Many, many years ago whilst serving in Germany I came across a store which was way ahead of its time in terms of design and product innovation called IKEA. You could shop for everything you needed for the home, following a pathway around the shop past every kind of room design and fill your basket to overflowing with affordable homewares and gadgets you might not really need or even know what they were for but they were cheap and looked good.
About 20 years too late for me, IKEA it seems is finally coming to Exeter. There was a time I would have been ecstatic about this, no more long drives down the M5 to Bristol or Birmingham to shop this iconic brand. These days my taste has evolved and I prefer to spend my hard earned cash more wisely and buy sturdy, solid wood, usually, English made items I can lovingly restore to fill my home with one off unique items.
It occurred to me that instead of fighting the inevitable exodus of customers from my little independent shop, I embrace the Aladdin's cave of ideas and items IKEA has to offer. So off I popped to Pinterest to get a bit of inspiration for just what you can achieve with a bit of imagination using items bought from IKEA.
Metal mesh lace planters made into wonderful downlighter lamps.
This style of bookcase is always available at IKEA and very affordable. Pop it on its side, upholster the top and add some feet and you have a bench seat which is not only attractive but comfortable and practical too.
Always lots of plain wooden furniture at IKEA perfect for painting and decoupage.
Chairs like this are perfect for this imaginative transformation
The vidja lamp perfect to add silhouettes to.
Just a few examples of what a little imagination can do. So I say bring on the IKEA store ! I look forward to trawling their goodies and if you have a piece of furniture you would like me to transform for you, please do get in touch. email info@thewhiteapproach.com
