Spot the Ikea
Ikea’s ubiquitous offerings are a favourite for both budget-savvy designers and homeowners. Some of these pieces have even earned cult status for their great look and they can often be spotted in high-low designs, working hard to bring the project in on a budget! Incorporating these easily obtained and affordable options into our designs helps our clients save here and splurge elsewhere, while simultaneously allowing us to flex our creative muscles to come up unique solutions. (We live for a great Ikea hack!) Check out this round-up of a few of our projects where Ikea has been there for us.
Project: Heritage Hill House Reno
Ikea items: Pax wardrobes
Ikea offers an extensive line of closet-organizing solutions that allow for a high level of interior customization. In House Designer, Alanna Dunn, used the Pax system to outfit the principal closets in her own home. She had custom doors fabricated and lacquered to match the paneling in the bedroom and opted for an easy-to-access open design in the walk-in closet, resulting in a truly bespoke solution on a dime!
Project: Silverhorn Residence
Ikea item: Stockholm rug
Sometimes, as designers, we need to think outside the box to come up with great solutions to fit our clients' budgets. The large square footprint of this kitchen dining nook called for a custom-sized area rug that would have blown our budget. We loved the graphic punch of the Stockholm rug and, by stitching two of them together, were able to create the perfect size!
Projects: Destination Dental and Griffiths & Associates
Ikea items: Godmorgon/Odensvik vanity, Sektion kitchen cabinets, and Karlby countertop
Kitchens and bathrooms are often the big ticket items in most projects and millwork budgets become particularly stretched when you consider all of the extra storage requirements of a commercial space. This is where prefabricated cabinets such as Ikea’s Sektion can really save the day. With a bit of know-how and a great millworker on your team, it is possible to outfit a space using mostly standard-sized cabinets and doors. Custom details, such as panels for integrated appliances, can be fabricated and lacquered to match, resulting in a custom look on a budget!
Project: Elboya Renovation
Ikea item: Mosslandra picture ledges
Since installing art rails into our very own In House Design HQ, we are totally sold on the look and especially the flexibility and versatility they offer. While we often work with our millworkers to design art rails to a specific dimension and finish specification, some projects call for a simpler solution. The Mosslandra picture ledges come in a few different lengths and finish options and happened to be the perfect complement to the eclectic gallery wall in this cool office space.
Project: Mount Royal Condo
Ikea item: Brusali shoe cabinet
Our very own senior designer, Alanna Dunn, is the master of small-space living. When it came to sourcing furniture for her first home, a 550-square-foot condo, she had to be sure she was making the absolute most of her space. The Brusali shoe cabinet added much-needed shoe storage, utilizing the vertical space, while maintaining a shallow profile. She completed the look by adding new crystal hardware to make it her own.
Project: Silverhorn Residence
Ikea item: Hemnes dresser
The Hemnes dresser, with its simple lines and great storage, is the perfect piece on which to perform the easiest Ikea hack of all: a hardware swap! These cute porcelain pulls we picked up from Anthropologie gave the dresser some chic je ne sais quoi, while remaining cost-efficient!
Project: Rosemont Residence
Ikea item: Ribba picture frames
The In House Design team has designed and installed many gallery walls for our clients over the years and we’ve experimented with many off-the-shelf frame options. Ikea’s Ribba frames come in a wide variety of sizes and colours and are the perfect foundational frame to build a great composition. Their simple design is a great balance to more decorative frames, while the mat board can easily be swapped for a custom colour or size if necessary.
Project: Silverhorn Residence
Ikea items: Besta sideboard and Melltorp table
Keeping the furniture simple and easily cleanable was key for this craft room! The Besta sideboard provides much-needed closed storage and helps keep the space neat and tidy. The cost-efficient Melltorp table was a perfect complement with its smooth, durable top. These pieces not only tick all the practicality boxes, but the crisp white tone and simple lines go a long way toward creating an uncluttered environment perfect for the creative process.
Project: Bearspaw Residence
Ikea item: Docksta table
The simplicity and classic shape of the Docksta table were a great fit for this fun and dynamic children’s space. As it turns out, the crisp white top is also resistant to stains and scratches, making it a good fit to do homework, crafts, or have a snack on!
This blog series is called You Ask, We Tell, where we'll be answering some of our team's most frequently asked questions! In the meantime, you can stay up to date with the In House Design team on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.
