna, not as much as I am… thank you for the thoughts and words ;-))
Zoomie, I agree, a mix is always best! Eclectic!
Shayne, one should really show some empathy for the age…
Lydia, I don’t know which is going to excite me more either – at this point I’m desperate for both.
Arfi – IKEA hasn’t made it to you yet!!! I thought they were everywhere! And I only heard about them 5 years ago.
Kalyn, it can;t happen fast enough, but it will be awhile yet… first we build the bathroon and kitchen. But I can get the internet hooked up and work during the day.
Towels? Sheets? Toilet paper holder?
Oh they so DO sell those! Well, they do in London at any rate… 🙂 Clearly Vlad missed a shelf!
I agree that a lot of the stuff is recognisable (I can think of some coffee mugs and a vase that I have seen in absolutely every rented apartment or B&B I have ever stayed in) – but I also have to say that it is generally very well made for the price. We have a sofa that has not faded or sagged, and a wardrobe with drawers as zippy as the day they arrived. I think it’s OK as long as you mix and match IKEA with other stuff – not the “I’ll take the whole showroom” approach 🙂