A Bold New World

Some of you might recognize this dresser from a little meme that I made a while back to accompany a post. (You can find it in all its original glory here although I have to warn you- it may be a little depressing.)

When I moved to my apartment back in May I had to leave the old dresser behind as it had been borrowed from the people who owned the building. Luckily, IKEA came my rescue with a bedroom event and after much deliberation I chose this baby to adopt and take into my bedroom. In a completely non-sexual way.

Here it is on the IKEA website. It’s part of the HEMNES line, if anyone’s interested (although in this screen shot the color is complete off for whatever reason. It’s much more red in person).

It got me thinking about bold pieces of furniture. When you’re on a budget, investing in furniture that is reasonably priced with a classic or neutral feel can seem like the smartest choice to make because it’s something that is guaranteed to stay with you for a long time. Even though this dresser is now only $149 CAD, and would not completely break the bank if I wanted to re-invest in another one in the future, it still felt like agony to choose between the neutral finishes IKEA offers. So I decided to make a bold move and enter into the new world of brightly-colored furniture.

I have to say folks: it’s a whole lotta fun.

I don’t advocate going crazy and immediately re-furnishing your apartment in the wackiest, craziest colors you can find. But everything that we were buying for our apartment at the time was feeling really neutral and boring and I was sick of trying to figure out “accents” in the form of pillows and paintings.

Choosing one or two items for your apartment or house (unless you’re feeling really adventurous) in a bold hue or in a fun pattern can be a great way to add visual interest to a room and give it a nice, layered look as opposed to something that’s stiff and formal. And if you move in the future or decide to re-decorate, it can be a fun little challenge to see how you can incorporate that funky chair or wild dresser into your new color scheme.

I did a little searching around to some of my favorite stores and came up with some other bold examples that may find their way into someone’s awesome new room. You really don’t have to limit yourself with one color scheme.

I’m in love with this little loveseat from Urban Outfitters. It’s got this 70s feel, but with an edge, and the teal color is to die for! I’m in love with airy blue rooms at the moment and this would fit right, giving everything a mermaid-ish feel. Or if you wanted to kick it up a notch, I’d throw in some punchy coral and navy blue to give it more of a Mediterranean vibe. For those who just want to dip their toes into the world of colorful furnishings, I’d put this sofa in a smoky gray room with some charcoal accents. Maybe even a little lilac even if you’re daring. Oooh la la.

Speaking of lilac, how about this little lady from IKEA? This chair has nice, clean and classic lines but when paired with purple upholstery it would pack a punch in a dining room. Can you picture a row of these lined up at a chunky black-brown dining table with soft lilac walls and silver accents? For a look that’s a little less muted, you could substitute accent pieces in fun colors like chartreuse or raspberry.

Why, hello hello yellow coffee table. This vision in citrus is from cb2 and would look dynamite in an ultra-modern room filled with neutrals and whites, and maybe a crazy rug in a zebra print style. Add a vase of hot-pink roses and you’d have a living that screams, “Come back to life Domino magazine and photograph me!” Or sneak a pop of color in a room filled with cream, beige and bone color and layer in pieces of rust and burnt orange for an updated sixties feel.

As for what I’m going to do with my cheery red dresser, you’ll have to wait and see but after my little virtual shopping spree I think I’ve definitely caught the colorful furniture bug. You’ll have to stay tuned to see what my next purchase will be.

I want to see pictures of your latest bold purchase. Email them to me at thetwentiesproject@gmail.com or post the piece you’re coveting to Pinterest so we can share it on one of our boards.

Window Shopping: Holiday Edition- IKEA

Everyone knows that I have a bit of an obsession when it comes to IKEA but that could also be because during their holiday season the merchandise often reflects the holiday knick-knacks of my Swedish heritage. the decorations are cheap and often come in a variety of color schemes to suit your holiday decorating needs. I even have a friend whose Mom stocks up on cheap IKEA stemware and stores them in her garage for stress-free entertaining. No more worrying about those crystal champagne glasses!
Here are some of my favourite holiday-inspired IKEA items for holiday decorating and entertaining.

