With reserves already weakened from traipsing round the Swedish Hell, I had almost decided to buy the rip off Florence Knoll sofa and the rip off Eero Saarinen table. I had tried to guilt my friend's parents into selling me their original tulip table many times and failed. I had been sniffed at by furniture dealers and had been confused by reproduction tables. Enough. So what if my flat ends up looking like page 68 of the Ikea catalogue. But I wasn't quite convinced.
We arrive at the table on display. Pretty good. Smaller than the real tulip table, a little wobbly perhaps and with a not-quite-right base that reminds of outdoor table parasol stands. But a tenth of the price of a real one. Still unconvinced, I lean closer to be confronted by this:
*In case you can't read it, it says: I am a happy table...I like to be took home...help me...Ikea.
14 comments:
Great post!!! (I am smiling as I am writing my reply)...I have a friend in Sweden who designed for Ikea, fresh out of architecture school...and know another architecture couple who have said table (the real deal) but have a fake "black leather and wood chair with stool" (the name?? the name??)...and when asked they immediately say: "no" (along with looks that say: yes we recognize that it is a fake and we won't lie...).
with that said: did you buy the spike jonz wanna/could be in a commercial part II table?? ;))
nancy
I say, skip an entire bag of Swedish Fish and get yourself a single delectably rich piece of German chocolate. You'll be more satisfied, and you'll never regret it.
In every Ikea, there's more than one touching tale to be told. Like the time I carried (ok, pushed) 1000 pounds of shelving from the store to my rented truck.
I'm glad you didn't buy the knock-offs. I've got nothing against a new piece inspired by modern classics. It's just that the Ikea stuff tends to self-destruct after about 5 years rather than the originals which can still be found going strong 50 years later.
I had pretty good luck on Ebay and other such web sites for tables and chairs. It's harder for sofas, unless you know someone who can reupholster at a reasonable price...
BB
haha good post!
my adviser actually found his saarinen table on the street back in the 70s. someone had thrown it out. i'm hoping someday to inherit it, as i now consider him family. hopefully he feels the same way about me?
nancy - oh I know, the recliner one... the name escapes me too. no I didn't buy it (it doesn't have feelings!) but I might buy a repro one - sort of the middle way. I just want a nice round table really.
BB - do not speak of sofas or upholstery; I am still not fully recovered (re-covered haha)
erica - that's so funny, my BFF's mum also acquired hers for free in some random way I can't remember.
That note would definitely scare me off.
I don't remember where I saw this first but apparently you can work out your Ikea furniture alter ego:
http://www.blogadilla.com/2008/05/11/the-blogadilla-swedish-furniture-name-generator/
It's not working for me right now but I seem to remember being a chair...?
hahaha that is hilarious. I wish my furniture left me notes more often. I think it would improve our relationship a lot.
I was just in Ikea on the weekend, and I think the best thing about it, is it's like visiting a theme park, but everything is either really cheap or free..
Ha, yeah until you get to the till and suddenly all those random things for 58p add up to £128!
http://www.hermanmiller.com/CDA/SSA/Product/0,1592,a4-c440-p47,00.html
eames lounge chair and ottoman...
ufffff
nancy
It's not often you hear Saarinen or Knoll on a blog. Ironically I just had an original Knoll tulip chair re-upolstered and completely re-done for my husbands birthday AND Christmas present. It was given to him (in very bad shape) by a friend who was moving back to Denmark, and he didn't want to lug it with him. Needless to say, the re-do was a success. It' absolutely beautiful.
Any way, glad I found your blog. I feel so international being in your presence and reading your lovely stories....fly on over to my nest when you have a moment.
robin
Ah, the perfect scenario - I befriend Scandinavian people so just this situation might occur!? (joking, Scandi friends) and I bet it does look beautiful. I will certainly pay your nest a visit.
I have to brace myself to enter Ikea. It takes mental preparation.
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