OK, so I'm not up on all the contemporary designs available these days. I guess I really focus on vintage stuff to the exclusion of all else. But today I made the trip to Ikea. Spring is here and we decided that we needed a couple more of the ceramic outdoor planters I bought three years ago at Ikea. I foolishly thought they might still sell the simple, clean white ceramic planters that I'm thrilled to say survived two frigid winters without breaking.
Now, I always say that a design geek going to Ikea is like visiting the grocery store hungry. It's dangerous. You are likely to buy things you don't need and did not want before you ever walked in the door. But once you are there, you become seduced by the fact that they are pretty cool, and damn! That's cheap! Before you know it, you are at the check-out line spending a couple hundred bucks on things you will regret buying as soon as you get home. "Did I really need a sugar spoon? Why did we buy those book-ends?"
Well, I've long admired the basic Ikea ethos of good design at accessible prices. My problem has always been that if the quality is that of disposable furniture, you undermine the basic principle. Who cares how well designed it is if it's just going to end up in a landfill in a year or two? I would much rather pay more for quality and just buy less stuff.
We managed to leave the store with just a few things today, but what struck me the most was two things: one was how much better the products looked in the vignettes than they did in the areas where you put the items in your cart. The context made a HUGE difference. And two, there were a number of pieces I really liked. I mean, REALLY liked. There were the usual, "that would look nice if it were better made and they used brushed stainless instead of that cheap shiny chrome plating" critiques. But there were also pieces where I said. "That's really great. If I had a need for that, I'd buy it in an instant". Only problem was, I did not really have a need. That did not stop me from giving in to the impulse to buy one thing. The Karljohan stool/ side table. I'd seen it in the thread about pine that Heath started earlier this month, and when I saw it I thought "what a handsome, simple, little thing". I thought about it again when we were discussing the Eames Time-Life walnut stools. Well, when I saw it today, I was enchanted. I had to buy one even though I don't know exactly where I'll use it. It comes in pine, birch or birch core (?) and I admit I opened 3 boxes before I found one that I liked the grain and color of (they vary). But I think this is one of those contemporary designs that will become a classic in the future. Granted, it does take some cues from already classic designs but it's a great little piece.
more (sorry)
There were other designs that I was really drawn to as we looked at everything, and I did not read all the labels or check the prices, they were largely things I could not possibly justify buying as we did not really need any of them. I was amused however when I got home and looked on-line to discover that most of the things that I'd responded to were part of the Ikea PS line of designs which they'd commissioned from contemporary designers and exhibited in Milan last fall (I told you I was slow on the up-take with contemporary design). But I have to say they really are strong designs, quite well made, very reasonably priced and I think hold their own against much contemporary design that I see out there today. I was surprised, delighted, and very pleased to see Ikea living up to their heritage.
It even makes me re-think my vintage-only mantra.
Here is a link to images of some of the pieces I saw today:
http://www.dezeen.com/2009/05/04/ikea-ps-collection-in-milan/
PS line
Is the best thing about Ikea. Almost always nice pieces (in fact I posted those same three pics above when this/last year's PS line was announced...). I got the mill (just for decoration), but many other pieces (e.g. stool, glasses) from this most recent collection have yet to come to my area.
verner panton once designed...
verner panton once designed a chair for ikea in the 90's but was only produced for i think 6 months, that is a collectible item now. ikea's mission is to produce cheap, affordable pieces like the eames in their day. would some of ikea's furniture be considered collectible someday, i bet you some of them would be. remember the ikea panton chair. but that's just me (just to protect my ass from flamers)
Whitespike you are my XY design alter-ego...
but on IKEA we oft disagree! I have stuff from IKEA that I have had for 15+ years and a lot of it is in very good shape. Not saying it all is, but the company has proved it's worth to me many times over. All it takes is a careful eye and a willingness to turn things over in the store. I've taken stuff out of boxes, just like PB-Mod. If you can satisfy yourself as to the production then, why fight it!?
