p.s. Check out a beautiful Vintage Pearl Give-Away at Diaper Diaries!
IKEA
8 GBP...roughly $12. Um, yes please.
It all started with a tea set. I am having a Mother-Daughter Cupcake Par-Tea next month for my daughter’s 4th birthday. Since we live in the land of tea, scones, and biscuits, I thought the occasion warranted a nice tea set for Rebekah. She is actually very gentle with her toys, but I still wanted something pretty, yet durable. I kept coming back to this tea set from IKEA. I could buy it on Amazon for almost double to marked price at IKEA and still pay shipping, or…I could organize a girls’ trip to IKEA in Edinburgh {3 hours away}. You know what I chose. I made the calls, and we have 5 moms ready to go the next day! We scoured the website {well, they did anyway}, split the gas, and visited the entire drive. We shopped for a few hours in total awe, ate at the cafe, and made some great purchases! Now, I love that IKEA is in the States, but I truly believe it started further east because of European living spaces. Small by nature, our flats and homes require a certain amount of creativity for storage…especially since closets aren’t always all that common. We are blessed to have tons of space in our flat, but little first-floor storage. I was ecstatic with my finds!
Our kitchen {and hallway} update
So, how do you maximize space and organization, hang your kids’ art work, and keep a clean look? I’m not exactly an expert, but here is what we did for about $50. Our goal was for better storage, while keeping dangerous things out of kids’ reach and {most} craft supplies within kids’ reach. :) {Go here for older shots of our kitchen}
Josh hung this basket from IKEA. We added the knife holder at Christmas.
I love keeping these specific spices/herbs and tools right where I use them (it also freed up a lot of drawer space)!
Josh added this shelf last summer, but I was able to reorganize the spices and put them in baskets as a result of the metal basket we hung.
Plastic bag dispenser- 1) keeps the bags organized, 2) frees up cabinet space, & 3) kepps bags out of kids' reach.
I also hung this string a while ago to display art work without adding a million holes in the wall.
I bought this rack from Kate. Isn't it cute? Rebekah added her Wellies next to mine. We also hang blankets and scarves on it.
I LOVE these blue baskets for craft supplies! Since Luke has learned how to use a stool, I elevated the scissors and glue!
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Emily, when you come home, you should work at Container Store (or… Ikea, of course!). Everything is lovely and organized (like I am AT ALL shocked, haha)!!! However, my actual reason for leaving a comment is that I cracked up at Rebekah putting her Wellies next to yours. That is totally hilarious!!! Hope you guys are doing well. I also wanted to tell you that I am, in fact, jealous of your cooler temps. Even if you think the long, dreary winters don’t make up for it, I do. It has been even hotter here this summer than normal, if you can believe it. And I, for one, am seriously considering a move to, like, the Yukon Territory or Siberia or something to get away from the 100+ temps!
Love you guys!!!
Jill- why don’t you come visit us???? Seriously! We have tons of space for a guest (I’m truly not being sarcastic)…you have 2 years until we’re gone. We would LOVE to have you. You are one of my only friends Josh really likes.
I think I could almost live at IKEA. I love how they carry such beautiful, yet functional items. Sounds like a fun trip.
I love Ikea as well! Whenever I go up to the one in Frisco, I feel like I’m back in Europe because of the smaller-scale furniture and the cafe. Glad you got to get away with the girls for a day of shopping! So fun. All your organizational things look great and are inspiring me to do things as well!
Okay, you are making me a tad homesick that I can’t come visit your flat any more……miss you!
What a fun road trip, yet practical and exciting at the same time! I love the line for art work and the blue cups for craft supplies, especially!
Side note… we played a spice game at a wedding shower for Lizzie Pennington at church (don’t know if you her??) and we had to identify all bags and your name came up a couple of different times from people about how well you would do at the game!! Love how close your spices are to your cooking
I got to check out an Ikea last year, when I visited my best friend. We don’t have one close to us here.
I think living in the UK would be an interesting challenge for me—I LOVE to organize! I never feel like my house is completely organized (but I am getting closer!). I also am not allowed in The Container Store since I would do serious damage to our household income…
Great finds–thanks for sharing your solutions!
Oh, IKEA, how I love thee. Seriously, a girls day out to IKEA might be the best idea I have heard of. Ever. Beats dinner and a movie!
Love all the great storage ideas. And what is the spice game that Andrea mentioned??
Great dishes and additions for storage!! R will have a really fun birthday party!!!