We finally got back over to Ikea to see all the new stuff this year (and to pick up a catalog in person since we waited and waited for one to come to our door with no avail). Let’s just say it didn’t disappoint! So we snapped a few photos of some of the things that inspired us most. Here’s an office that we really liked. Although having all that space in our current house to devote to an office is a pipe dream, maybe our next house will allow for it. And even if not it’s still fun to look at.
Speaking of dreams for our future house, we’ve always adored the idea of an island (even though we widened both doorways surrounding our kitchen, an island never made sense with our current house’s floor plan). So of course we stopped to drool over this sleek yet charming butcher block beauty.
And we had to snap a photo of this not-finished-yet kitchen because we were so amused by our reaction to it. We actually both stood there and reminisced about how exciting our own kitchen reno was back in the day. I guess most people would hate looking at this “mess” but we paused for a moment and soaked it up.
We also loved this warm and cozy arrangement of photos on the wall so we grabbed a shot for anyone out there who might be looking for a semi-balanced but not totally symmetrical plan to implement in their own home. Tip: use paper or even brown paper bags (cut into rectangles) to represent your frames. Then move them around on the wall until you like the arrangement and tape them in place with blue painter’s tape. You can even nail right through the paper to hang the frames in that formation.
We were also charmed by this bathroom since it’s just one wall but it’s packed with tons of storage and function. The bowl sinks keep things feeling less boxy thanks to the soft curves (since this set-up could look a bit too angular and grid-like without them) and the seeded glass on the middle cabinet was actually really pretty in person.
We couldn’t pass this mirror without grabbing a photo for you guys. Not only because it’s huge and modern (and sure to add polish and bounce around tons of light) but also because it was reflecting that fun white geometric chandelier. We like how the curves in each item play off of each other.
And I nearly took to the streets hooting and hollering when I came across one of Ikea’s new-this-year additions to their furnishings and accessories. Faux sheepskin rugs! So for anyone who doesn’t want to DIY them, now you don’t have to! And they’re just $12.99. Oh happy day. Needless to say we returned home with a few (just for good measure). I love tossing them on the backs of chairs, over the bench in our dining area, and even under the Christmas tree in lieu of a traditional tree skirt. Note: Clara’s not still that teeny, I borrowed this old pic from this post of yore.
This stately gray glass fronted cabinet was also spot on for us. The fact that it was up on elegant legs (which make it feel a lot less heavy) and that it had such nice top molding and chic hardware wooed us to no end.
This New York City map print was also cool and graphic thanks to the high contrast and detailed design.
Oh and this rug made us laugh because we both thought it said Petersik for a split second. And let’s face it, an Ikea product coincidentally bearing our last name would probably make me break out my dorky Elaine from Seinfeld dance.
We also noticed these plaques in a few of the showrooms, and really appreciated that they not only listed the size of the room, they also shared the color of the wall paint for anyone walking by who happened to like what they saw. Convenient, right?
And this larger than life chandelier was just that. Large and in charge. It would look unbelievably amazing in a lofted dining room or den (we definitely think it can be dressed up or down).
And just as I stopped to cuddle the faux sheepskin rugs, John made himself right at home in one of the amazing walk-in closets complete with a pair of shoes that had been cable tied to the shelf. Someday we’ll have a closet system like this… someday…
And last but not least are these gorgeous smoky acrylic chairs (which also come in clear). Paired with a chunky rustic wood table we think they would make for an amazing mixed & matched result full of texture and interest. Plus they’re impervious to jelly covered fingers and spit up (which is definitely something that I take note of these days).
So there you have our little virtual tour through Ikea. Have you guys been yet? Have your catalogs actually arrived? Are you loving anything in particular this year (and obsessing over old favorites that they brought back)? Let’s talk Ikea. No umlauts necessary.
Psst- Try as we might, we couldn’t locate links, prices, or names for all of the items that we photographed above, so feel free to consult ikea.com or breeze through the store in person for more info since we’re hardly experts when it comes to those details! And we weren’t paid or perk’d for this post, we just love us some Ikea and we wanted to take you window shopping with us. See more window shopping adventures here.
