In the Making

If you've been reading Gathered Heart for long, you probably know how much Christopher and I love IKEA (our newest obsession is their kid's line, of course.) This afternoon, I ran across something that made me fall in love with that sweet, sweet Swedish megastore even more: an entire YouTube series called In the Making, a how-to-build video guide for some of their most popular (or perhaps most confusing) products.

These how-to videos combine IKEA's classic step-by-step illustrated instructions with clips of people assembling the actual product. Need help putting together your new couch or hanging that fancy curtain track? Prop up your phone or iPad and follow along with happy little yellow-shirted IKEA assembly people as you work. Bonus points for the quirky soundtrack and little pop-up tips.

I have to admit, I'm a little obsessed. See more In the Making videos here

Ikea 1973

Someone please time travel with me to an IKEA store, circa 1973....

 

 

Is that the BOKSEL coffee table I see??

My grandmother had a very similar sunflower pattern in her kitchen...
and how great are those lightbulb pendant lamps?

I love it all... the early EXPEDIT-style modular shelving, the chocolate brown bedding, the model's awesome yellow plaid shirt in the second photo. This is the stuffs of dreams, friends. Mustard and orange are obvious color choices for the decade, but I had no idea kelly green was so popular in the 70s. It's also interesting to see how early IKEA designs influenced modern-day pieces like the above bed compared to the MALM bedframe and add on nightstands. Who knew?

Thank you, Sweden. Thank you. 

Images from Retro! via Scrap Hacker

Oh, Ikea...

I love Ikea, I really do. I know I've already made that apparent, but I thought I'd remind you all again. The two hour trip last Friday was well worth it... I picked up almost everything on my Wish List and then some. We decided to wait on buying a desk because everything we looked had the "I put this together from a flat-packed box" appearance that I typically try to avoid. And the blue enamel pitcher I wanted was so tiny -- 6 inches will not suffice for pouring lemonade come June. 

I'm not positive... but I think this face means Ulia likes the new love seat.

We successfully assembled the love seat on Friday night, and began working on the bed frame Monday evening. Old bed frame disassembled, entire room dusted and vacuumed, new frame pieced together: check. Three main support-screws later, Chris noticed something wrong with the fourth and final one. It was completely misshapen (almost stripped) and impossible to screw into the frame. I called Ikea, who told us we could drive two hours to "swing by" and pick up a new screw or wait 7 business days for them to ship it to our house (apparently they're shipping it alllllll the way from Sweden.)  

At first I was pretty upset to think I'd be crashing on our couch for over a week... but we totally made it work. I present to you our awesome living-room-couch-bedroom-mattress: 

Please ignore the mess and instead focus on how awesome it is that our mattress fits perfectly between our sectional and love seat. It reminds me of being a kid and creating sofa-forts out of blankets and couch cushions. We're on day 5 and I honestly haven't slept this soundly in a while. The mattress seems softer, the pillows are fluffier, and our comforter couldn't be any cozier. Not to mention it makes a great spot for watching two disks of True Blood in one setting.

Wish List: Ikea

Happy Friday! Christopher and I are both cutting out of work a little early today to journey to the mecca of clean-line design and Swedish meatballs: Ikea!! We plan on spending a bit of our tax return on some much needed items for our newlywed nest (and hopefully a few just-for-fun things, too!)

Clockwise from left: 1. We never have enough seating at our house, so we're picking up a Karlstad Loveseat that matches our sectional couch.  2. I'm obsessed with eyelet detailing, like in this Skurar plant pot.  3. Helllllo blue enamel Sockerart pitcher. I must have you.  4. I'm still trying to convince Chris that I need a new desk, and this build-your-own Vika option would be practical and perfect. 5. We already have one of these Stockholm Blad cushions, but I'd like to pick up two more. I love that linear floral pattern.  6. Right after our honeymoon we picked up two Hemnes dressers, but they didn't have the coordinating bed in stock. We're hoping they will this time.  7. Even if I don't get my desk, Chris has already promised we can pick up a new chair, which beats pulling one from our dining room table any day. 

Are you a fan of Ikea? I know some people hate it because their pieces are so obviously Ikea-ish, but I think Ikea is great. The company does a wonderful job at providing people with simple, modern designs at incredible prices. And why wouldn't you love that? Mhmm.

And of course, you can't go to Ikea without thinking of this adorable scene:



That's because it is delicious!  Oh I love that movie. And Zooey Deschanel.

Happy weekend!