I Know Britt Hates Ikea But… May 14, 2008

…I have discovered a new way to get myself out of a funk.

Play around with the Ikea Kitchen Planning Tool.

See, here’s the thing.

Because of my very own actions and behavior, I had gotten myself into a situation where I felt I was “out of control” of my own life again. The very antithesis of where I very much need to be right now, as we all know.

So last night, after work, I had some quiet time and I took care of some very pressing business (read: finished my son’s FAFSA so he can continue his brilliant career in college next year).

And then I immersed myself once again into the wild and wooly and wonderful world of daydreaming and planning about how to turn my little diamond in the rough home into a jewel that reflects who I am and how I want to live.

My daughter hates Ikea. I think the biggest reason is that she absolutely hates the shopping experience there. Not a warehouse type of girl, our Britter.

And I agree with her that the living room furniture is not at all to my taste.

But the kitchen stuff is.

See, this place is very small. Like - less than 12 feet wide. Which is fine. I’m into small spaces. They’re easier to clean, and it makes me feel cozy and safe. In my cave, which is a term everyone who knows me has heard me utter more than a cajillion times.

But I’m also very much into beauty, and more so the older I get.

It is important to me to have things that are pleasing to the eye surrounding me.

That’s why I’m such a nature freak, because not even the most incredibly talented designer or artist can begin to compare with how amazingly beautiful a lot of things in nature are. My friend Selma gets it.

If I could live outside year round, I would.

But since I can’t - and since this place basically needs gutting from the walls and floors out, I have the lovely challenge/opportunity to start all over.

Now, I live 186 miles from the nearest Ikea. (I know because it told me so on their website.) And I am too damn lazy and cheap to drive that far to get stuff.

But a clever woman such as muself can take their ideas and make them work with locally available stuff.

For instance, I absolutely love the look of their freestanding kitchens with open shelving, because it makes the space look larger and brighter and airier. And because I suppose something in my rebels at the traditional bank of oaken cabinets lining every wall. Bleh.

And I really like that you can click on the little inspiration pictures and get all kinds of cool storage and organizational tips and ideas.

Trust me - clever storage is mah thing lately. Such an exciting life I lead.

AND, with the cool little planner feature, if my darling daughter wanted to go download the kitchen planner tool, I could then send her files with the layout of my kitchen - which would then almost substitue for the fact that I can’t send her pictures of my home, being sans camera for the time being. Hint Hint.

You know, I bought my home for $500.

No, seriously, I did. You may all take a moment now to laugh uproariously.

So I obviously am not going to do a $10,000 kitchen upgrade.

But as I mentioned before, everything in the damn place is rotten and warped and yucky. So it all must go.

My darling son would prefer, of course, a $10,000 kitchen upgrade.

He, of the “has never had to earn that kind of money before” brand.

So, come on.

Come out of lurkdom, kids.

Help me out here.

Send the ideas my way.

They say the first thing you have to do is to be very clear on what you want the space to do.

I dearly love to cook.

My kitchen table, in my home, has always been the heart of my home.

Britt will remember, even after she grew up and moved out, coming over and sitting at my kitchen table for a cup of coffee or whatever for the most wonderful talks - something, thank God, we duplicate now every morning by phone during her commute to work. It is, by far, my favorite part of the day.

I dearly and passionately love to cook. And I love to have friends over after work - maybe not for a complete Thanksgiving meal - but we’ve shared a nachos extravaganza - or maybe just margaritas with a bag of chips and a jar of salsa.

My friend Joyce comes over sometimes for a cup of coffee and a muffin. (She brings the muffins, and lovely they are!)

I am all into reclaiming old stuff, using unconventional elements in new ways, and I am very very very into the “natural elements” look like wood countertops and burlap covered walls and raised stencilled trees on the walls.

So come on. Bring on the ideas, you creative geniuses, you.

It’ll be fun!

We’re talking about giving creative expression and a “look” to my life here!