Gwen says
This time, I have to leave a comment! I discovered your blog not so long ago and although I have been living in our present home for 10 years now and did not feel like needing some new decor, you HAVE inspired me. It started with new liquid soap for the guest toilet and went on to new towels, repainted boxes and walls to that IKEA bathroom hanging cupboard you showed today! I bought some new lamps too for that loo. Now I just need to convince my husband to do a bit of electricity wiring and the room will be gorgeous!
UUMM… now that I look at our living room, it could stand some new painting!!!
Take care
Molly Payne-Hardin says
What’s the word of mouth on IKEA kitchen cabinets? Their price seems better than Lowes/Home Depot but I’m wondering about longevity and sturdiness (compared to a KraftMaid). I noticed that you all went with Lowes for your kitchen reno…? Thanks! Molly in Fla.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Molly,
We are extremely happy with our KraftMaid cabinets (and we also appreciated planning the kitchen and buying them with a kitchen designer’s help through Home Depot) but if you’re confident that you know exactly what you want in your kitchen and want to plan it and order all the parts yourself then Ikea can be a great option. We have a few friends who love their Ikea cabinets, although they all admit that the planning and purchasing process is a bit less streamlined (since you need to buy everything separately, like hinges, handles, doors, drawers, frames, etc).
xo,
s
brandt says
I was an Ikea convert after my wife took me there and showed me prices – plus the man in me started perking up when I realized I could actually take the stuff home and put it together myself.
When we lived in Idaho, the closest one was 4 hours away. Now that we live in Detroit, its only 50 minutes away. We’re in heaven.
Best thing we did was take an INSPIRATION WEEKEND to Ikea (much like you guys did) to take a look at what they did and figure out how we can translate many of those themes into our decor. Wonderful, wonderful place.
Megan Elizabeth says
I love the lucite chairs! When I got the catalog in the mail I nearly swooned. My boyfriend thinks I’m crazy. He says they’re ugly. What doe he know!
jennifer says
my husband and i absolutely love ikea! unfortuantely we live in buffalo and do not have one… the closest one to us is near toronto [about 1.5 hours away] and the closest one in the u.s. is in pittsburg [about 3 hours away]. we took a trip a couple of months ago to the one in canada and i would like to go back again before christmas. we could spend all day in there… and we did go for a few hours… i just wish there was one closer so i could run there like i run to target.
we bought a few things for the house and bought the small kitchen set for our daughter for christmas. before the snow starts to fly we plan on spray painting it some fun colors [so we don’t inhale all of the fumes by doing it in our basement] for her and then assembling it christmas week.
Kathryn says
I’ve seen that big light fixture (the one that looks like it has starbursts all over it) at our Ikea here. I went to touch it, and was SO DISAPPOINTED that it was made of paper! I figured it would be some kind of acrylic/plastic construction, like so many of their other light fixtures, but sadly it’s not….not only do I question the long-term durability of the delicate fronds if they’re made from paper, but how in the heck are you supposed to clean that sucker??? I mean, if it’s hanging in your big foyer or something, that’s one thing, but if it’s hanging over your kitchen/dining room table, you don’t want dust in your food!
And that was when my husband was like “It’s Ikea, you’re overthinking it. Calm yourself.” And we went and looked at the kitchen gadets and all was well with the world.
Sarah Vincent says
Ikea question for you.
I do not live near one (sad face) but LOVE LOVE LOVE it! How would one go about trying to get a new Ikea built close by? I have looked on the site and even called the 1-800 # but never get anywhere. (I live in KC, MO) Any help would be GREAT!!! Thanks!
Sara @ House Bella says
I have never been in an Ikea, and I’m feeling a little sad about that fact. The closest one is 6 hours away, which is a BIT too far for a day trip (ok, way too far). I’m dreaming of the day that they build one in Boise!
Jordin LePori says
Love the office pic! It looks to beautiful to have to work in! Ikea is great!
Irene says
We got our Ikea catalogue for the first time in years when they said we would (and keep in mind, Ikea USA headquarters are in my neck of the woods) We got to see all the new stuff a few months ago, I like their changes!
Jennifer says
Hey John & Sherry! I love your IKEA finds! I’m planning a trip to IKEA & West Elm in about a week (long trip – about 1.5 hrs each way) for a reno on my dining room. I’m also looking for inspiration for a living room reno. Did you happen to write down a price on that lovely grey cabinet?