1) BORBY Lantern for block candle, white $19.99 CAD

This lantern suits any decorating scheme but could also be used on a buffet or even outdoors. I like the idea of changing up the color of the candle inside.

2) JULMYS Decoration, goat, straw $9.99 CAD

Who doesn’t love goats? Seriously, all the households in Sweden have one of these Christmas goats. Thanks to IKEA, you can too. Ours guards the presents under the tree.

3) JULMYS Garland, pearls, assorted colors $1.49 CAD

These pretty sparkly garlands (available in silver or red) could be used for just about anything in your house which is why they had to be included. You could use them as part of a homemade wreath, wrap them around a bannister or pool them about the bottom of a hurricane vase.

4) JULMYS  Tealight holder, clear glass $1.99 CAD

Okay, apparently I really like candle holders but this one is so sparkly and reminds me of icicles. So sue me.

5) JULFINT Table-runner, gray white $5 CAD

This table-runner is so sweet and neutral (and cheap!) it’s use doesn’t have to be limited to the dinner table. Use it to create a wintry vignette anywhere in your house. I’m thinking a coffee table or sideboard- but I think it could be nice a dresser too.

6) BÄRBAR Tray, assorted patterns $4.99 CAD

These fun patterned plastic trays are great to serve just about anything or can be used as a candle plate in a pinch.

7) GODIS Mix, glass striped, red $8.99 CAD

Serve up some Christmas cheer in an even more colorful glass or could be filled with small goodies for your younger, sweeter-toothed guests.

I Heart IKEA

It’s no secret that the arrival of a new IKEA catalogue makes me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside. I’ve even been known to steal them off of people’s lawns when they stopped delivering them to my particular area. (Read that confession here.) After being one of the lucky few to receive one last year, I hoped and prayed every single night that they would also deliver the IKEA catalogue to my door this year and, lo and behold, they did. Which prompted this Facebook photo:

So as an homage to IKEA as a way of thanking them for sending me this tome which will no doubt inspire countless hours of fun, I made up a little mood board with some of the things that I’m lusting after right now.

All images taken ruthlessly from the IKEA website.

 

1) SOLRUN fabric ($9.99/m CDN) This fabric is just so flowery and happy it makes me wonder where I can put it my apartment to inject a little bit of color. I’m thinking some throw pillows for my office but wouldn’t this be just as happy as a pair of curtains, or a bed skirt in a little girl’s room?

2) MALM 3-drawer chest in gray-turquoise ($99.99 CDN) I’ve always been a fan of the clean lines of the MALM series and can attest to the fact that the drawers open and shut like a dream. This particular piece comes in a variety of finishes, but I love this one that they’ve just introduced this year.

3) IKEA PS 2012 glass-door cabinet ($499 CDN) At a whopping 500 beans this cabinet seems a little pricey based on IKEA standards, but it’s part of their exclusive designer line celebrating 60 years of IKEA living. This cabinet is both retro and modern at the same time and with the addition of glass doors you can change up the objects you display inside so that the look never feels stale.

4) IKEA PS 2012 plant stand ($39.99 CDN) Who has a plant stand anymore?! I mean, honestly. The idea seems so old-fashioned that I immediately jumped on the inside of having this one, which has a circa 1950s modern vibe. It can be used anywhere to add a fresh touch of nature to a dull and boring room. I can see myself playing around with three big green different ferns for texture, or why not change it up with a seasonal look and choose three different colours of buoyant begonias for the springtime?

5) VAMMEN box with lid, set of 7 ($4.99 CDN) I love how fashion and home decor have really started to play with bright and bold colors, and these sweet little boxes are the perfect way to brighten up boring desk accessories or bring some much-needed organization to an entry way. You can even use them without the lids and stack to house all your jewelery. The possibilities are endless.

6) MEDVETEN vase ($8.99) A few years back if you had asked me to take a look at this item and would have made a face and said, “Bleecch! No way!” (Keep in a mind we’re talking about a girl who perpetually had a pink and green room, no matter where she lived on campus.) But this vase is just the kind of moody, industrial vibe that I’m starting to warm up to. I think it would look great with some really understated pussy willow branches, or a few twigs of forsythia. But I also think you could use it to give some edge to a super girly spray of pink carnations, or inject some goth into a light and airy room.
So there you have it- what I’m digging right now from IKEA. But who knows? The catalogue is so big and my mind tends to glaze over so often when I read it that it may turn out I’m missing about half of what’s good. Oh, who am I kidding? It’s affordable, Swedish furniture. It’s all good. Got any IKEA crushes lately? Let me know and I’d love to blog about them. Drop me a line at thetwentiesproject@gmail.com.

