I was looking for an image to illustrate the happiness of living in a neat, well-organized space when I saw this ad from IKEA. Having a stylish dressing room is the ultimate way to start your day or to change your clothes after a day at work for a night event.

How to Keep it Neat

But having a storage system is only part of the equation. You also need the discipline to edit your what is in your wardrobe every season. If you keep accumulated clothes, shoes and bags, it will not stay neat. The biggest problem people have is to figure out to depart from their designer label clothes.

For the best clothes that does not fit you or for items that you simply never wear, why not organize a cocktail party at home where you invite your girlfriends and their circle to a home sale. Create a photo album on Facebook to advertise what you have to sell and manage the invitations. Gabrielle Chalifoux introduced me to CoinDressing.com, a french-speaking site that allows their members to sell the best items on their closet. It was successful for her.

To help you from impulsive buying, remember the old method that dictates that for every piece that goes in, you must remove one item from your closet.

By the way, the IKEA Storage event is ending February 14th. You could save 20% on PAX wardrobes and KOMPLEMENT interiors.

+ photo: IKEA

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The easier road for stress-free entertaining is to equip yourself with versatile tableware. Casual chic tabletop is what most people are aiming for these days. After all, you celebrate amongst close friends and family. As I shopped at IKEA yesterday, I took pictures of tableware that delivers that spirit. I spotted affordable tableware that you will be able to use over and over.

The first thing that caught my eyes was this tabletop set for a fondue meal. Blue is popular at IKEA this season. I would serve water in turquoise patterned SNÄLL narrow tall glasses for a change. And you do not have to invest in RIEDEL wine glasses with the SKIR glasses. It definitely not the same quality but you get the look.

Then, I pay attention to the Dinera collection. Guys will love the blue-grey and the brown colors. I like the fact that plates come in many formats. You could mix colors or mix all solids with the ones with a white interior. I am partial to tableware with a white interior because typically food looks more appetizing against a white backdrop.

For entertaining, I keep a stack of tiny bowls for individual serving or to serve sauces. Believe me, they can transform a table. I bought a pack of small POKAL glasses for serving affogato. The POKAL  glasses are suitable for hot and cold liquids. You could get two sets: one to drink espresso and the other ones to serve your dessert. Keep in mind that the grey Dinera espresso cups and saucers (second picture) will look better, if you are willing to spend more.

If you are curious, I bought the small and the tall POKAL glasses, the big VÄNLIG glasses plus a few Christmas decorations and napkins.

SOURCING:
+ SNÄLL glasses $6.99 CAD for 6
+ SKIR glasses $6.99 CAD for 2
+ DINERA 18-piece dinnerware set $29.99 CAD
+ CHARMÖR small bowls $3.99 CAD for 2
+ POKAL glasses $4.99 CAD for 4
+ photo of affogato via Food Network Canada

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This is me! High gloss grey is a new addition in the IKEA 2010 Kitchen catalog. I like it a lot. Grey is easy to live with. It makes a wonderful backdrop on which it is easy to enliven your space with a punch color. This kitchen feels urban yet classic.

+ Grey Abstrakt Kitchen Doors and Drawer Covers

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The kitchen is the hub of the house. For that reason, it must be a place where it feels comfortable for the cooks and the rest of the family. More and more kitchens integrate areas for kids to do their homework and play.

The two most common area of frustrations in a kitchen are storage and the sink area. The good news is that clever and affordable organizers for your kitchen cabinets are now easily accessible. Current kitchen design rules put an emphasis on drawers fitted with several types of organizers. I still think that nothing beats a walking pantry but it is not always possible to integrate a big pantry.

Dividers, trays, plate holders, boxes and containers mean that everything is at reach in your drawers. You move the containers on the counter while you are cooking and replace them inside the drawers once you are done. Wooden boxes are practical for potatoes, onions, and dry foods. Basically, we bring the best ideas from a restaurant kitchen to our home.

For me, the carrousel, which is a modern version of the lazy susan, is a must for a corner unit. I like it because everything is at reach. It is more appropriate for big objects, like pots and pans.

Waste Sorting System

With recycling and composting, we need to plan for a waste sorting system. We want bins that are easy to reach but out of sight. Plan a shelf for your compost container as most are not stylish.

Sink Organizers

From cutting boards to cover plate and rinsing baskets, the sink accessories aim to make our life simpler. I never succumb and buy any. Do you use them?

Gathering the plates, glasses and cutlery after the meal in a tub reduces the number of trips between the table and the sink. Ideally, the bowl should be on a wheeled cart. Something like the BOHELMEN washing-up bowl would be perfect, assuming that is strong enough.

