10 Must-Haves from Ikea

I'm a huge fan of IKEA.  Yes, their products come with lengthy instructions and take a considerable amount of time to put together.  But their stuff is so cool and cheaply-priced that it's worth it!  I've bought tons of stuff from IKEA (all of which I've been very happy with), but here are some of my current faves:

Salong Vase $4.99

I adore the shaped of this eliptical small bud vase!  It's available in two sizes, and also comes in clear/white.

Kassett Boxes with Lids (2 pack) $9.99

These are collapsable and come packaged completely flat.  They're pretty easy to put together (approx 3 min per box), and even though they are made of thick cardboard they're very sturdy-- mine have made it through 3 moves!

Expedit Shelving $69.99

The Expedit series is probably one of my all-time favorites!  This shelving unit is so versatile and multi-functional.  I mounted mine horizontally on the wall so that it's floating above the floor at sideboard height.  It's overly complicated to put together, but if you decide to mount it on the wall to achieve a floating shelf look like my husband and I did, be prepared for a 2-hour adventure!

Maskros Pendant Lamp $49.99

This pendant light has been pictured in countless designer rooms and magazines, and for good reason--- it's a great conversation piece that adds texture to a room at an incredible price!  This comes packaged flat (so you can order it online), and is not hard to put together - just time consuming.  Connecting it to your wiring in the ceiling fixture is the hardest part.

Hemnes 8-Drawer Dresser $299

The Hemnes series is another great classic.  This dresser is so basic, but it's really well done.  I like the fact that instead of the traditional 3 x 3 classic dresser styles, the four smaller drawers across the top of this dresser add an eclectic look to an otherwise simple piece.

Ung Drill Mirror $39.99

This mirror is the perfect size!  I think it's hard to find mirrors with the right porportions, but Ikea nailed it with the Ung Drill mirror.  I love the fact that it comes painted with a black finish, but you could always spray paint/re-finish it another color.  How fun would this be in a bright color?!

Ljusas Uvas Lamp $39.99

Whenever I'm in Ikea, my favorite part of the store is the lighting section (just go to one of their stores and you'll see what I'm talking about).  The color of this lamp is fantastic, and I also love the opaque glass base & matching shade.

Hemnes Sofa Table $179

The combination of two different cubby hole sizes on this table make it so unique.  Ikea makes several basket series designed to fit in their tables/shelves, so you can buy small storage baskets that fit perfectly in this table.  The size of the table makes it super versatile as well.

Blomster Vase $24.99

My very first Ikea purchase :)  They have different patterns available, but this size/style is my favorite.

Tarva Chest (unfinished) $149

The lines of this Tarva chest of drawers are very simple, but you can do so much with this piece!  It comes unfinished so you can stain it, paint it, or gloss it any color that you want.  You can also change out the knobs to something more decorative for a custom look.

The "Light" side of Flea Markets

from http://styledip.com

I've been on this kick lately where I love acquiring vintage pieces; partly because I love the history that comes with them, and partly because they have a certain look that can't be found in mainstream stores.  Don’t get me wrong, I like the 'Homegoods/Target/Ethan Allen/Pottery Barn' stuff just as much as the next girl.  But I think that adding in those unique pieces can add much-desired eclectic flair to a room. 

Flea Markets, thrift stores, estate sales, and yard sales (I'm originally from Connecticut, and we call them "tag sales" there) are great places to find fodder for DIY projects.  Looking for beautiful items that you can refurbish also allows you to achieve that high-end, designer-sourced look in your space -- without the hefty price tag!

While my husband and I were at the North Carolina Fairgrounds flea market this weekend, I spotted several very cool retro lamps & chandeliers.  Some of them had beautiful hand-blown glass bases, or had iron frames, and others even had intricate engraving and scrollwork.  There were even old-fashioned chandeliers designed to hold candlesticks (although I'm sure that you could wire them to be compatible with light bulbs too).  I also noticed that the circa-1980's style lamps are starting to make a comeback, along with art deco sconces.  It got my creative wheels turning, and I started thinking about DIY ways to transform these old light fixtures.



To be honest, you often have to use your imagination when you see items at the flea market.  Most of the time they're rusted and dirty, covered in cobwebs, or possibly scratched and missing parts.  You need to look past what they are, and see what they can be.  When you see something that intrigues you, and you're wondering if you should buy it or not, try to envision what it would look like if you:

• clean it with steel wool or apply an antique finish
• spray-paint the entire surface a bright color
• add a metallic crackle finish to highlight interesting details
• add a new lamp shade
• apply decorative embellishments like trim, glass beads, metal hardware, wood finials, tassles
• replace missing parts
• paint a pattern onto the lamp shade
• wire crystals onto the stem or arms
• hand-paint or stencil designs onto the surface

 Before I buy, I always ask myself two things: "Do I love this?" and "Can I use this in different ways long-term?".  You should acquire pieces that you LOVE, not just like.  You can avoid buyer's remorse by making sure that the item can be used in various places in your home, again and again.  I also like to take pieces and re-purpose them for something other than what they're designed for.  For example, you could take old sconces and secure them to a wall in your entryway to use as coat hooks.  Old five-arm chandeliers can be turned into a custom baby mobile using ribbon, paint, a rotating spindle, and dangling objects.  And those cheap and un-loved brass candlesticks can take on a new life by being used as a base or vessel for floral centerpieces.

I find that it helps me get inspiration when I look at a finished product, pictures of rooms, or colors.  I try to catalog pictures of things that I love (lighting, rooms, furniture, etc.), so that when I see raw materials, I already have a vision of what I could do with them.  Websites like www.pinterest.com and www.polyvore.com make it really easy to create your own digital inspiration "cheat sheet" of what to look for when you hit the thrifty shopping scene.  I just recently discovered that they make apps for both of these sites, so if you have an iPhone or an iPad, you can literally take your inspiration with you wherever you go!