[album 65561 IKEA2.JPG]
Well, well.
IKEA you say. Let me just cut right to the chase and tell you that shopping at IKEA is like going to an amusement park for domestically inclined adults.
When we arrived, we were greeted by a woman with maps in her hand and instructions on how to proceed. There's an upstairs and a downstairs. Upstairs all the things for sale are arranged in room displays. MANY room displays. It looks like a real house kind of. When you open cupboards or drawers there may be pots and pans or knives or organizers in there. Everything from light fixtures to bookcases or pillows or duvet covers, to the very paint on the walls or the flooring is for sale.... downstairs.
Shopping lists are provided all over the store and alongside them are the little pencils. You write down the number of the thing you want and find it later on downstairs.
Navigating was a bit confusing as the place is like a maze. The old "get 'em going in circles long enough and they will buy something just to get out of the labyrinth" technique. But even this jaded, prickly, and suspicious consumer was never a more willing participant in the "marketing dance".
Those people really know their stuff.
The style of the furniture was urban, modern, European. And compact too. Very clean, no nonsense lines.
The most amazing thing in the entire store, for me at least was a display of a fully outfitted mini apartment. It was only 237 square feet. But when I was in there, I didn't want to leave. It was so pleasant and cozy and not at all claustrophobic. It was a marvel of efficient use of space.
And just when you think you might faint of hunger in the maze, you come out to a lovely . . . cafeteria! Where you could by really healthy great tasting food for a song. I had poached salmon with steamed vegetables and boiled baby red potatoes. Excellent!
We finally did make our way downstairs and I bought a few items and got out of there for under 30 dollars. And of all the wonderful things about this place, I have to tell you, it's the low prices that will delight!
By the time we got back to the car, we realized we had been in there for 3 and a half hours! Amazing! It didn't feel a bit grueling as that much shopping ordinarily could. I did leave one thing behind that I might have to go back for.
This little cutie....
This is adorable. But just double it in person. I don't NEED another cooking pot. But I might just have to get this one and keep it around to LOOK at.
If you have one of these stores near you, get yourself over there and have some fun! Eat lunch. Sit in the mini apartment on the couch and be amazed!
So I can say without reservation that for once the reality lived up to the yammering, I mean hype.
Now, I'm going to go make myself a cup of tea in my new tea cup I bought at IKEA!
Well, well.
IKEA you say. Let me just cut right to the chase and tell you that shopping at IKEA is like going to an amusement park for domestically inclined adults.
When we arrived, we were greeted by a woman with maps in her hand and instructions on how to proceed. There's an upstairs and a downstairs. Upstairs all the things for sale are arranged in room displays. MANY room displays. It looks like a real house kind of. When you open cupboards or drawers there may be pots and pans or knives or organizers in there. Everything from light fixtures to bookcases or pillows or duvet covers, to the very paint on the walls or the flooring is for sale.... downstairs.
Shopping lists are provided all over the store and alongside them are the little pencils. You write down the number of the thing you want and find it later on downstairs.
Navigating was a bit confusing as the place is like a maze. The old "get 'em going in circles long enough and they will buy something just to get out of the labyrinth" technique. But even this jaded, prickly, and suspicious consumer was never a more willing participant in the "marketing dance".
Those people really know their stuff.
The style of the furniture was urban, modern, European. And compact too. Very clean, no nonsense lines.
The most amazing thing in the entire store, for me at least was a display of a fully outfitted mini apartment. It was only 237 square feet. But when I was in there, I didn't want to leave. It was so pleasant and cozy and not at all claustrophobic. It was a marvel of efficient use of space.
And just when you think you might faint of hunger in the maze, you come out to a lovely . . . cafeteria! Where you could by really healthy great tasting food for a song. I had poached salmon with steamed vegetables and boiled baby red potatoes. Excellent!
We finally did make our way downstairs and I bought a few items and got out of there for under 30 dollars. And of all the wonderful things about this place, I have to tell you, it's the low prices that will delight!
By the time we got back to the car, we realized we had been in there for 3 and a half hours! Amazing! It didn't feel a bit grueling as that much shopping ordinarily could. I did leave one thing behind that I might have to go back for.
This little cutie....
This is adorable. But just double it in person. I don't NEED another cooking pot. But I might just have to get this one and keep it around to LOOK at.
If you have one of these stores near you, get yourself over there and have some fun! Eat lunch. Sit in the mini apartment on the couch and be amazed!
So I can say without reservation that for once the reality lived up to the yammering, I mean hype.
Now, I'm going to go make myself a cup of tea in my new tea cup I bought at IKEA!