Two sinks is a must but if you live in an apartment, you may not be that lucky. The rinsing tub is intended to help you wash the dishes if you only have one sink. It seems like a good concept. The Dish Drainer, if it fits into your sink, will eliminate the need to wipe water from your counter.

I do not know if it is only wishful thinking but I imagine that if I had a kitchen where everything is neatly stored and is easy to reach, I would find no excuses to avoid cooking at the end of a long day. But one thing is sure, I would feel more relax cooking.

SOURCING:
+ BOHOLMEN Rinsing Tub $14.99 CAD
+ BOHOLMEN Dish Drainer $6.99
+ Rationell dividers for drawers $20 for 6
+ Rationell Corner base cabinet carousel $120
+ Rationell waste-sorting system $8.99 to $56.94

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This is one of the best Ikea hack I have seen. It was an idea of Andy from Show and Tell. His project involved laser cut performed on the acacia wood caps to write the words salty and sweet. I like that typographic style.

+ Celeber Spice Jars $7.99 USD for pack of 2
+ via Show and Tell

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Even though the April issue are still fresh on the stands here, the May 2009 of Living etc is available in United Kingdom and I guess, Europe. But I can have a peek of what to expect. In fact, I can not resist every month to flip through the current issue preview. The May 2009 issue will not disappoint me.

Can you believe that the charming ROXO garden furniture are from IKEA? Looking at the styled picture, I imagined sitting under the sun, playing a game on my DS with a glass of ice tea. I did not find it on the EWeb site, but the top of the ROXO table is removable to become a tray. I praise double-function furniture.

Learn more about Danish furniture, 14 upholstered beds plus a buyer’s guide of large folding doors and glass walls. I will be waiting impatiently in exploring further my April 2009 issue. What a view!

MORE:

+ ROXÖ Easy chair green $139 USD, $199 CAD – Also available in red

+ Photos from May 2009 Living etc

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I went to IKEA Friday night. I took pictures of 3 inspiring pictures. The cheapest price of an IKEA kitchen means that you can indulge in a remarkable ceramic wall and countertop surface.

This is the perfect island if you like to entertain. I wish I got the space for it.

The best of the crop goes to this long kitchen. If you have the space, the expandable BJURSTA dining table, which opens up to 260 cm (102 inches) costs only $299 CAD. This leaves you more room on your budget to buy the chairs.

If you are looking for island, models like this red and white costs between $450 to $600 CAD at IKEA. Although I am not too keen on shiny kitchen cabinets I enjoy the overall kitchen layout. AKURUM is IKEA kitchen cabinet series. I especially like the pattern wall. Put an acrylic clear panel in front of the wallpaper for easy cleaning.

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I secretly crave for a craft room at home. Until we decide to settle in a new home, it will stay a dream. In the meantime, I am taking notes on how others design their craft space.

Vancouver designer Kelly Deck converted a good size spare room into a craft room using affordable, widely available furniture and accessories. The only indulgence was the Cole & Son’s Cow Parsley wallpaper available through Kravet Fabrics in Canada.

The stoneware ASKER containers hung on a long ASKER suspension rail have multiple uses. I am sorry for the lack of product details. They did not specify in the Canadian House & Home magazine the names of the products they used.

One thing that I would change is the storage unit. When you factor in the cost of all the cardboard boxes, that unit is not a bargain. A more practical option would be a base cabinet with drawers in order to neatly lay down scrapbooking paper and wrapping paper. Something like the BRAVAD base cabinet with extra wide drawers seems perfect for the tasks I got in mind.

SOURCING:
+ ASKER container 5-inch $4.99 CAD, 6-inch $7.99 USD
+ ASKER suspension rail 47 1/4 inches $9.99 CAD, 23 1/2 inches $5.99 CAD
+ BRAVAD base cabinet $795 CAD
+ Lights, table, cabinets, storage unit at IKEA
+ Area rug at Pottery Barn
+ Cole & Son’s Cow Parsley wallpaper
+ Via March 2009 Canadian House & Home – photography by Janis Nicolay

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The best way to reduce the cost of a kitchen renovation is to go with store-bought cabinets. The IKEA kitchens are getting better and better every year. They are cheaper than custom build cabinets.

At IDS 09, IKEA showcased a style I affectionate: the full wall cabinets. I like this kitchen design because it delivers the sleek modern without sacrificing on storage.

A wonderful trick is to mix kitchen series. Here, they combines IKEA’s Nexus oak-veneer with the glossy white Abstrakt cabinets. Through the layout and the selection of materials for the backsplash and countertops, you can provide a look that seems custom-made.

