Fab Fall Makeover

The leaves are changing colors and the temperatures getting cooler. That means it's time to break out the tall boots and cashmere sweaters...at least that's why I love fall. But with Thanksgiving just around the corner, it also makes me think about making a few decorating tweaks at home.

I usually just switch out my sofa throw pillows and call it a day. But after seeing the fabulous new Stockholm lattice rug at IKEA last month, I'm considering bumping it up a notch. I also fell head over heals in LOVE, LOVE, LOVE with the green velvet Stockholm sofa. But the super practical side of me would never allow such a purchase. So pushing that green sofa to the dark recesses of my mind, I came up with a lovely AND practical wish list to update my home for the fall. I've rounded up a collection highlighting the newly expanded IKEA Stockholm line along with our Knesting slipcovers that will make any home a treat come turkey day.

Fall Decorating Buying Guide

1. Knesting.com slipcover in Espresso Twill for the IKEA Ektorp 3 Seater Sofa
2. IKEA Stockholm rug
3. IKEA Stockholm cabinet in walnut
4. Knesting.com slipcover in Lemon Magna for the IKEA Henriksdal bar stool
5. Throw pillows: Cable Knit from World Market and Orange flange from CB2
6. Geena table lamp from Pottery Barn
7. Threshold accent cabinet from Target
8. Knesting Oatmeal Linen slipcover for the IKEA Ektorp footstool

Happy Fall everyone!!!

New 2014 IKEA Catalog items - A Quick Tour

It's that time of year again! Many of us IKEA fanatics think this time of year is even better than Christmas morning. I definitely felt more giddy roaming the aisles of my Atlanta IKEA this week than opening Christmas gifts in years past. Not that my gifts haven't been good....no, no, no. I've loved and appreciated ALL of my gifts. But wandering through the IKEA maze, wondering what new and shiny things will be around that next bend...now that is pure bliss!

Okay, some of you might be thinking I'm a little weird, so I will just get to it. There are lots of new items from the 2014 IKEA catalog showing up in the stores now. I keep anxiously awaiting my catalog in the mail, but so far have had to settle with the online version. You can check it out here.

I'm not exactly in love with the cover. It seems a bit random, and all of those jars look odd to me. But it is bright which is one of the things I love about IKEA. It may just be my store or that they haven't arrived, but I didn't see a whole lot of new items in the living room area yet. There was a cool fuchsia colored sofa bed, kind of like the Moheda model. But when my eyes saw these beauties, I forgot about that sofa.

There are three new high gloss colors for the Expedit series - hot pink, teal, and orange! I loved the high gloss gray models introduced last year, but wow these are so much fun. I'm sure they will just add to the amazing and creative uses of Expedits across the blogosphere. Another new shelving option I found in the kitchen area is this one called the Stenstorp. 

I think these shelves would also look great by an entryway for hanging coats. Next in my grand tour came the seating section. My favorite new chair is this bright yellow model named Reidar.

And last stop on the top floor was the children's section with lots of cute bedding products including this one.

After a quick dinner break that included a nice summer berry salad rounded out with a piece of yummy Swedish apple pie (only $1.29 with an IKEA Family card!), it was time to hit the downstairs market. Here's where I noticed a trend of various items in a lovely, soft seafoam green. Since it's one of my favorite colors, I couldn't help but ogle these new dishes.

And then I found a few new fabulous rugs in the textiles department. These new Stockholm series rugs come in two great colors - brown and yellow.

Buttons are another new theme in this year's catalog...

 Whewwwww. It was a long, but fruitful evening. Now I'm gonna try my best to not make a return trip this weekend......but I'm not promising anything.

Passion for Purple

Purple, purple, purple. It was one of my favorite colors as a child and then last year I noticed it had made a major reappearance in my wardrobe. Then I started to notice it appearing everywhere included in the home decor market. IKEA even introduced their Tullinge Lilac, Hovby Lilac, and Dansbo Lilac slipcovers for the Ektorp and Kivik sofa lines. We have always offered a Knesting Purple Twill option for our IKEA slipcovers. But when recently launching the new Dove Linen fabric option, it just screamed out that it wanted to share the floor with the deep purple shade. The new Dove Linen fabric is a soft shade of gray with just a hint of lavender and wonderful linen fibers woven in for great texture.