P.S. I wasn’t paid or perk’d to talk about any of the items shown in my mood board, or to talk about the company itself. I just really, really like IKEA even though there’s always some assembly required. :)

the great couch debacle

It was approximately two months from our moving date, right around when we found out that we got the apartment, that J and I decided to tag along with our friends on a trip to IKEA. I’m always good for a trip to IKEA (I think it’s because of the Swedish in my blood!) and for some reason J likes it to so we thought we’d just go along for the ride.

The purpose of this trip, in all seriousness, was that a bunch of us were going in on a desk for our friend, who really wanted a desk for a birthday present. It wasn’t until we found the said desk and were waiting in the longest line ever that I decided to run over to the as-is section to check it out.

For those of you who have never seen the as-is section IKEA, it’s a little something like this: it’s a room that’s usually near the cash but on the main floor, just off of the warehouse. Anything that a customer has returned pretty much goes in there because a piece of IKEA furniture can’t be sold if it’s already been assembled. (Oh the irony!) On that particular day the room was practically overflowing because the staff were changing around a lot of the displays. All of the  gently used furniture that had already been assembled on the show room floor was on sale.

Including this baby:

From ikea.ca

J often talked about wanting a sectional couch as we entertain quite frequently (and by entertain I mean his buddies come over and play video games). We both liked the clean lines of the Karlstad couch and while J preferred a leather cover, we both agreed that neither of us had the inclination to take care of it properly and with two dogs in the house who are pretty much allowed to do whatever they want, it seemed like an impracticality.

J didn’t care about the colour. I was hoping for something neutral and classic- either a brown or a dark grey. A large, expensive piece like that is something we hope to keep for    a long time and my decorating style leans to pops of colour instead of colourful pieces of furniture like this:

So I went in to the as-is section and look was waiting there for me.

From ikea.ca

Okay, so it’s just the same picture again (I didn’t have the foresight to take pictures in the room.) But let’s see that photo from IKEA again, this time with the sale price.

Some people might not get as excited as I do when I see a sale, but $300 off of my dream couch seemed to be just that- a dream, especially considering IKEA very rarely has sales. (And for those of you who think my math is wrong, the Karlstad has just come down in price from $1,299)

It was that moment where J came back from the restaurant to look for me and found me in the as-is section. I jokingly said to him, “Remember how I asked you to buy me something when we went to IKEA?”

He said, “Yeah, so I bought you this ice cream” and handed over the cone he was holding.

I thanked him and pointed at the couch, “I would also like you to buy me that couch, please.”

He took a look at it, looked at the price tag and said, “Okay.”

Honestly? He must have been on drugs or something because that was just crazy talk. But it wasn’t crazy talk and we really did end up buying it, along with a funny little plant that I also found in the as-is section- just because it had a couple of brown leaves!

Now, I wouldn’t recommend buying such a large piece of furniture like that on the fly- not because I don’t love my couch, or don’t appreciate a good sale, but it was the aftermath that really got me in trouble.

See, what we didn’t take into account was that the room of our place where we thought about storing the couch temporarily became no longer available as a storage space. And we hadn’t bothered to measure our doorways, or the overhang of the ceiling of the staircase to our apartment downstairs.

You just fill in the blanks. Yeah, I know. It was not that smart.

This is one time where buying a piece of furniture that is traditionally flat-packed came in handy. We (and I mean J and my dad; I was just hovering around like a nervous helicopter) managed to unscrew one arm of the couch so we could slide it down the stairs, where it’s lived since. Half of it is in the upright position, half of it is being used as an actual sofa.

