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.
Danielle says
I found your site through this entry. I was Googling the green geometric duvet cover from Ikea and this was brought up in the search engine. So glad I found your site! You guys are so inspiring, even for a 21 year old college student still living at home. I can’t wait to get a house and start decorating! In the mean time, I still have my room. I was wondering though… and for anyone who has that green geometric duvet cover shown here, what other colors would look good with it? I love it and I want to get it for my room, but I can’t figure out what else would go with it, like curtain colors, etc. Anyway, if anyone is willing to shout out advice I would greatly appreciate it!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Danielle,
So glad you found us! So many colors will mix well with the green geometric duvet color so try layering tans and chocolates and creams for a look that’s sophisticated and elegant or even bringing in pops of orange or lavender for a bit of vibrancy and fun. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Danielle says
Thank you so much for the quick response and the advice! It definitely will help me get started. Can’t wait to see what more amazing things you guys do to your house. Hope you are enjoying the end of your weekend! Thanks again for the help.
kristin says
hello younghouseloves! i’ve been reading your blog for a while now, and i have to say — i really, really enjoy it. you two are very creative.
i have a small question – i’m looking for a west elm parsons look-a-like desk for my new (first!) apartment. i love the west elm desk, but i’m fresh out of school and can’t afford to spend $300 on one piece of furniture. i checked my local craigslist, but no luck. the student desk on overstock was my second option, but they’ve been out of stock for a while now.
do you have any suggestions for a parsons look-a-like desk for about $150 or under? i was thinking ikea — any clue on which one would look best?
i was looking for a white color. no longer than 48″.
YoungHouseLove says
Darn, we were going to suggest the Overstock.com one. We do know from experience that things can appear to be out of stock for months but they actually come and go, so checking more frequently might help you score that desk after all. As for Ikea, we don’t have a specific link, but they offer desks where you can pick the top and combine it with any legs. So selecting a glossy white top with simple white legs (they offer metal ones that you could paint white) could help you achieve the look on a budget. Hope that helps!
xo,
s
kristin says
thanks for the (quick!) response. i very much appreciate your help. i’m going to keep an eye on overstock.com and craigslist. i think i’ll also make a trip to ikea to check out the glossy white desk tops! thank you :)
kristin says
younghouselove, guess what! I was able to snag a white parsons desk off of craigslist for $100 :) I just picked it up tonight… but I’m wondering: is there a way to know if this is truely a west elm? it was advertised as such. and unfortunately there’s no “logo” of some sorts on the desk to prove it.
it looke just like the one of the website, same measurements and all. however it is not super super bright white. but instead has a bit of an off white tint to it if that makes sense?
YoungHouseLove says
Great score! We have the real West Elm one and have heard about some pretty good replicas being made by overstock.com. The main difference (or so we’ve heard) is that the replicas aren’t super shiny and they come in more of a matte finish. The real West Elm babies have a super shiny lacquered finish, so if yours feels smooth like a credit card (as opposed to a little gritty like painted wood) then it’s probably the real thing. As for the color, ours appears to be bright white, but not blindingly so (perhaps a bit of an off-white tint is a correct description). Oh and if the legs look a bit less chunky then the one on westelm.com that’s another tip off that it’s a replica. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Michele Daggar says
Just going through the archives and wanted to tell anybody who might be reading that I FINALLY made it to an IKEA.
We visited my sister-in-law in Brooklyn. An entire day of our 5 day trip was devoted to Ikea! We shopped for hours. Even brought my 12 year old and 9 year old. They have become savvy Ikea shoppers now.
One of the best parts of our day was dinner! We had a yummy dinner while looking at our fabulous view of the Statue of Liberty.
Of course THE BEST part was buying all the things I can’t get shipped to my house. I now own my very own RIBBA frames, white ceramic plant pots, etc. My daughter Emily used some of her spending money to buy a succulent plant & white pot. She even had fun and gave her plant a name (Joyce.) Where she got that name I have no idea! Just wanted to say thanks for all the Ikea posts. We really had a great shopping day.