Excitement at IKEA
So I went through the entire upstairs labyrinth set-up of the however-many-square-foot-apartment areas of IKEA last night with my friend Alex. I am currently trying to stage Alex’s loft and we went to get ideas. The big idea we had was trying to live in all of them for a week each - perhaps start in the 1000 square foot apartment and work our way down to the 300 square foot apartment, or vice-versa. It was a From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler kind of idea. Why hasn’t IKEA tried this before? It could be hailed as performance art. They could put us behind glass and let people watch us try to live in each space. The drawbacks would be that the plumbing isn’t actually hooked up, and if the appliances were, it would always smell like eggs and bacon in there.
Even more exciting, we thought we saw Vern Yip in the fabric section. If it wasn’t actually him, it was his doppleganger. I was positive it was him, but now that I look at this picture I am really not so sure. Vern, if you are reading this, were you at the Atlantic Station IKEA yesterday? If not, do you have a twin brother? Were you shopping for Trading Spaces? Or do your high end customers use IKEA like everyone else? Their fabrics absolutely rock right now, so it’s anyone’s guess.
In loft renovation/staging news, we decided that the coolest runner we could possibly create is from four of the $9.99 circular rugs - off white, orange, off white, orange, all in a row like lily pads. A fun $40 IKEA move. It’s funny, I walk through that place in awe of how inexpensive it all is, but then at the end, I realize I’m paying in sweat, trying to find the furniture and waiting in the endless checkout line.
IKEA pictures from IKEA.com
Vern’s picture from Vern Yip’s Official Site.
June 20th, 2007 at 11:18 am
I had the bizarre pleasure of running into Vern a few years back at Lowe’s. I must admit, I’m a Home Depot girl, so the simple fact that I was there was an abberation. As I walk across the front of the store I see him. For some reason, I walk up to him and introduce myself as if to say e should recognize my name. Ha!
he was extremely gracious and let me impose upon him for a few moments. very nice fellow. At the time he was in fact shopping for trading spaces.
The unusal aspect of celebrity is that we see these people weekly in our home via magazines, blogs and television…so when we see them we have an odd sense of familiarity with them.
yes..I bum rushed Wolfgang Puckonce at the Ritz Carlton as well. ha!
July 18th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Thats a very funny story franki, thats so true about thinking that celebs should know who we are since we know so much about them and their lives. Never met Vern, but he seems very down to earth and friendly. Plus the fact he was shopping at IKEA makes me like him even more. Be sure to cacth him this Sunday July 22nd as he hosts the second season of HGTV’s Design Star at 10pm. I watched some of the clips and i must say, this season might top last season. Here are some of the previews http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/design_star/. Just sharing since i work with HGTV.
July 19th, 2007 at 8:09 am
Brick Honey, it would not be hard to top last year. Last year was pitiful, but very entertaining. I can’t wait to watch and make fun again on Sunday.
Becky
PS the more I look at Vern, the more I don’t think it was him. I just don’t know! I do know he shops at IKEA though!