Thanks!
– Jennifer
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jennifer,
We didn’t happen to write down anything as we snapped pics, but maybe if you call the store or check out their site you can hunt down more info? Good luck!
xo,
s
Newlyweds on a Budget says
I’ve been spending so much time at Ikea lately because of our recent move and always fall in love with something new everytime I go!
Erin says
I love that there’s a safe place to swoon over IKEA – my hubby is getting a little tired of hearing how in love I am with the place – we just purchased the Ektorp corner sofa, along with 2 liatorp bookcases and the Liatorp sideboard – plus the Ritva curtains (while I do love the Viviens, I’m partial to the Ritvas)for our new addition, and they look amazing…now I’m in search of a great rug to pull it all together….
Shanna says
We just bought that lamp this weekend, although the smaller sized one, which is about 20 inches. We needed a lamp that would lit the livingroom without having Functional lighting written all over it. It’s great, cause it’s both a statement piece of lighting, but also kinda seethrough, and the shadows are really fun as well!
The chairs I do like, but not for jeans-wearers…
Kate! says
random — I was looking at rugs on ikea.com last night and saw that rug and also thought it said Petersik at first!
those acrylic chairs… I think they’re so pretty but I worry about what my butt squished into it would look like from the back!
I’m not far from Ikea Seattle and I thank my lucky stars we have one so close!
Margreet says
It is so amazing…. Ikea in Utrecht (my home town in the Netherlands) looks exactly the same!!!. I absolutely love Ikea and go there way too often because it is right next to my work and a 10 minute drive from home. I know my way around, all the short cuts in the showroom and lots of their product names (maybe should apply for a job at Ikea). I actually lived in Sweden for 6 months of my life, do speak a bit of Swedish and therefore understand many of their products names.
About the sheepskin rug, are you sure it is not real but faux? I looked in their (Dutch) catalogue and could only find real fur ones. I’d love a faux rug too, next time in the shop I will check it out. Or could you, if you know, tell me the product name?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Margreet,
Yup, we’re sure they’re faux. They just introduced them this year and they’re not listed online here either (but the back tag very clearly says they’re faux along with the signage in the store). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Amy says
Random design question for you. We have plain white, ugly laminate counter tops. We are trying to sell our house and my hubby is refusing to put much money into the house. Any ideas on how to jazz up the counter tops?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Amy,
It’s very difficult to successfully paint or refinish laminate countertops but Ikea sells butcherblock counters that are extremely cheap and luxe looking- they could totally update your kitchen on the cheap. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Kate! says
Oh! we also heard rumors of an ikea VERY close to our house. The hubs and I went on a late night drive trying to find it…. we finally saw that beautiful blue and yellow sign high in the sky. Turns out its a distribution center – TEN minutes from my house! All those wonderful products locked away in a warehouse and I can’t get to them. Boo :P
Emlyn says
I loved that IKEA listed the wall finishes on their displays – that’s how I found my color. I’d been trying to pick a green that would work with our light tan floors, ‘candlelight’ cabinets, gray sofa and white & black accents. Walking through the store I saw the perfect green – so perfect that I stopped dead in my tracks and nearly shouted “that’s the green I want!” my husband thought I was crazy. but I wrote down the name and got home and put a sample swatch up on the wall and he agreed – perfect color. thanks IKEA! :)
Randa says
You guys are too funny! You do just what my husband and I do when we’re in Ikea, and the funny thing is that we were there (at the one in Potomac Mills) recently a few times, poking through the walk in closets and looking at the bathrooms and offices, just like you. I felt like I was stepping back a few weeks in time looking at this post! :)
Marlene says
I too thought the rug sign said Petersik for a split second! But I am Swedish and know for real what the sign means, I guess that my mother tongue takes a bake seat position when I read you very english blog…
Persisk = Persian (as in a persian rug)
Ashley says
We live 20 mins away from an Ikea so I’m there alot. We have a lot of their curtains and we use their dishes and glasses. We are in the midst of a big kitchen reno and are going with Ikea cabinets in Adel Medium Brown. So far working with Ikea has been great. The kitchen guys have been really helpful with the planning process and give lots of good advice. We mainly used their paper punchout system in the back of the kitchen catalog to try different layouts. Its good for us because we really don’t have a ton of options due to our existing layout and the fact that we can’t take down walls or anything. I’d highly rec’d so far. Plus our house is like our next 10 year house, not our forever house so their prices are right for us plus we are DIYing all the demo and install. We are documenting our progress in our new blog for family and friends.
