Everything I'm Buying From IKEA

The chicest $2 napkin holder, the very expensive-looking $99 rug, the $5 pillow that could be Dries Van Noten—13 Swedish-speaking Spring things I couldn't live without.

When I tell you that I couldn’t sleep the night before a pre-planned morning trip to IKEA earlier this week, I am not lying. All things IKEA—the blonde wood, the various shades of primary yellow or cherry red, the printed $2 dish towels I ritualistically use as dinner napkins…that luxuriously huge PARKING LOT. Basically, if I had to choose between going to my favorite spa or IKEA…I just wouldn’t.

ME in my Swedish-hauling, rug-juggling element. “Chaise Longue” courtesy of the band Wet Leg (it’ll be on the next ATA playlist:).

While I had a long list of things I wanted to buy on this particular visit to everyone’s favorite Swedish-born superstore, I had to curb myself. Not simply because of the expense or need to exercise prudence when adding yet another set of graphic pillows to the pile, but because many of the things we’re acquiring now are structural goodies and house basics for Future Cottage (which if all goes well, will be close to finished some time in May).

So, while I was tasked with sourcing some bathroom vanity lights, an extra mini sink, and closet storage thingies, I also made time to scan the floors for new colors/patterns/designs that might have just been released. In particular, the latest drop of their legacy design reissues, or anything that has that unmistakable collector’s item vibe. I talked about this in my previous IKEA homage, but in brief, things that bare all the hallmarks of timeless Swedish midcentury design, styles or patterns that won’t date, and certainly things that won’t fall apart from a lot of love/wear. (IE: This swivel lounge chair may well find its way into our Brooklyn apartment some time in the coming months if I can find a spot for it:).

Alas, we’ve got a lot of stripes, checks, and GDB (good design bones) to tally, so let’s get into it.

1. Polo Stripe Pillow cover, $4.99…(and Polo Stripes, in general). First thing I fell in love within 15 minutes of entering the store was this diagonal cabana/polo pillow cover that A) reminded me of a stripe the Great Dries Van Noten used in a recent collection, and B) was on sale for $5 (on sale in the store, but not online it seems). What I love about this pillow is that as specific as it is, it’s like Jennifer Aniston and seems to get along with everyone/everything it hangs out with. A total room-maker/crowd pleaser…just look how good these are together?

   

   

   

All the great wide stripe-y things that read SPRING, from left: Lagermispel cushion cover, in yellow or pale pink, $5 (at the store they were $4.99 but onsite they are $6.99…either way, a deal:); Dries Van Noten polo top; SLÅNHÖSTMAL cotton duvet set, $45.

2. SILVERSIDA Speckled Plates, two for $9. I’ve been admiring this whole pattern collection from afar for a few months now, and when I got to the table-setting area, I panicked when I saw that all the plates were already sold out. Luckily, I found a stash of a few piles a few sections away. I got four to mix in with my vintage Russel Wright plates that needed supplementing.

3. SKOGSRÖR Napkin Holder, $1.49. I always precede an IRL trip to IKEA with a quick peruse of the app, as they always mostly have the latest of what’s new in each category. This napkin holder has been in my shopping cart for Future Cottage for a while now, and while I couldn’t find it on my Red Hook visit, I’m planning on getting two. I love that they look like ‘70s bookends—a tad industrial but also elegant. What else could we use these for?? I feel like some of you will have some good ideas…

4. CHIC + Tiny Dish Racks/Drains, from $15. A very under-rated category, most dish drains are GIANT and also ugly. I always love that IKEA keeps economy of space/scale top of mind in their designs, for which I salute them. I fell in love with this slim black LILLHAVET rack (below) as well as the a white STÄMLING version, also small/slender with added sexy ‘60s Italian modernism vibes.