Goodies from the new IKEA catalog

I really like IKEA. I mean, yeah, it's not heirloom quality but there have been many, many times in my life when "saving up for an investment piece" was really not advice I could take.

And I like the design. Not everything (hate their florals) but many things. I like IKEA green! I like that the children's toys are cheap and conform to EU standards for chemicals.














I also secretly wish an IKEA room planning person would come to my house and show me how to fit a family of sixteen into my living room.

For those of us who can't afford a chair...

Fab-tastical new posters from Blue Ant.

Love, love, love.

Not shower curtains

I keep trying not to like stuff at Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie. There are a million reasons why, many quite obvious, having to do with silliness/price. But really, they do have some good stuff.

What I was looking for was a new shower curtain, but what I saw was this.





And this.

Window dressing

I got this catalogue in the mail. CB2. I've seen the stores around, but never looked into one.

The catalogue, though, entrances me, and this is why - I've become fascinated with the pretend reading matter scattered through the scenes. I don't even know what it's supposed to reflect - is it an aspirational lifestyle to read the New Yorker, the NYT and Twilight? The bathroom has National Geographic (currently laying people off, apparently). There are also the inescapable Large Design Books and, of course, everyone uses a Mac.

There is some ok stuff in the catalogue but it's very IKEA and I'd rather just go straight to the funfair land of slides and macaroni and cheese (most people think of meatballs, but a family member is addicted to the mac).



Added: Those reviews are totally fake! CB2, in my book you are busted. There is no way a pitcher can have that many good reviews because real people are picky and grumpy. Also, take note, real people don't spell well and use poor grammar. Especially in reviews.

Stumped

So this is - well, I don't know what it is. Yes I do: it's a cardboard stump from Target. That's all I can say. But I like it.

Whoosh

Okay, some stuff I've been meaning to post for a while.

First is the IKEA slide, which of course Greg at Daddytypes beat me to - but hey, that dude has ads.

Our local IKEA (aka my daughter's favorite restaurant) recently remodeled and the tunnel/slide play combo through the wall in the kid furniture section has been replaced by this mysterious small chamber with changing lights. I better post a picture because that sounds weird, but it basically looks like a child-size teleport device that will take you straight to Sweden.

However, there is still a slide at IKEA. It's pretty great, actually, especially compared to the bright plastic, static-inducing kind. Not cheap, though.

Sitt!

This is sort of like a mini Tripp-Trapp. The HandySitt is a tray-less booster to put on a chair, which can be a lot more useful than a high chair sometimes. It folds up, although honestly I never want to carry anything when I travel.

It's also great-looking, though a chunk of change. Comes with an add-on so it can be used on the floor, although it inevitably would be used as a stepstool too and I'm not sure how stable it is.

I think it's one of those things you might love, you might not use -- depends on your kid-feeding lifestyle. But at least people are making things that look nice, right?

Saw it at NOTCOT.

People read this?

So I was reading Daddy Types, because it's awesome. And he had this post that was all about 'Hey, there's a Mammut crib at IKEA.'

And I said to myself, 'Hey, I posted about that. Twice, actually.'

And then I kept reading and it said, 'Oh, look, Ohdeedoh spotted it yesterday too. At covetable' and I said, 'Hey, that's me." Ohdeeoh is Apartment Therapy for babies.

So there was one of those ourobourous bloggy moments.

(Thanks again for the photo, Kitt.)

Maybe your reach, not mine

It's sort of a joke for Design Within Reach to send me a catalogue. The name on its own just kills me. I mean, the day I buy a $500 desk lamp is the day I have no furniture in my house except a $500 desk lamp.

However, these scissors are beautiful. Maybe not $100 beautiful, but covetable nonetheless.



On the other hand, this unadorned canvas bag is also $100. There is no way you can convince me a tote bag needs to cost that much. At least stencil a damn bird on it!



But, you know, DWR has realized some of the arcane knowledge of LL Bean:

"Used for its industrial strength and durability, canvas is an ideal material for a tote bag."

Mammoth

I should have taken a picture because I can't find it online, but the Mammut series at IKEA -- otherwise known as the Toontown stuff -- has a crib! In pink or blue, which is lame. But still, there is something appealing about the solid/puffy look.

The case of the yellow dresser

Hey, doesn't this...



...look a little like this?

Only like seven zillion dollars cheaper. (I actually took this photo in the as-is section of IKEA.)

Bureau of fun stuff

Katherine Urban Flea contacted me because she has a design blog...and just look at what she's found. This is pretty damn cool.



Click through to Urban Flea to see where it's from.