The couch, even in its split form, has held up during the two months that we’ve had it. Numerous people and dogs have bounced around it, slept on it and lounged on it, and all commented on how comfortable it is. The nubbly fabric seems really durable, holds up to doggie claws and doesn’t collect dog hair the same way our old one did. We haven’t spilled anything on it yet, so I don’t know yet how resistant it is to stains but I will let you know if/when it happens!

So advice to you young, couch-buying grasshoppers is this: when buying a major piece of furniture you must plan, plan and then plan some more. Measure everything, twice. Save your pennies. Think of everything that could go wrong, and then come up with solutions.

Then check those random sales at your favorite furniture store. You might be surprised!

are you planning to redecorate your kitchen, like S?

the butterflies in question

Anyone who knows me knows I can never stick to a design plan or scheme for too long before feeling an intense urge to change it up. There is something extremely monotonous about waking up every single day to the same thing, usually it starts with moving around the furniture, maybe sliding a potted plant to the other side of the window sill before I’m resolved to stripping the paint off the walls at three am. This is pretty much how I am feeling about my kitchen. I like to thing the kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the entire house – or in my case apartment. The room is where the food lives and considering I’ve become a ravenous pig in my advanced age, I have been spending a lot more time in there.

When E and I initially moved in we came up with a design plan which included a mustard-yellow accented with brushed silver butterflies. We live within walking distance of the beach and have the luxury of feeling the cool breeze off the water during the summer (and winter, but we were not so amped about that fact) we wanted to make the kitchen as natural feelings as possible. So, ergo, choosing light summery colours for the kitchen.

It was great … for about seven months and now I want to rip each butterfly off the wall and stomp on them.

Living in a rental is a tricky business because you find yourself contending with the previous tenants poor design taste during decorating. The previous tenant in our unit had painted the kitchen a hideous shade of orange – not just the walls but everything else as well, including the cupboards – so, as you can imagine, every once and a while orange pops up to say, ‘hello!’. Orange and I have never really had a great relationship, in fact I hate her guts; she makes my skin appear death-white and turns my kitchen into Anita Bryant’s wet-dream.

So, this time, we are going all out. I figured the cabinets are going to need a new coat of paint and I’ve chosen a bright stark white for them, the same shade as the white IKEA floating shelves. I think this will give the kitchen a nice freshness it’s been lacking, painters white yellows after a few months if not updated. The yellow will be replaced by a deep teal which will not only look fantastic against the white but will serve as a beautiful backdrop to our cooking books, food jars and appliances.

I’m also working on getting E to allow me to buy a beautiful white antique birdcage to hang in the corner by the window, I think it will look great, she doesn’t understand the need for one if we do not even have a bird. She clearly has never gone antiquing before (and – to be honest – I’ve never done it properly) and fell in love with some object you have never needed. Then we will be hanging fabric swatches in matted frames to create a sort of focal point for the walls and to bring some art into the kitchen, something muted which won’t be as ‘in your face’ as the butterflies.

Damn those butterflies.

isn’t teal beautiful?

The most important part about any redecorating challenge is budget for it and really think about what you want to say about the room, this will help you avoid racking up unnecessary charges. It also cannot be something you do on a whim – which is actually a good thing – it will allow you more time properly flesh out exactly what you want to see. I think too many times you think about a redesign in parts and jump on the bandwagon long before you’ve secured wheels to it, suddenly your sitting in a rectangular box with a purple striped wall and no idea where you were going with it.

Do not forget to also pick out what accessories you want to see in the space and properly budget for them as well, this is not just about the paint and the brushes. And finally use the redecoration as an excuse to sit down with your roommate and discuss what you want to keep within the kitchen (coffeemaker, toaster and microwave) and what you can afford to lose (butterflies, lead painted fruit tray and any remnants of orange)

When E and I complete the kitchen redesign I will be uploading some photos to our facebook page and a video for our YouTube page, so look forward to those. And because I’m a masochist by design I will also be posting my budget for all to see, and judge.

Are any of you planning a redecoration? Do you have some great ideas that you are brimming to share? Email us at thetwentiesproject@gmail.com 

Pssst! Wanna see how S’s redecoration plans are coming along? Click here to read more.

b’s christmas list: basics and blasts of colour

Sometimes during the holidays it can be so easy to lose yourself in all the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season. Between working and battling the shoppers to find all the perfect gifts, I always find myself feeling a little down about a week before Christmas. So, I decided to try and perk myself up with a little Christmas mood-board making to remind myself that it isn’t just about surviving family dinner- I’m going to get a little somethin’-somethin’ as well! Here’s some of what I’m wishing for and some that are wishful thinking.

