inspiration Archives - Page 3 of 3

Update: IKEA is having another BYOF day on March 8th. They have some great specials going on. Check it out if you’re around!

IKEA! Where else can you sample authentic Swedish cuisine and peruse perfectly styled living spaces? All jokes aside, we love IKEA for the fact that it’s not a stuffy furniture store with pushy sales people who will pounce on you as soon as you walk in the door. You are encouraged to sit/nap (I’ve seen people nap), touch, play with everything there. It’s inviting and family friendly. Not to mention it’s a great place for home décor inspirations.

The obligatory Swedish meatball picture.

Sure you might associate IKEA with college dorms, funky designs and ten dollar Lack tables, but IKEA is not what it used to be. Over the past few years, the store has created sophisticated, classic designs and quality pieces (solid wood not particle board).

Last weekend IKEA held a BYOF (Bring Your Own Friend) event. If you sign up to be an IKEA Family member you will receive special offers and coupons. We made the drive there with L. She loved her first IKEA experience. I thought I’d share a few of my favorite things.

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored by IKEA. But…IKEA if you would like to sponsor a future post, TLC is available. Have your people talk to our people.

Check out these darling little chairs. Comparable to Pottery Barn Kids and The Land of Nod, but only $19.99. They are made out of solid wood and come in gray brown, dark brown and black. Matching tables also available. They almost came home with us, but L is still too little for them. Maybe next year.

This messy craft table caught my attention. The store carries everything you see on the table from the roll of white paper to the color pencils. How cute is that crayon tin!

This bed with built-in storage would be great for a small space or a tween room.

I almost drooled on one of these wing back chairs. Uh huh, the blue one is in velvet. You can add some nailhead trim on the arms for a little bling. Formal living room fire place? Corner of the office? Accent chair in master bedroom? We need a bigger house.

These two dinette sets are quite charming. Check out the “put a bird on it” one on the right. The birds on the wall are vinyl decals. Oh IKEA, you know how to make a girl smile!

Did you know IKEA sold fabric? Plus you get to cut your own! Raise your hand if you always wanted to do that. I love the navy blue botanical print on the left.

Of course we always check out the “As-Is” section. If you are lucky you might score some great finds at a discounted price and already assembled.

Here are the things that came home with us:

Abacus (starting her number sense early)
Wooden Hammering Toy
Mobile (L loved this mobile at her pediatrician’s office)
Fabric Cupcake Set
Paper napkins (for L’s birthday party)
Dish Towels (love these simple linen dish towels, we use these for everything)
Tray
Linen Table Runner

I also picked up three floor rugs for Grace. Can’t wait to see what she’s going to turn them into.

Hope I’m not the only crazy IKEA lover out there. Tell us what you love about IKEA.

The inspiration for L’s nursery came from this print, a little gem I found at Home Goods. I laid my eyes on it before I was pregnant. I loved the colors and whimsy. It reminded me of an old fashioned nursery. When it went on clearance for 10 bucks I knew it was meant to be. So I bought it and hid it from the hubs it sat in a closet for almost two years.

When we found out we were having a little girl, I imagined a girly, timeless and crisp nursery. I wanted L’s room to be a functional space that can be easily transitioned into a big girl room down the line.

After staring at dozens of paint chips taped around the inspiration print, I chose a subtle lavender with a slight gray undertone (barely lavender by Valspar) or as my husband calls it, purple. We went with no VOC paint, a must for nurseries and pregnant mommas. For this small space I wanted to create a focal wall that would open things up a bit and add some interest. I thought about stripes, stencils and vinyl decal. Perhaps it’s the math teacher in me that made me go with the geometric open circles. I think they mirror polka dots which is a classic pattern and a personal favorite.

When it came to the furniture we chose pieces that were made in US and constructed with natural non-toxic materials (paint, sealer, fabric, etc). I was in love with the crib we initially picked out. The little details in its design and the gray-white wash color made it the perfect compliment to the white book shelf we already owned and the wall color. But it was out of stock! The manufacture put us on the wait list. We waited and we waited…Imagine the horror when you are 34 weeks pregnant and still no crib! Yes, L didn’t actually sleep in her crib till she was 5 months old but I didn’t know that. And let’s be honest, we know who this nursery was really for. Out of fear, we settled for our second choice made by the same company. The design is girlier than the original and it’s white (I didn’t want matching white furniture), but I think it compliments the circles on the wall nicely. The rocker and matching ottoman, though were made by the same company, were sold by two different stores. We bought both online and crossed our fingers hoping that the “sage” color were the same. We got lucky!

Her dresser/changing table was a thrift store find that my husband refinished and painted. He wanted to make something for his little girl. I think it’s so sweet. The space above the dresser needed something to balance the circles on the opposing wall. This something needed to be the right scale, nursery friendly and the right colors. I looked to Pinterest for inspirations. Then I came across these alphabet cards by The Handmade Home. “H is for High Heels”, perfect for a little girl’s room. Swoon! And these are free printables!