Here are a few photos from Style Estate showing how to pair the two colors for dramatic effect in both contemporary and more traditional settings.

Purple, lavender, lilac - whatever lovely shades you prefer, here is a collection highlighting the look featuring our slipcovers for the IKEA Ektorp sofa and chair models in Purple Twill and Dove Linen. Enjoy and design on!

Buying Guide

1. Klabb Table Lamp - IKEA
2. Bergman Cabinet - Pier 1
3. Mansard Scroll Mirror Natural - Restoration Hardware
4. Dotted Trellis Dove Curtain Panel - Crate and Barrel
5. Knesting slipcover for Ektorp Sofa in Purple Twill
6. ISALA Coffee table - IKEA
7. Jaipur Fables Glamourous Tufted Rug - LaylaGrayce.com
8. Knesting slipcover for Ektorp chair in Dove Linen
9. Basay Basket - Crate & Barrel
10. Dwell Studio Bella Porte pillow cover in Charcoal - Knesting.com

Yellow & gray room inspiration

Magazines and blogs have been flooded with trendy images of rooms awash in lovely yellows and peaceful grays. I love the color palette and think yellow is such an interesting contrast to the new mainstay of neutral decorating, the color gray.

This room from HGTV includes curtains in one of my favorite fabrics from designer Thomas Paul. The fabric pattern is Dahlia Dove, and you can now find it online at Fabric.com.

via blackwhiteyellow.blogspot.com

And I am in lust with this yellow lamp and chair. What a way to brighten up a corner.

via Belle Maison

The color combo even works well in more traditional interiors.

Here's our fun twist on a yellow and gray room that includes the IKEA Karlstad series and one of our Knesting.com sunshine chevron slipcovers. How can a room this cheery not make you smile???

Shopping Guide

1. Yellow floor lamp from Urban Outfitters
2. Citrine Dwell Studio pillow cover from Knesting.com
3. Custom slipcover for IKEA Karlstad Sofa in Graphite Twill from Knesting.com
4. IKEA Stockholm coffee table in golden brown
5. Amy Butler rug from Layla Grace
6. Custom slipcover for IKEA Karlstad chair in Sunshine Chevron from Knesting.com
7. IKEA Klubbo nesting tables
8. Yellow vintage fan from Etsy
9. What I Love Most print from VintageNotionsCrafts on Etsy

A quick room redo with pillows

Got a case of the winter blahs? Been spending too much time inside and need to change up your living space? Nothing is easier than changing out a few throw pillows and a rug to refresh a room. Here's one sofa that takes on entirely different personalities by changing the pillow options.

You can choose a variety of colors and patterns that together create a sophisticated, classic collection.

Or stick with a single color family for a clean, serene, and uncluttered feel. Using different textures is the key to keeping this look interesting.

Images via House Beautiful

Bold colors choices are a great option if you want to instill energy into your room. 

Check out our new chevron pillow covers or my personal favorites, our Thomas Paul pillow covers if you are in need of a little inspiration. 

   

Sunshine Chevron pillow cover

Dwell Studio pillow cover in Twilight Bella Porte

Thomas Paul pillow cover in Tangerine Aviary

Waverly pillow cover in Ivory Pen Pal

These pillow covers make a room makeover even easier because there's no need to store a bunch of extra pillows. The covers fit over a standard pillow form or maybe even your existing pillows and with the simple pull of a zipper, ta-da you have a new look! All of these covers were photographed with the IKEA Inner pillow form that sells for the fabulous price of $2.99.

Old made new again

Ever since I moved out the Christmas tree at the beginning of the month, I've been in one of those clean and purge moods. Isn't it amazing how much STUFF can accumulate over time? Which then makes me wonder why I feel the need to shop for yet more stuff. After conducting some research on Pinterest...yes that's what we'll call it - research... scanning for unique ideas of how to reuse the items already in my possession, my creative juices began to flow.

