IKEA

"The Swedish furniture giant has come to Utah."
"Was he a plant for IKEA?"
"It must be a slow news day when the opening of a furniture store makes the front page."

I thought the hype would be over but I was wrong. Besides, I didn't have anything to do this afternoon. After a brief conversation about behavior issues I told my dad I was going down to the new IKEA. He asked if I wanted to wait in line. I made the 15 minute drive from my father's work to Draper and found myself overtaken by a blue building with yellow wording on it. Men in construction orange shirts directed me to the best parking spot (on the east side of the building). I parked and made my way in.

Upstairs is the Showroom. Just as I stepped of the top of the escallator I heard a 12 year old boy say, "Why doesn't America sell things like this?" I giggeled and realized I was in premium blogging atmosphere. Luckly at the top of the moving stairs there were paper maps and pencils. The intention of the map is a convienent back page that became a shopping list but I found it more helpful for taking notes of my adventure.

Hanging signs in Swedish and English catch the wind and are constantly moving. Bold colors of printed letters adorn the walls. One wall sucked me in: Furnish your living room for $1,125. I'm game. I walked into the space and found a couch, end and coffee tables and a televison stand and a price tag on each of them that added all the furniture up to $1,125. I was amazed. How is this accomplished? I wondered.

I have been in the market for a new couch for a while. I looked at local places like RC Willey and the Road Redwood place but couldn't find anything contemporary enough to suit me. My mother's furniture store. I knew it was just a matter of time until I could find a furniture store with the young, single woman in mind, IKEA is the place for me. The living room sets just so happen to be the first thing one sees in their Showroom. I sat on every couch. My nose crinkled up as my body fell onto each sofa. Too hard, not fuzzy enough, leather, I don't like those feet, what's the deal with the head rests. Until I found it. Ekesog Sofa in Roen Brown.

I was reminded of a scene from Fight Club. The narrorator, played by Edward Norton, has a condo that was his life. "Like so many others I had become a slave to the IKEA nesting instinct. 'Yes, I'd like to order the Erica Pikari dust ruffles.' If I saw something clever, like a little coffee table in the shape of a yin yang, I had to have it. The Tjenste sofa with the string green stripe pattern. Even the lamps of envrionmently friendly, unbleached paper. I'd flip through catalogs and wonder what kind of dining set defined me as a person. I had it all. Even the glass dishes with tiny bubbles and imperfections. Proof that they were crafted by the honest, simple, hard-working, indiginous peoples of...wherever."

The Ekesog sucked me in. I shifted myself into a lying position. Comfortable. I might even find myself sleeping on a couch more than my own bed. My dual purpose map not only became my notebook for the afternoon but it was also handy in writing down the product name, qty, aisle and bin numbers. If I so desired I could pick up these items at the end of my IKEA journey. Although it was impossible for me to purchase this couch today, I will have this couch eventually.

Another painted wall read "Living in 376 square feet." They managed to furnish a space of 376 square feet. Small kitchen table, queen size bed. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. They did it. Those of you that have been to Europe, I ask that you back me up on this. Since the United States is going the way of the condo maybe the Europeans had it right when it comes to furnishing a space that is less than 600 square feet. Cabinits that rolled out like flatwear drawrs so you can see the shelf from both sides rather than streigning to see the top shelf on your tippy-toes. It was person height so I could see the top shelf. I felt the only thing that wasn't European was the electrical outlets.

(Side note: I started counting pregnant women walking around the store. In my hour and a half in the store my final tally was 16. Half were really pregnant. I'd rank this number two to the Utah County Wal*Mart where walking around for a half hour we saw three and one had three other kids in toe.)

Heading down the stairs to the Marketplace I heard one man say "I feel this is worse than a freakin' theme park. This is a joke." I had to disagree with him because the IKEA is like a new baby. Everyone wants to see it so everyone will see it. One of the differences is that the IKEA will not get sick. In the Marketplace they sell all the accessories for the furniture you just purchased. Rektangle Vase for $2.49; Stuffed Toy Snake for $4.99; Dishtowel for $0.99; Wok for $6.99; and even your garbage can be in style for $1.99. I saw abstract art that now everyone will have. Isn't the point of art to have a one of a kind?

It was on this floor that my question about all this furniture being so inexpensive was answered. I interpreted a hanging sign to my understanding: It's inexpensive because designers place the price first then design the furniture. Then I thought: set your budget first then don't go above it. Now doesn't that make sense.

I don't think it was too bad of an afternoon. I enjoyed watching the people. I enjoyed the hype. I enjoyed the comments. I could definately say I will go back and look at comfortors for my bed. When I save enough money, that is.