1. Sunshine Bird Votive Holder from Urban Outfitters ($4.00 USD). This little candle holder is sure to brighten up my day! (www.urbanoutfitters.com)

2. Domino 3-Piece Left Arm Sofa Sectional in Binth Grey from Crate and Barrel ($4,458.15 CAD). I saw this sleek, modern sofa when I was in Crate and Barrel the other day and immediately fell in love. Normally this is so not my style, but sometimes opposites attract. Now only to find the person generous enough to give me such a sofa so I may put it in my imaginary condo. (www.crateandbarrel.com)

3. Craft Stripe Hot Water Bottle in Red from Indigo ($19.50 CAD). Indigo has come out with some beautiful accessories for the home recently and I’m completely obsessed with this water bottle and matching cosy. I’ve literally asked everyone for one this Christmas. I’m either going to get five, or none. (www.chapters.indigo.ca)

4. Antique Silver D-Tier Stand from Pottery Barn ($169.77 CAD). This cupcake stand is just wonderful. I think I’d buy cupcakes just to place them on the stand and gaze at them (www.potterybarn.com)

5. Hello Kitty Red Sparkle Nail Polish from Sephora ($10 USD). I’m obsessed with Hello Kitty- not in a “Hello-I-have-a-Hello-Kitty-toaster-kind-of-way” but in a “I-love-your-Hello-Kitty-T-shirt-I-have-four” kind of way. This makes me so happy. (www.sephora.com)

6. Lacy Jacquard Dishtowel Set at Anthropologie ($32 USD). Having no kitchen makes me a little obsessed with kitchen things. These dish towels, much like everything at Anthropologie, are gorgeous and are probably much too pretty to use. (www.anthropologie.com)

7. Skimmer Candlestick from IKEA ($9.99 CAD). It’s no secret around these parts that I’m an IKEA-whore, but for all you non-believers out there who think they only make cheap, modern things that click together to assemble, check out these candlesticks. They’re just so classic. But for cheap. Me likey. (www.ikea.ca)

8. Satsuma Body Butter from The Body Shop ($18 CAD). Made with ethically farmed ingredients, this lotion is probably my favourite of all time and smells amazing. I used to wear it so much people would be able to smell me coming down the hall before they saw me. I don’t care. They loved it. (www.thebodyshop.ca)

9. Butterfly Charm Earrings from Forever 21 ($4.80 CAD). These delicate little earrings are so sweet and so my taste, plus the shot of bottle-green gives this great find from Forever 21 an unexpected antique-y feel. (www.canada.forever21.com)

10. Malm 6-Drawer Dresser in Medium Brown from IKEA ($199.00 CAD). I’ve been lusting after this set of drawers for awhile, mainly because I want any other dresser but the one I currently own, but also because of the sleek design. The handles are sort of molded into the shape of the dresser and are surprisingly easy to pull out. (www.ikea.ca)

11. Felt Animal Ornaments from West Elm ($4.35 CAD). These felt animal ornaments are absolutely adorable and would make the perfect companions for my duck and pig felt ornaments from En Gry & Sif. They have ridiculously beautiful stuff. But then again, so does West Elm. (www.westelm.com)

What’s on your Christmas list? Let me know! I can be reached at thetwentiesproject@gmail.com.

apartment living: the dining room (design process)

I think everyone should have something they have created in their homes, whether it be a series of photographs, small sculptures or, even, for the more ambitious, a piece of artwork. Not only does it create a completely unique and personal touch to any room but it allows one to be in complete control of translating their design plan into reality, without having to settle on something you hadn’t quite envisioned for the space.

E and I have been living in our apartment for about six months now and unfortunately, the dining room is no where close to being finished. Unfortunately, right around the time we moved in, the company I worked for went bankrupt and I was laid off – so, as you can probably guess, not a great deal of extra money for decorating.