It's true you do have to approach IKEA like grocery shopping... DON'T go hungry! You'll end up coming home with Little Debbie Devil Cremes!
About time for another trip for me and the fam...
I'll make sure to eat a plate of those Swedish meatballs before browsing though...
Funny, now that I think about it... Although that comment was tounge in cheek, I can't deny I look forward to that watered down, corporate version of the traditional Swedish grub. I work in the hospitality business and so am regularly treated to some pretty exquisite cuisine. But my palate seems to crave those simple meatballs and jelly as I rarely have access to such a dish. I guess rarity adds value in all aspects of design...
IKEA + Olive
No, I believe you are right, Olive. And I have to admit I have three pieces of IKEA - a blonde dining table, an Expedit bookshelf in walnut (faux), and a Malm bed.
As long as I don't move this stuff too much they will last a long time. But, my tastes lean toward wood as a main material. And this is where they dgo wrong (particleboard).
Olive, are any of your pieces "wood?"
My real problem with them is their disposable nature. Not too good for mother earth. I have to admit, these pieces are placeholders.
Malm bed - one day to be replaced ... I want a thin edge bed!
Expedit - to be replaced by a Knoll or Nelson credenza.
dining table - to be replaced, hopefully by a Richard Schultz 1966 series table.
So I suppose I could keep these pieces until they fall apart and that would be more green, but as nice a simple as these pieces are ... I know they aren't built well. And that bothers me. And when able, they will be gone. And it seems many people buy these items as interim pieces.
One of my favorite pieces I have from a function, price, durability standpoint is my Aalto knock-off stool from target. Ten bucks. And because I am not afraid to use it, just 4 or 5 years has made it "vintage." But that thing can take a beating.
I did see a chair at IKEA rrecently I may buy for my bedroom as a more permanent option. It's the Poang, but with nylon straps a la risom / mathsson. Those chairs are sturdy from what I can tell, and it bounces better than any rocker we've tried. Perfect for rocking the baby, still handsome (especially compared to all those faux-modern contemporary rocking club chairs for 400 bucks at Babies R Us), and ti comes with straps now!!!
I looked on the site and can't find the webbed version but look at these two versions I have yet to see!!!
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S69861087
Multiple thoughts...
LunchBox...I am Swedish by heritage and in possession of a Swedish meatball recipe that came over on the boat(literally) with my great grandmother. If you're very nice to me, I'll share it with you. They are simple to make and freeze very well, minus the gravy, which can be made up later. Lingonberry jam is NOT typically served with meatballs, that's a recent addition, and one, personally, that I don't like at all. But let me tell you about cloudberry jam on vanilla icecream...swoon!
Whitespike...well I have a Malm bed too and it's holding up quite well, but the hubs and I made a couple of alterations to it to reinforce the slatted support. It's only 4 years old, though, so we shall see. I have a beside table that is birch, but not the Malm series and I've had that piece for ages...about 13-15 years and it's holding up very well except for the part of the top where my night time glass of water sits. It is veneered particle board, mostly but the drawer fronts are curved and cut from solid wood. It's the oldest 'wood' IKEA piece I have and if it weren't for all the midnight water spills, it'd probably be looking quite spiffy. I also had a pair of astronaut like chairs...Romme was the name I think, that are no longer produced. They were so sturdy I actually bothered to reupholster them! Sold them when we moved west and have been missing them. Most of the other 'older' pieces I have are vases, lamps, etc. I also buy a lot of IKEA bedding and have been quite happy with the quality to price ratio. But the bedding is another IKEA thing that you have to be circumspect on. They have widely varying fabric quality. I check them out very thoroughly!
I love the idea of a webbed Poang! But that chair has always worried me. Considering the size of some of the folks in my family, I hear splintering wood and thumping arses every time I look at it. Maybe asking a Japanese man to design for a Swede isn't the right thing after all!
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