IKEA Snobs

Why do some people have such disdain for IKEA? They sell chic, contemporary and - the best part - economical products. Yes, some of the furniture can be a bit flimsy. However, there are several items that have proven to be versatile and long-lasting. Plus, with items sold at 1/4 the average cost of its high-end competitors, IKEA seems to be an excellent alternative. Check out these fabulous, affordable IKEA pieces from a few of my favorite bloggers.

butcher block {sanded + painted turquoise = LOVE} :: jennifer johner

karl sofa :: young house love

bjursta table :: love and lace

expedit shelves :: live creating yourself

At long last, here is a picture of our beloved Mongstad mirror from IKEA, now residing in our Master Bedroom.

It is massive and we love it!

What are your thoughts on this admittedly Walmart-esque home decor giant?

Bedroom Vanity: Hardware

About a year ago, my mom gave me this mustard-colored, bamboo piece of furniture that she used in her kitchen:

It spent several months masquerading as a desk in our office:

However, I decided that, with its hidden mirror, it would be much better-suited as a vanity in our Master Bedroom.

So, I painted it a soft, dove gray color and it looks MUCH better {pics coming soon!}, but I'd like to update the hardware to something more contemporary. Here are what I'm considering:

1. Arthurian ~ anthro

2. Acrylic ~ target

 3. Cocktail Ring ~ anthro

4. Satin Nickel ~ bed bath & beyond

5. Keyhole ~ anthro

6. Bauble ~ anthro

 7. Alexandra ~ anthro

8. Liberty Satin Nickel ~ Walmart

9. Bubble ~ anthro

10. Mercury Glass Melon ~ anthro

Please let me know your thoughts/suggestions.

Mirror, Mirror

I've been drooling over the Mongstad mirror from IKEA for literally years...

Ah, sixty inches of contemporary perfection...

For some strange reason, I always thought it was $200, so I never gave it a second glance {I buy all of my mirrors second-hand, usually for $10 or less}. However, I just found out the other day that it's only $99!! And for such a massive mirror, I consider that a steal! Much thanks to my brother-in-law, who gave me a $50 gift card to IKEA for Christmas, I will now be purchasing this little {well, BIG} gem for our Master Bedroom.

It will be great because the mirror we now have is one of those inexpensive ones from Target. It's fine for 5'5" me, but not so great for my 6'2" husband! Plus, the mirror we currently have is much too small for the space, and hanging art above the mirror just didn't feel right...so the Mongstad will be the perfect solution!

I'll be sure to post pics of the new mirror as soon as we pick it up!

Have you made any exciting purchases lately?




FYI I am still trying to catch up on posting pics for the 365 Challenge...

a Christmas gift from a co-worker...LOVE the spoon-holder!

 Benj, arriving home from work late one chilly Winter evening

An antique plate that belonged to my great-grandma

{can you spy our current, teeny mirror propped up against the wall?}

Repose

I've already had 3 job interviews this week, and I have 2 more today. I need a nap. Preferably in one of these lovely rooms...

{the cream and aqua combination is ever so dreamy}

{one of my favorite spaces by Candace Olsen}

{more cream and aqua deliciousness}

{this room is so light and airy}

Sadly, our bedroom does not look like any of those. Don't get me wrong; I love our bedroom. I just can't seem to keep it tidy. In fact, I haven't even made our bed yet today. To be honest, I don't usually make the bed until about 5 minutes before the husband arrives home from work. That is a secret, so zip it! But don't you think an unmade bed looks incredibly cozy and inviting? I sure do. Here is a picture of ours:

See what I mean? I can almost hear it calling out to me...

Ok, that's it. The second I get home from my interviews, I'm going to make myself a Vanilla Chai Latte, climb into that lovely bed, and read "Lord of the Rings" until I feel sufficiently rested.

You may have noticed that it looks like the covers only go partway across the bed. That is because I am a covers-stealer and by the end of the night, all of the covers end up on my side of the bed. hehe :)

So, how do you unwind after {or during} a busy week?

Long Lost Twin

I've been wanting to buy a jewelry box for years, but something always stopped me. The ones I found were too formal or too casual or too small or too big or too expensive. Whatever the case, I haven't had a real jewelry box in about 10 years. Enter West Elm:

Don't you just love them?! The silver hardware, the beautiful lacquer finish. The white one is my favorite ~ so pretty!

However, I wasn't too keen on the $100 price tag.

Well, meet Joi {of Nuestra Vida Dolce} and her incredible Home Goods find:

I couldn't believe it ~ they're practically twins! But at $15, Joi's option was MUCH more appealing.

Unfortunately, if you've ever shopped at a store like Home Goods {or Marshalls or TJMaxx or Ross}, you know that the chances of finding the same thing in another Home Goods store are slim to none. So I didn't even bother looking.

Fast-forward 1 week. Ben and I had tried out a new church that just happened to be right down the road from Home Goods. I thought nothing of the jewelry box {since I'd already given up on that dream} and instead went in to window shop. While perusing a random isle, I glanced down and, hidden in the very back of a bottom shelf, was the jewelry box!! I couldn't believe it! Needless to say, I snatched it up and {after receiving approval from the hubbie} made it mine.

It now resides in our Master bedroom on my hand-me-down, bamboo Pier1 dresser:

Isn't it just divine? I love when my decorating dreams come true :)

White!

I love decorating with white. In every room of our house, you can find at least one white object: planters, curtains, blankets, vases, etc. My newest white purchase: a microgel down-alternative King comforter for our Master Bedroom. We actually have a Queen-sized bed but the King comforter makes it look and feel much more comfy. And do you know what this new comforter is replacing? A smaller, down comfoter I bought on overstock.com a few years back, which will now be moved to the guest room. I know, I am all about the white!

After our failed comforter purchase from Target a few weeks ago (kissing pleats comforter = crap!), we settled on a much less pricey, much more fluffy one from Walmart. This baby is hypoallergenic, has sewn-through box construction and is finished with a corded edge. I just got back from the beach a few days ago and have been busy planning a surprise party for a friend, so I haven't had time to take any pictures of our new comforter. However, here is a picture I found on the store's website:

Isn't it just perfect?! I love the fresh, white color and crisp, clean lines. White bedding is great because you can pair it with pastels and neutrals for a calming space or you can combine it with bright colors for a room that is eclectic and vibrant. Here are some fabulous spaces that use primarily WHITE linens...

What color(s) do you use to accessorize your home?