Here's a roundup of some of the best ideas I came across for taking everyday items you already own and making them new again through ingenious displays. Not only new, but new and improved!

image via Apartment Therapy

This super easy and inexpensive idea incorporates the IKEA Dignitet curtain hanging system to display your children's artwork. I think this idea would also work wonderfully with old postcards or black & white photographs.

via Flickr

I personally like my coffee cup to have a little flair when I'm trying to wake up in the morning, so I love this idea of using a coffee mug collection as an eye catching display. The IKEA Stripa shelving above has been discontinued, but the Ribba picture ledge can serve the same purpose.

via BHG

via ApartmentTherapy

Do you have a collection of small items that has somehow outgrown your space? How about selecting the cream of the crop and displaying them in lovely glass canisters. Another great idea is to rotate your collection regularly so that it always feel new and refreshed. 

via cupcakesandcashmere.com

via everythingfab.com

And maybe the easiest way to make your old finds new again is by simply framing them. Inexpensive white frames like the IKEA Sondrum and Odby series below can make just about anything more interesting. 

 

Markdowns on discontinued IKEA covers

It's the end of the year and we are doing a little winter cleaning in the warehouse. As a result, we have just put our discontinued slipcovers on sale so that they can move on and find a new, loving home. These covers are fabulous but since the fabrics are no longer available, they are in limited quantities. Check out the "One of a Kind" section of our store for current availability.

Here a LACK, there a LACK, everywhere a LACK LACK

IKEA is known for it's functional, stylish and inexpensive furniture and I think the LACK Series is a quintessential example. Sorrry EXPEDIT I will get to you on another day. For a whopping $7.99 you can buy a simple LACK side table that with just a spark of creativity...or good inspiration photos from the internet...you can transform into your very own masterpiece.

I recently wrote about a great company called O'verlays who makes fun decorative panels that fit popular IKEA models including the Lack. So with their greek key kit you can turn a white lack into this unique piece of furniture.

Apartment Therapy has also done a post recently on hacking the Lack that included these interesting ideas. The easiest way to change up with lack is with paint, stencils or other decorative elements.

I love this creative idea of using two of them in combination.

Who doesn't love Legos? This idea is great if you are trying to corral your kids' Legos into one area.

This is probably my favorite since I copied this one and stacked two Lacks to create a standing laptop station in our shipping area complete with printer on the bottom shelf. This version has a butcher block top that helps it fit right in this kitchen.

Now that IKEA has introduced the high gloss series of Lacks in red, white and gray, there are even more fun options out there!

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/design/hacking-the-ikea-lack-one-table-ten-different-ways-159270

The IKEA China catalog - can you spot the differences?

Back in August, my dear friend Taowen was visiting from Shanghai when she noticed my shiny new 2012 IKEA catalog. I asked if it looked like her version, but she wasn't sure since it hadn't been released yet. I commented that it would be interesting to compare the two and asked if she would mind sending me a copy when they became available.

Fast forward a couple of months and on Saturday I got a note from my mail carrier that I had registered mail I needed to sign for at the post office. Maybe I'm a bit of a pessimist, but I got worried...I mean who gets a registered letter these days unless it's something bad??? So I was pleasantly surprised today to discover the notice was actually for an oddly marked package from China containing their new IKEA catalog. Yeahhhhh!

I know my brain functions differently than most, but I've always wondered if the 175 million catalogs IKEA prints each year (more than 3 times the printings of the Bible according to Wikipedia) are all the same, other than the obvious language differences. Well now I have a definitive answer to my pondering....no they are not! Check out the two covers and see how many differences you can find.

It's so odd because they used the exact same room right down to the same plants but styled it differently. The biggest difference is the color palettes. China's room is done with a black and white theme and pale gray walls. The U.S. room has a mint green paint color, light brown colored sofa and black table with chairs. I really would love to see how they stage the rooms and decide which looks work best for which regions.

Honestly, 90% of the rest of the catalog is almost identical as you can OBVIOUSLY read from the index pages.

The most notable areas of difference are the kitchen and living room sections. Our kitchen appliances vary dramatically from the rest of the world so I expected to see some differences there. The China kitchen brings back memories of when I was living in Spain and had a difficult time finding anyone who owned an oven large enough for a Thanksgiving turkey.

And the US catalog living room complete with multiple pieces of the same Tidafors sofa plus an adorable Golden Retriever...

For the most part there aren't too many people shown in IKEA catalogs, so I did find the difference below interesting, but honestly it's because I kept staring at the two Pax wardrobes to the left of the bed wondering if the US version is wider.

But my favorite difference between the two catalogs...

the metric versus imperial rulers on the spines of the catalogs! Thanks Taowen for remembering my odd request and for the nice note tucked inside.