So, I've had a love/ambivalent relationship with Ikea over the years. Early on in my adult years, they helped me get quality furniture at a decent price. No one could really tell that the drawers and backs were made of cardboard, and it was sturdy stuff. And, I could put it together myself and feel my handy genes at work. I had a few pieces that lasted years (or until, after unbuilding and rebuilding a piece several times because of moves, B would say, "this is the last time we're putting this back together.") We were able to sell our remaining bookshelves and dressers when we moved last fall, and only have a couple of nightstands left from the original collection.
But, now, we have kids and toys, and a smaller space, and a need for creative storage that doesn't cost what an heirloom piece would. And, as you may recall, I have serious issues with clutter (not your clutter, mine), particularly during times of transition and stress. A long time ago, in an effort to prove to myself that I could spend money if it made sense, and it wouldn't kill me - I spent WAY too much money at the Container Store for a toy solution. I've regretted it ever since. As has H, since he's been injured more than once by the sharp edges of the pieces I got there.
Then, I became a fan of the EXPEDIT series at Ikea. I first saw it a friend's house in her son's room. ANd, didn't think for a million years that it could have been Ikea. And, I should have known better. She's a (clothing) designer and her husband's an architect. Their place has that effortlessly designed vibe and I love it. And they had stained the shelf to look even more awesome. Anyways, EXPEDIT comes in multiple sizes and colors, so when we moved last fall, I thought of a few places it would be good to put for H's toys. Except, it turns out it doesn't come in the sizes I want, and thus NEED. No amount of remeasuring or reconfiguring will change this fact (trust me, I've tried). But then, I realized we could get the smallest version of it for our bathroom. So, several months later, we finally did. And then we needed baskets for the shelves...ah, ha, ha, ha, ha. And that fact has cost me what I would approximate as a combined total of 27 days (not sequential). I have searched and searched for the right baskets for those shelves - and yes, I know Ikea has several options, but I didn't LOVE them, and most other places that have baskets, online and off, don't have them in the right size. By "right," I mean exactly what I want. And I know what I want. So I keep thinking that I'll find it. Well, today, after returning one option (where I actually built and installed a drawer and then uninstalled, un-built, and re-flat-packed said drawer), I went shopping in Ikea where I knew all of the product by heart, and had more than one self-contained breakdown, and at least three on the phone with B (that were potentially visible to other customers, including one in which I could not find my way to the right section. I had backtracked so many times that I couldn't remember if I was supposed to walk with or against the arrows and if the short cuts were actually going to get me to more BASKETS). After getting over (almost or temporarily) the shame and embarrassment of having a breakdown about baskets, I finally compromised (with myself) and got baskets that I don't love but I think we'll keep, mostly because I'm giving up. For now. Because I really want the BIGGEST version of the shelf for H's room...but that required too many other questions to be answered first, including the kids sharing a room and when, paint colors, bed sizes and configurations...you get the drift.
I will say, as much as I'm sure someone could psychoanalyze my clutter and choice issues to tell me what they are "really" about, and I have some ideas about that myself, I really think most of this is really about the baskets. Psychoanalyze that. I sure will.
