Archive for Ikea
Ikea’s new Vandring owls
I’m finding it hard to write convincingly about owls today. I’ve started this blog post about five times before jabbing the back space key with a vengeance.
Perhaps it’s because the eyes on these newest Ikea owls are not to my taste. But there’s no denying that the vintagey styling, back-to-nature colours and comforting coterie of dragonflies and spiders all add to the allure of these particular kid-focused owls.
I for one find it hard to resist an oak leaf, and the coat rack above so cleverly combines mid-century kitsch with funky storage solutions that I can forgive the slightly confused looking owls.
However, I would make a special trip alone to find myself a yard or two of the Ikea owl and spiderweb fabric above, especially because it would look just perfect with the quilt cover and curtains below, in a mini person’s room, or just for fun on a cushion or a blouse.
Now I’m really not sure about this owl glove puppet, but I couldn’t leave it out – it’s part of Ikea’s new Vandring range (which also, excitingly, features hedgehogs) and would nestle perfectly on the owlish bed above.
Ikea pear drinks
Based on my own family, there’s no denying that Ikea has the marmite sheen to it: the men all loathe it and the women are enthralled. You only have to mention the word-beginning-with-I to my Dad and he comes over all funny; my toddler threw a mega tantrum yesterday when I tried to remove her from the child’s bed; and I’m prone to dreaming about Swedish meatballs and chips. With a cinnamon Danish to follow.
Anyway, one of the upsides of the whole Ikea experience, is the food shop on the way out: herring, chocolate biscuits to die for, frozen pastries… And now, in case you need a pick-me up, pear sparkles too.
I just can’t help getting over excited about Hannukah and Christmas – they’re just on the horizon really. And now that we’ve got all that pumpkin malarky out of the way, there is scope to focus on your tipple of choice when it comes to the festive meals lined up for December.
Above is the non-alcoholic version of Ikea’s pear fizz (aka aclcohol-free Kolsyrad Parondryck); and below, looking particularly sleek and attractive, is the real mccoy (4.5% semi sweet cider-like beverage, also Kolsyrad Parondryck). Both are organic, and a total snip at £0.95 and £1.10 respectively. Refreshing or what?
Then, there’s a bottle of the sparkling pear beverage, Dryck Bubbel Paron. Or in the words of Ikea’s official blurb: a fruity and non-alcoholic drink. It’s only £2 for a 750ml bottle.
In case you’re wondering, I’ve only tried the non-alcoholic version in a can, and it was delish. Plus, it looks stunning: I love the pared down, minimal Scandinavian packaging design, something that is lacking on your average tin of Strongbow.
BÄRBAR bird tray
Wow. This bird tray is so pretty. I saw it in my local Ikea and snaffled it quickly, thinking I had spotted a hitherto undiscovered Charley Harper-inspired treasure. Then I got home and googled it, only to find that any self-respecting blogger with a keen interest in birds, design or interior decoration had already raved about it ad infinitum. So, I will follow along humbly, adding only that my tray is now stuck to the dining room table with blue-tack so that my daughter can learn to eat from it. So, useful and pretty at the same time.
