Some girls get excited when they receive a Victoria’s Secret catalog. I do when I see the magnificent thickness that is an IKEA catalog. I like to refer to it as Meli porn. I make time to sit and look through it, patiently dog-earing all my favorite items and picturing where I could squeeze them into our current setup. And these were just a few of those (some weren’t available online to share with you all just yet – bummer). This PS Cabinet is just so wonderful in so many ways. Our house is a perfect combination of modern and warm. We pair classy pieces with the fun to make our house seem more like a home (I can’t stand those cold, surgically modern homes), so that’s why I was drawn to this cabinet as the perfect “table” to place behind our couch (more about the couch later). It fits our style and budget. How did I ever live without you, IKEA?

So our couch. When we bought our first home, we were determined to buy a “big kid” couch. You know, one that had a hefty price tag that would last us a long time and be a statement piece in our home. So we chucked out our sweet little leather IKEA couch for a grown up West Elm one. I’m starting to think that was a bad decision. Our pricey sectional is such a headache. Sure, it is very easy to clean, but it’s supposed sturdy weighted cushions are constantly falling…as we are leaning on them. I can’t tell you how embarrassing it is when guests are over watching a movie or just hanging out and they almost tumble back first onto our floor. The moral of this story is that expensive is not always better. And this is why I would ditch our sectional for this itty bitty cute hot pink pretty. OK, so maybe I wouldn’t, but isn’t it tempting? Maybe one day when I live in a flat in London. You know…one day

Our house is not small, but we are minimalists. We don’t like a lot of clutter or furniture taking up precious personal space, so this Lack Wall Shelf really appeals to our design aesthetic. I can place all my useless garbage (aka; cutesy/kitschy decor) on the shelves without feeling like I am making our home more and more claustrophobic as the days pass (can you tell I grew up in a home with “stuff” popping out of every corner?). Plus it’s unassuming and just goes perfectly with any decor style. Oh yeah, and it’s cheap, so feel free to not limit yourself to just one. Pop one of these suckers in every room, or combine them together for more cargo room!

IKEA is also offering a lot of black and white throws and pillow covers this year, which is just so so fun. I love stripes, and think they really add a pop of modern fun to any room. Unfortunately, these were the items that were not yet on the website. Guess that just means a shopping trip is in order!

I also haven’t forgotten about my 30 Day Picture Challenge. Here are my most recent contributions:

It’s going to be really fun to compile these all together when I’m done
ps; that is Essie’s Lapis of Luxury on my hands & toes – so pretty!