We did something a little wacky on Saturday. We rented a U-Haul trailer, drove to the IKEA store in Chicago, and came back home that night with seating for five.
I've never been to IKEA and had no expectations. We knew want we wanted and went there to buy it. Looking back, it feels like some kind of crazy tour of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. We went in and, somehow, found our way back out with four carts full of furniture and a Swedish candy bar...wondering "What the hell was that?"
Have you ever been to IKEA? Did you follow the arrows? Did you, like any normal person, have to walk against the arrows? Did you ask someone for help and did they, without turning to face you, say only "Follow the arrows"? Did you wonder why the store smelled like cinnamon buns?
I know we were there because the furniture (which I love) is sitting in our sunroom but it all seems like a dream...like I've got post-traumatic-IKEA-syndrome or something.
ha ha ha! Yes! I love Ikea and miss having several to choose from in SoCal... I remember my first experience there, though. My word. Overwhelming. And the arrows. Yes, the arrows. I followed them, but I also got good enough at navigating my way to exactly what I wanted by cutting through depts... and ours always smelled like swedish meatballs and hot dinner, from the cafe on the second floor.
What a funny Saturday though. :)
Posted by: miss chris | January 26, 2009 at 01:00 PM
Oh, Ikea, how I love thee. We go there quite often and have gotten very good at going in the exit straight to the bottom level where all the kitchen stuff is and just avoiding all the display areas. It is a bit like a furniture theme park.
Posted by: Liz | January 26, 2009 at 01:34 PM
Spot on! Ikea is very Willy Wonka-ish. It's a magical place! xo, suzy
Posted by: GeorgiaPeachez | January 26, 2009 at 01:55 PM
Never been to an Ikea. I know I am sadly lacking! hehehe! I have the green basket weave tin from on top of your hutch!! It was my grandmothers and I love it!!
Posted by: Jenny S | January 26, 2009 at 02:18 PM
Love love Ikea and funnily enough just come back from a trip there today with my mum and sister! For us it is a fun afternoon out where for no apparent reason we can waste hours and hours ooohing and aaahing even though we are freqent visitors ;o) The designers of Ikea are clever little people as it is the only place I shop in that I never leave empty handed!!
Posted by: Lolodesigns | January 26, 2009 at 03:16 PM
I love reading your blog but never really think I should leave a comment but I need to now. How amazing is it that all the way over here in "clog" country I have that exact same set @ home. I love Ikea, but mostly @ 10.00 in the morning when they've just opened and aren't crowded LOL
Posted by: D@nielle | January 26, 2009 at 03:29 PM
Oh, how I miss Ikea and yes, like any normal person, I went against the arrows! When I used to live in So Cal, many, many people would load up the Uhaul and drive from Vegas to Ikea, so you are not the only one...I've been contemplating doing the same thing and heading to the Seattle store! Anyway, love the chair in your picture and the slipcovers wash beautifully!
Posted by: Erin | January 26, 2009 at 03:52 PM
I have such a bad sense of direction that if I hadn't followed the arrows, I'd still be in there. (Hmmm...living in IKEA - might not be all that bad!)
Posted by: barbara | January 26, 2009 at 04:14 PM
Julie!!!!!!!! I am crazy ass jealous. We go to that Ikea once a year when we go to Chicago in May every year, but I have been JONESING for a trip there lately. I can't believe you guys just decided and went? LOLLOL
Love that.
Is that ektorp furniture? Comfy stuff and it looks great in that sunroom.
It is COMPLETELY overwhelming the first time though. It made me feel like I am in the Exorcist and my head was going to spin around until it popped off.
Posted by: Sarah | January 26, 2009 at 04:19 PM
A couple of years ago we visited the one in Atlanta, and Oh, my gosh! The furniture is nice, but I esp. loved the kitchen stuff - gadgets, glassware, etc. So much fun, and the prices are really nice, too!
Posted by: Becky G. | January 26, 2009 at 04:25 PM