The March 2009 of Canadian House & Home is about sleek organizing your house. One area where families need organization is certainly the kitchen. This year winner of the Kitchen Makeover contest can testify about it. They won an IKEA kitchen coupled with the expertise of senior design editor Erin Feasby.

One design element that is worth stealing is the backsplash. They alternate matte and glossy glass tiles to create a sophisticated texture.

+ Images from March 2009 issue of Canadian House & Home were photographed by Mark Burstyn

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I can believe that I discovered Yvonne Eijkenduijn of Yvestown only today. This is the site of a creative woman living in The Netherlands. She started blogging in 2005. I discovered her through Twitter.

As we wish to give a second life to our future, why not update their look. Yvonne did two IKEA hacks that add your own personal touch to popular furniture pieces.

SKRUVSTA chair

If you own an IKEA SKRUVSTA chair and wish to update the look to a custom design, Yvonne sells a slipcover pattern for £8. Her Cath Kidston SKRUVSTA chair has so much more personality.

This project requires 2.5 meters of fabric for the cover. If you have a red or black chair and the new cover material has a light color, plan for an additional 2.5 meters of white lining fabric.

EXPEDIT Bookcase

Yvonne pinned retro wallpaper on the back of an EXPEDIT bookcase to create a fun backdrop. Dressing up her retro style EXPEDIT is a long job but the results speak for themselves.

Following on the color-blocking trend that I mentioned yesterday, look at what Super*Junk did. She put colored paper on some of the cubes and lit them from inside. It is a weekend project that is worth every penny. I spotted this project on Ohdeedoh.

Storage Solutions

If you bought yours many years ago, know that EXPEDIT drawers and doors are now available. Since the choice of color is limited to white, red and black, you may wish to build your own or to repaint them.

Made of plastic with felt underneath pads, the LEKMAN boxes fit inside the EXPEDIT block.

SOURCING:
+ SKRUVSTA chair $149 USD
+ EXPEDIT bookcase $159 USD
+ LEKMAN box $12 USD
+ chair image by Yvestown
+ Retro EXPEDIT image by Yvestown
+ Color Block EXPEDIT image by Super*Junk on Flickr

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With the walls in two tones of blues and the doors painted red, I selected red to be my accent color. Our furniture is beech veneer with a few black pieces.

I went to IKEA tonight to purchase the new IKEA 365+ BRASA pendant lamp in red. I like the shape. I checked the inventory online and they were supposed to have it stock. Unfortunately, there were two black lamps plus one white but no red lamp in sight.

I was glad that I noticed a red KULLA pendant lamp in a dining room setting as I entered the store. I like the fact that the cord and the ceiling attachment were also red. Moreover, KULLA has a plate covering the globe. Since we will walk under the pendant, hiding the globe is a tempting feature. KULLA will do.

I stocked a few red storage boxes, 5 light blue eating bowls and red small SALONG vases to decorate a black and beech Expedit bookcase that we already have. I plan to make a row of light blue bowls and a row of red vases.

I also bought 3 red RINGUM rugs for the entrance hall. It will be like the 3 points of etcetera. I will show you the end results once we settled down in the new office.

SOURCING:
+ KULLA pendant lamp – $99 CAD
+ IKEA 365+ BRASA pendant lamp – medium $49.99, large $69.99
+ KASSETT Magazine file – $4.99 CAD
+ KASSETT Box for paper with lid – $11.99 CAD for 2
+ RINGUM rug – $9.99 CAD

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Friday night, we hosted a big bash at my house to celebrate the birthday of my wonderful husband. I will cover the party elements over a few posts.

I am starting this series with the drink station. We served a buffet style meal. We knew that our friends would prefer drinking wines. We also prepared a pitcher of vodka with cranberry juice.

How to Reproduce that Look?

I used my outdoor kitchen cart that I bought at IKEA a few years ago. It is ideal as a bar station because it has a stainless steel top. With condensation and drink spills, you need to protect the wood surfaces, if you used them. The bottom shelf is perfect to store backup party supplies or to keep nearby things that we will use later.

I made my own ice buckets using two wine boxes that I bought at the SAQ for $5 each. What a deal considering that the wood boxes are reusable. We placed a big cat litter plastic bag inside to protect against leakage and fill the boxes with ice cubes. Voilà!

If you are doing a formal event, consider the Hotel collection at Pottery Barn. It is affordable plus it comes in several formats and shapes.

SOURCING:
+ Hotel Oversized Bucket – $189 USD at Pottery Barn
+ Hotel Champagne Bucket – $79 USD
+ Hotel Double Wine Cooler – $89 USD

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