designerwannabe's Profile

IKEA is a merchandizing champ. This has made them successful -- us the fact that their products have greatly improved in quality. And their directions for building their products are the easiest of all the flatpack furniture that I've ever assembled (i.e., Sauder -- really tough and overly complicated). Also, they stage their finished rooms quite wonderfully and one can get fabulous design ideas from them.
As you can see, I am a fan! So I admit that for me I can spend six hours there with no problem. I look at -- and touch -- everything and enjoy the experience whether I'm there for a particular item or not. I do prefer to go during the week -- less crowded -- and I really appreciate family member discounts and free breakfast.
I go in the exit as well because my first stop is always the "as is" department. Then I grab those Swedish Fish and go up to the showroom floor with my cart holding the wonderful IKEA bags that hold a ton -- I purchased several and they are super for all kinds of shopping as well as taking clean laundry to wherever I'm going to fold it. And they are water resistant as well.
I particularly like their Liatorp line and think their kitchen cabinets (and their inner fittings) are amazing for the price.
So please give them their due -- sometimes IKEA is the best choice for the budget conscious shopper.

Home Goods is a decent store for kitchenalia and bath stuff. Their decorative pieces are mostly "Made in China" junk. If you are lucky you can score a decent piece of furniture.
The most surprising thing about this particular presentation was that it was at least two months late, the featured things that were not at all impressive, and had misspelled words.
Not up to the usual Apartment Therapy standards.
The birdhouses were quite charming however.

Umbria is one of my favorite locales in Italy. This home is lovely -- how I'd love to be there right now!

The room is lovely -- as is everything in the photos. I particularly love the bright white of the mantle & over-mantle. I think the red is terrific but I myself would love to see the brick covered over with porcelain tiles with a mottled stone lookshady ones of brown. Then paint what is now red with a clear bold orange paint. I'd like to see white media furniture on either side of the fireplace -- one with LCD TV in as large a size as space permits -- & the other with a cushion for seating on it. High full width shelves above TV & the seating could hold some books and art pieces. Above the medallion on the over-mantle I'd place a Sputnik type mirror -- round with small round mirrors on spikes coming from the central mirror.