Alondra says
Quick question: How do you get your Ikea chair that’s in the den looking so wrinkle-free?? I have the exact one and I’ve tried ironing the slipcover and taking it out of the dryer a bit damp but so far, no luck! Pesky wrinkles…
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Alondra,
Our wrinkle free slipcover tip is to put the slipcover on when they’re still a bit damp (before fully dry) so they dry and shrink up to fit without any wrinkles. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Haley says
Unfortunately I have a love-hate relationship with Ikea. I would love to love ’em but the closest store is 3.5 hours away! I wish they would improve their online/shipped offerings.
katie says
i LOVE that last chandelier. it’s the first thing you see when you enter the IKEA closest to me, and i’ve been swooning over it ever since the first time i saw it. it would completely overpower every room in our charming little apartment, but i do really love the large scale and dandelion-puff look to it.
Brianna says
Dear Sherry,
Thanks for the info. With that info I’ll probably just stick with Hickory, since it is such an amazing place to get furniture (If your ever near the Western Part of NC I’d be happy to show it to you). However, if we take a day trip to Charlotte I’ll have to check out some of the accessories. Thanks again!
Meredith says
Not sure who asked about sofas, but I bought an Ektorp loveseat from Ikea last year and I love it! It’s very comfortable and seems to be holding up well. I got it in the khaki color but it came with a free white slipcover that I can’t wait to use.
I’m considering having a white slipcover custom made for a big hand me down sofa. Has anyone ever done that? I haven’t called around for prices but I’m curious if anyone has any experience with that. I live in Baltimore, MD if that matters.
P.S. Love your site Sherry and John! I’m househunting with my bf right now and I love hearing about your current experience. I hope you find a buyer for your current home and a new place soon so we can all follow along with your decorating/renovating adventures!
Barbara says
Sherry:
I linked that gray cabinet in the links I posted.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for that Barbara! Hope she scrolls back and sees it or is able to find it on ikea.com!
xo,
s
Claire says
That is so funny about the rug! Just this morning, before I read your post, I was looking at Ikea’s website and saw that rug and thought the same thing myself! I did a double take, and then realized it wasn’t your name. It would be funny if it was! :)
Kristin says
I love the sheepskin rug! I just did some googling and I only see the real ones…can you point me toward the faux ones? Love your blog!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kristin,
The faux ones aren’t on their site but we promise they’re in stores (and clearly marked as such). Good luck!
xo,
s
Kate says
Thanks for your reply Sherry, I will totally scoff at the non-ikea shoppers now for not spending pennies on fab pieces of furniture !! ;)
Jamie says
I think getting to design and set up those Ikea showrooms would be a dream job, haha. So much fun. I love walking through them so thanks for the pictures!
Cara says
My ikea catalog never came either!
Gloria says
I’m salivating over that home office/craft room! Do you happen to remember the name of the table? I don’t remember seeing it in my catalog.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Gloria,
So sorry, we don’t recall the name. Maybe try looking around online or calling them and describing it?
xo,
s
Melody says
That glass front cabinet is a beaut! I LOVE IT!
Pamela says
For Meredith in Baltimore: I had a custom white slipcover made at Calico Corners, probably 15 years ago. Cost about $300. Based on my experience, my daughter had one made there about 5 years ago. Cost about $900. That store has really gone upscale as far as prices go. If you find someone to do it for a reasonable price, I suggest having it made in a washable fabric with a loose fit (shabby chic), so after 15 years of washing it still fits on your sofa.
Jen says
I so wish we had an Ikea in Louisville, KY! The closest one to us is in Ohio, more than 100 miles away.
Meredith says
Thanks Pamela! Good to know. I’ll have to shop around and see what prices are like these days.
