I grew up at Ikea

I spent last evening reading the latest issue of Maisonneuve (theme: money and power). My favourite article was the piece by Poppy Wilkinson, "For the Love of PoÄng," about the store we all love/hate to love, Ikea. The story basically sums up my feelings toward the Swedish company. On one hand, I have had nothing but negative experiences with assembling the furniture. On the other, the furniture's simple and colourful design makes me happy. Generally, the latter feeling wins out. After all, I was practically raised in the big Blue and Yellow at Leslie and Hwy. 401. I still have memories of chillin' in the child care centre while my parents purchased plastic fold-up chairs and my now broken bed (Dad tried to change a lightbulb by standing on it). I remember that sea of red, yellow and blue balls fondly and every time I enter an Ikea, I secretly wish I was young enough to hang out there instead of swimming through the crowds.

In many ways, Ikea was the leader in big box stores, but for some reason, it gets away with it. Maybe it's the low pricing, or the meatballs, or the charming TV ads—Wilkinson says the lamp ad was created by Spike Jonze—it doesn't matter, it's an amusement park of home decor and cheap food. I love it! I love it! I love everything except putting Ikea furniture together.

Tonight, on The Amazing Race, the contestants went to the largest Ikea store in the world in Stockholm, Sweden. In a detour task they either had to count over 2300 items correctly, or put a desk together. Notice how most of the teams went for the counting first? It's because no one wants to put Ikea furniture together! Speaking of The Race, Jonathan is obnoxious. Lori (of Team Lori/Bolo, the professional wrestlers) must beat him up and make him cry. Now that my favourite team, Lena and Kristy, have been eliminated and I don't really like any one else, I will only watch the show to see Jonathan fall apart.

Comments

[Andrea Chiu]

Maisonneuve as a blog-like magazine. I never thought of it that way, but it kind of makes sense. It can be pretty random with its story selections, but I like it, mainly because there's nothing else like it. But like blogs, it's hit and miss. I think the latest issue is one of the strongest yet.

[brian]

and they have actual blogs on the maisonneuve site!

i like the assembly part of ikea wares--it makes me feel like i can put together furniture even though it's so paint-by-numbers.

[travis]

I've heard only good things about Maisonneuve. Someone told me it was the most blog like magazine around. I didn't know what that meant, but i liked the sound of it.

[sarah]

In Singapore, my scandanvian friends would take us to the big Ikea store for dinner. They loved going there and showing the other international students what it is like in Sweden. We'd eat meatballs and potatoes and wander around and sit on the furniture. It was really funny! We would make fun of how swedish it was and they'd get all insulted and huffy cause it's their home away from home. We went there like 10 times throughout the year in big groups, no joke.

[J-Mo]

Have you had the ikea 99c breakfast? It's badass!

[tariq]

dood, putting together ikea furniture is fun! it's like mecanno for grown-ups, i love it. call me up the next time you need some assembling!

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