All posts tagged: ikea

#liveLAGOM in da house

Published by Karen Knox

So at the end of last year, I introduced to you a project i’m doing with Ikea, along with about 300 other people across the UK. We’re looking at how we can live more sustainably, efficiently and have a healthier and better lifestyle. It’s called the #liveLAGOM project. The project will run over the next six months during which time everyone will document their experiences online. Ikea are giving us some big help with this obviously by agreeing to give us £500 worth of items to help us improve our sustainability. Some people are focusing on reducing food waste, some on “growing your own”, for others it’s saving money on bills or sorting out a proper recycling area. There are so many ways we can all #liveLAGOM and this is just a start of a very long process for everyone involved. I’d already written my #liveLAGOM Wishlist, which you can have a read of here. There have been some small changes made since then due to stock availability, dimensions etc.. But now i’ve finally got our £500 haul of …

Bah Humbug

Published by Karen Knox

So yeah, it’s December. Which for me is a bit stressful. Apparently, we have to have loads of random stuff hanging up in and around our houses? Kept that quiet everyone, i’ve barely heard anyone mention Christmas at all…. Being a bit of a minimalist, clean lines, no faff etc, means the festive season leaves me torn. In a slightly Natalie Imbruglia-esque way. We all like a nice carol don’t we? A bit of mulled wine and a mince pie. But, my memories of Christmas, as a child at home are giving me flashbacks. Flashbacks of tinsel, shiny plastic bells, flashing lights in every window, angels, more angels, nativity scenes, candles, tinsel on banisters, hanging from the ceiling, wrapped around anything that was wrap worthy, blu tac, yellowing sellotape and these bloody things that we systematically had to fix back to the ceiling. Every morning. I’ve managed to get away with not really doing the full on Christmas thing so far, despite OH wanting shiny stuff and twinklies so bad. I’ve gotten away with keeping it …

Home Office in a Day

Published by Karen Knox

I was recently set a challenge. Could I update a currently unused third bedroom from a room of storage chaos to a sleek and super cost effective home office? In one day. 8 hours. Let’s have a look-see…. Well yeah, of course I can. They don’t call me Karen “make-over in a day” Knox for nothing you know. Bah! Firstly, this rather large and unnecesary sofa needed to get the hell outta there. The room is about 2x3m so this took up more than a third of much needed space. A “free sofa to anyone that could collect” Gumtree ad worked a treat, giving me a near empty room and someone else a much needed free sofa. Perfik. The CD towers, old cushions and a spare light shade were getting sent to the charity shop but everything else in that room needed a place to live. I had a budget of £150 to spend on the entire room. Eek. I needed to purchase: A desk Filing drawers Drawers for the existing Ikea Kallax unit A chair …

Making Spaces Sustainable #LiveLagomProject

Published by Karen Knox

I am now an Ambassador and demand Ferrero Rocher with my brew these days. Eh?   Well, I do love a Ferrero Rocher, but I mean i’m an Ambassador on an exciting new project working with Ikea and Hubbub. It’s called the #LiveLAGOMProject and we’ll be exploring and developing the concept of how to live more sustainably. I attended a workshop at Ikea Leeds on a very wet and windy Sunday morning. Let me tell you all about it…. All 19 Ikea stores and nearly 250 households across the UK will be involved in this year’s project, the first of three over the next three years. We are hoping to find out what it means to live better, what is do-able and what the barriers are to living “Lagom.” “Lagom comes from the Swedish phrase “Lagom är bäst” (the right amount is best), which we believe is the secret to sustainable living. Not denying yourself what you love, while not taking from the planet more than you need. It’s an idea with the power to change the way …

The Live Table

Published by Karen Knox

As you’ve probably learnt by now, I love a bargain. If there’s one to be found, i’ll find it. But I put the hours in. You’ve got to spend the time looking to get real good at it. So on ANOTHER trip to Ikea (Jesus, I know), and during a quick trip to Bargain Corner (which should be called, “Hi Karen nice to see you again), I came across these. Ikea ENHOLMEN, sectional garden chairs. Priced online at £45 each, these were brand new in their boxes at £10 each. £10!! I had no idea where I was going to put them, but I was damn well sure going to find somewhere. I ummed and aahed about how many to get and decided that as there was only three in our little family, i’d get one each. We have a smallish patio area which originally had our little bench on which was saved from a trip to the tip. A few screws and a paint job and it was as good as gold again. It …

What made the cut?

Published by Karen Knox

Just a quickie tonight giving you a mini preview of what exactly made it up the two flights of stairs to The Blue Room. After my enormous three hour sesh at Ikea yesterday, here’s what’s staying. Along with a gorgeous Storage Basket ordered from Habitat today and the last bagged Sydney Stool from Swoon Editions last week. Enjoy The Blue Room’s “Room Edit”. All being well this Friday should be FAB FIZZ FLIPPIN FINISHED FRIDAY!!!  

The Great Haul

Published by Karen Knox

**I shall begin by saying that I wasn’t planning on writing about this trip, so didn’t take my proper camera. Which I should have, as I took LOADS of photos. Balls. Just got back from yet another trip to the motherland. I was the first one in the store. 9.30am. I meant business. Ikea and school holidays don’t mix. Sorry kids, i’m working. I’ve got lamps and sheepskin rugs to buy. No time for the shufflers and the browsers. Get me to that market place! We are about to go…. WILD IN THE AISLES! Two of the ARSTID wall lights to fit over the dressing table in The Blue Room. Boom. In the trolley. The gorgeous BENARP armchair in bright tomato red. Very tempting. But not today Benarp. I’m in a Suzuki Swift. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! The long awaited and limited release SINNERLIG collection by Ilse Crawford has started arriving at Leeds Ikea. The cork stools, alas, they were not in stock. Arse. They were really well made, good quality steel legs, nice details such as the gold feet and rivets …

10 Ikea pieces I continually covet… and never buy.

Published by Karen Knox

I visit “The Homeland” pretty regularly. About every fortnight. I’m lucky enough to have one half an hour away, so it’s a good trip out for inspiration. Food. And child entertainment. My little boy loves it there. Running. Eating. Hiding. Playing. And then the tantrum bit when you get to the warehouse….. Always. Every time I go, I make a beeline for my top ten pieces. Whenever I see them online, on websites, blogs, features, magazines, I want them in my home. Now. I always check if they’re in stock. If they’re there, I have a good nosey, I put them in my yellow bag. And then I take them out again. I don’t know why, but they’ve never made it to the check out. As soon as I get home and unload the car, i’m like, “Damn, why didn’t I get the (fill in the blank).” And the cycle begins. Behold. “The 10 Ikea items of temptation” EIVOR – Throw, black/white – £15 HEKTAR – Floor lamp, dark grey – £50 RIGGAD – Work lamp with wireless charging – £50 STOCKHOLM – Cushion, black, white – £12 STOCKHOLM – Rug, flatwoven, black striped …