Lesley says
thanks Sherry for the IKEA pics!!! My hubby,baby and I are heading to Gastonia this wk n to see the fam. I was going to Mary Jo’s to try my hand at making the faux sheepskin rug, but now I see I don’t need to!! IKEA has them. I LOVE this store. We live in TN so Charlotte is our closest store.. I’m so obsessed, I can tell when hgtv designes use there stuff or when its on a tv show.. O, and did I mention the cinnamin rolls are to die for!!!
Jessika says
Hi there! Since I am Swedish reader of your blog, I just love your report from IKEA – our national pride! I am a big fan of IKEA:s furniture and pretty much knows the latest ten catalogs by heart :-) So if you need any swedish translations, identifications of elder models of IKEA furniture, just let me know!
PERSISK means just persian, and I do too adore the chandelier PS MASKROS, which by the way means dandelion. In Sweden it just recently came in a smaller version, 55 cm, for those with smaller dens.
Good luck house hunting!
Elizabeth says
Oooooo…now I’ve been teased by the thought of a smaller dandelion chandelier. If only I knew how big 55cm was. Darn American schools! ;-)
Olga says
A faux sheepskin? Awesome, I’m totally going to check that out on our next trip to IKEA. Hopefully they will have them in Canada too. The real ones kind of creep me out and I’ve heard bad things about how they’re obtained and treated too. :( But I like snuggly things (and your idea of using them to cover up the xmas tree stand!) so this would be a great compromise.
Nikki says
Thanks for the virtual trip to Ikea you guys. We have 2 near us so we are spoiled. Just wanted to answer two questions I came across.
The Maskros (actually means dandelion) chandy DOES now come in a smaller size but is very new so not in catalog or online yet. I saw it in the store about a month ago.
Also, I have 2 Ektorp couches and LOVE LOVE LOVE them. They are about 4 years old now and have stood up to 3 kids under 4 without showing a hint of wear!!! If they get dirty, into the wash go the slipcovers and in about 2 hours, a beautiful new couch. Wonderful pieces for anyone, but especially homes with kids.
Lucy says
Hi YHL,
I too did a run down of all the things I love from Ikea – we sadly had to let all our Ikea beauties go about 18 months ago when we moved internationally….but I am slowly letting Ikea take over our house again!
Check out my run down of Swedish delights here http://likemyhouselovemyhome.blogspot.com/2010/09/i-love-ikeo.html
Thanks for always bringing such fun and games to home making….and I cannot wait to see where you guys are heading next in the house department!
Lucy from Australia!
Jasmine says
I’m glad I’m not the only one who loves window shopping in IKEA!!! I blogged about it here: http://jazzynickel-crazycreative.blogspot.com/2010/10/design-inspiration-ikea-showroom.html
Love you guys! You make me wanna buy faux sheeps skin rugs LOL ;)
~Jazz
Bethany Joy says
We too loooove that light fixture. Thinking of getting one for the bedroom and ditching our ugly ceiling fan.
Ashley @ A { Blondes } DIY Life says
I never got my Ikea catalogue this year either! I think I even requested one twice! But I was also wondering what everyone thought of the Kivik Sofa…any thoughts? Does it seem cheap in person? Or does anyone know where I could find a similar look at a similar price point? Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Ashley,
We wish we could help but we don’t recall seeing it in person. Anyone else with advice?
xo,
s
Amy in PA says
The room finish picture shows one of the wall finishes to be Benjamin Moore’s Heaven on Earth color. That’s the color I just painted our guest room. I didn’t see it at Ikea but am so curious now to see what they furnished it with!
Claudie says
I was just at Ikea last week (Cincinnati location). I didn’t manage to spend too much for a change, but I did get a rug for our guest room and some metal boxes for the office as well as a couple other things.
For Ashley who asked about the Kivik, I was kind of disappointed. It looked great, but I just didn’t think it was that comfortable. I did like the Kivik storage ottoman though.
Amanda Z. says
My reaction to the in-progress kitchen: Gimme a screwdriver, I’ll finish it! We have made many a pilgrimage from St. Louis to the Chicago IKEA, and installed our own kitchen 2 years ago. Can’t tell you how many rainy/cold/sweltering weekends I am bored and turn to my husband and say “today would be a good day for a stroll through IKEA.” And some meatballs.