I remember when you first came to the United States in 1985. You created quite a buzz with your nice-looking furniture, good prices and do-it-yourself concept. I couldn’t figure out why anyone would want to assemble their own chest or kitchen cupboard, but what did I know!
Apparently, I didn’t know much.
Look at you now, Ikea. You decorated my nephew Adam’s entire apartment. Some of your furniture looks as good as pieces five times the price. You also sell towels and shower curtains, dishes and flatware, artwork and vases, things you don’t have to put together yourself. And what about the specialty foods from Sweden, like meatballs. Clever!
Thank you Ikea. I’m actually thinking of buying a media cabinet from you. I have more patience than I did when you and I were young, so maybe I’ll actually be able to put it together without having a breakdown.
OXO,
Geri
0 Responses to “To Sweden, with love”
Maria says:
Hi Geri,
I have friends who work at Ikea and always visit the stores in whatever country they visit. Unfortunately I have never done that, but I have worked at the department that produces the Ikea catalogues and therefor I know that they take the local culture a lot into account. For instance, in southern Europe people don´t have rugs in the kitchen, which is quite common in Scandinavia. Therefor the pictures in their catalogues could have no pictures of kitchen rugs. And in Arab countries people usually buy at least two thick mattresses and place on each other, so the catalogue for this area had to have pictures of beds with several mattresses. That was a lot of work with these pictures and of course there had to be a lot of knowledge behind every shoot.
About the size of the stores I´m not sure. At least one of the Swedish stores used to be the biggest, but that might have changed. There are a lot of big stores in Germany, where Ikea have been for many years.
And of course there are differences in what people in different countries buy, but most things are the same all over the world, and they all have swedish names, mostly from small villages, lakes etc in the south of Sweden.
They are clever and generally wonderful design ideas, changing and improving every year!
Glad they recognize some FOF may need a new piece or two as life moves forward!
0 Responses to “To Sweden, with love”
Maria says:
Hi Geri,
I have friends who work at Ikea and always visit the stores in whatever country they visit. Unfortunately I have never done that, but I have worked at the department that produces the Ikea catalogues and therefor I know that they take the local culture a lot into account. For instance, in southern Europe people don´t have rugs in the kitchen, which is quite common in Scandinavia. Therefor the pictures in their catalogues could have no pictures of kitchen rugs. And in Arab countries people usually buy at least two thick mattresses and place on each other, so the catalogue for this area had to have pictures of beds with several mattresses. That was a lot of work with these pictures and of course there had to be a lot of knowledge behind every shoot.
About the size of the stores I´m not sure. At least one of the Swedish stores used to be the biggest, but that might have changed. There are a lot of big stores in Germany, where Ikea have been for many years.
And of course there are differences in what people in different countries buy, but most things are the same all over the world, and they all have swedish names, mostly from small villages, lakes etc in the south of Sweden.
Maria
sharon Segal says:
Geri,David could help you put it together ! Sharon
Heather Chapple says:
Forgot to mention I passed on a stylish blogger award to you Geri!
http://www.concretejungleblogspot.com/2011/01/with-many-thanks-to-fantasy-decorator.html
Maria says:
I love Ikea too even though (or maybe just because) I live in Ikea-land 🙂
Love,
Maria in Sweden
Geri says:
Hi Maria,
Have you been to Ikea in the US or anywhere else. I’d love to know the differences in size, display, etc.
G
Heather Chapple says:
They are clever and generally wonderful design ideas, changing and improving every year!
Glad they recognize some FOF may need a new piece or two as life moves forward!
Geri says:
Great point Heather, about FOFs needing furniture. I love buying new pieces here and there or recovering older pieces.
And thank you so much for the award!
oxo
G