Road Trippin’

After I got the news that I was laid off, I did something that people who just lost their job shouldn’t do…I bought a new iMac. To give a back story, I’ve been coveting one for years and have been pushing it off and making excuses on why I can’t/shouldn’t get one. Why now? We had already planned on getting one later this year since I would need one to create all the paper goods for the wedding, and since I was freshly out of job, I could at least try and get some freelance work to help out. Adam is fortunate enough to work for a really great company that gives reimbursements on new computers (up to $500) so there was the savings there. Combine that with his student discount? I’d be silly not to take advantage of these savings.

So, why am I writing about road tripping? Well this beautiful, wonderful machine needed a home. While we plan on having an office down the road, that room is currently holding all of our wood floors that we can’t install yet. In the mean time, I set up shop at the small café table we have in the kitchen. While it was working fine, I really needed a space of my own and needing a desk. What else do I have going on a Thursday afternoon besides updating my resume and looking at jobs all day? Go to IKEA!

So, last Thursday, my fellow unemployed friend Kate (check out her cooking blog over here) hopped into the Honda CR-V and made our way to Stoughton. I haven’t been to IKEA for a few years and was actually really excited! What’s great about not going on a weekend…zero crowds. Kate and I could take our time and not deal with all kinds of people. It also allowed me to take pictures without having people photobomb!

Enjoy the many pics I took with some light commentary. Hopefully some will inspire you!

I just loved the polka dotted bed spread. And that is the same light fixture that Young House Love has in the master bedroom. It’s awesome in person.

I loved the lines of this chair and while it looks great in black, it would be so nice in a bright, punchy color and a fun fabric cushion.

While it’s a simple light, I think it would look great over an island. And for $30 you could easily get two for $60. A steal if you ask me.

This was desk option #1. It was great because it folded down and the price was right at $30.  The downside was that I wasn’t comfortable having my beauty of a computer sitting on something that could eventually fold down on its own.

While the streamline cabinets and bar aren’t necessarily my thing, it would look great in an awesome mod-home with clean lines. Plus the sixties are making a comeback à la Mad Men.

I flocked to this rug. I LOVE the bold pattern and it came in a variety of colors. Would be awesome in any room.

I loved how this had a 60s vibe, but I think it looks so much fun, and those chairs were super comfy.

I just thought this pattern was fun! Would love to pair it with a coral-ly orange.

IKEA is known for this type of bookcase, called “the billy”. It’s been featured on a bunch of IKEA hack blogs out there, but I thought that this was a great idea to punch up any bookcase. It’s a way to update a back of a traditional bookcase on a budget. You could use colorful wallpaper, paint, stencils, and even regular paper. You could also do the same technique behind floating shelves. The possibilities are endless!

This kitchen was AWESOME. It had so much cabinet space that I don’t even think I could fill it all (which is probably a lie, I totally could). While it’s too large for our current kitchen layout, I took away a lot of inspiration for what I do want down the line. I love how it incorporates cabinets with and without glass, open shelving, and the oversized lights over the island.

This would be so cute filled with different herbs and spices for the summer time!

This is the chair I ended up purchasing for my desk. I thought the price was right at $30 and it’s much cuter than a traditional desk chair.

They had great curtains and fabric to choose from! Light patterns to bold colorful ones, it would be fun to mix and match.

Moving onto rugs, I thought this was a fun pattern. It also came in blue! One of my friends (and fellow bloggers) actually purchased this rug for her new office in her and her husband’s new house! We tend to have the same aesthetic, so I wasn’t surprised to find something like this in her house 🙂

This is something I’d really like to buy down the line. It’s a simple (and cheap!) runner that would look AWESOME as a runner down our stairs. It’s something I want to tackle at some point, but will most likely wait a bit until demo upstairs is more under control.

So, after all that? I did come home with a great desk that fits the space just right. For $35, I bought one of their tops and 4 legs, and put it together. It’s working out beautifully and I couldn’t be happier. What do you think?

What’s great about IKEA is that they have items that are relatively inexpensive, but look fab, but the quality isn’t always there. Do you think it’s a waste to purchase temporary/trendy items or save your pennies for top notch quality and hope that you like it for more than a couple of years?