It’s that time of year again, Kansas City. The weather is getting cooler, the leaves are starting to change—the Swedish meatballs are cooking and the trendy furniture is ready to assemble. Yes, it’s going to be a fall to remember thanks to IKEA’s highly-anticipated grand opening on September 10 at 9 a.m. in Merriam, KS.
KC Homes 365’s interior designer and home-stager Rebecca Emley got a sneak peek inside the mega store and saw firsthand what all of the excitement was about.
“All of the furniture and accessories are well-designed and the prices are ridiculously low,” Emley said.
Not a bad combination! How do they keep the cost down? (E.g., how can you walk away with a love seat for $99 or adorable pillows for $14.99 and up?) Well, the giant IKEA in Merriam has two floors. One is filled with showrooms of bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms, kitchens, etc., and the other contains the giant warehouse. First, browse through the displays. Feel free to have a seat, close your eyes and imagine yourself living in all of the different spaces—are we the only ones who do this? But don’t put any large items in your cart just yet. Instead you take notes of what you want and then head to the warehouse to find the corresponding aisle and bin number. Assembly isn’t included (hence the low prices)—but it can be if you’re willing to pay a little bit extra. Assembly with delivery service starts at $79.
“The style reminds me of Mid-Century modern with all of the furniture low to the ground,” Emley said. “It’s very European—and perfect for people who are downsizing.”
This is no surprise considering the first IKEA opened in Sweden in 1958. Houses, apartments and lofts in Europe are known for their small square footage and making every inch of the space count. Now the good people of Kansas City can easily bring IKEA’s sexy space-savers into their own homes. Check out six of Emley’s favorites below.
1. Wall-mounted drop-leaf table ($39)
There’s nothing like breakfast with a view. And this drop-leaf table makes a meal for one so much more fun. “This is great because you could position the table wherever you’d like on the wall—high or low,” Emley says.
2. Wardrobe with interior organizers ($789)
No closet? No problem! This wardrobe comes in a variety of different colors and you can choose the doors that match your room. “The one in the store had LED lights inside that were motion activated,” Emley said. “They turned on when you opened the doors.”
3. Kitchen cart ($99)
If all of your cupboards are filled to the max, then you might want to roll this table on wheels into your kitchen. “This cart would be perfect if you needed another countertop and some storage underneath,” Emley says.
4. Wall storage combination ($41.99 & up)
When it comes to decorating your little prince or princess’s room, IKEA has tons of options that will allow you and your budget to live happily ever after. Even if your “child” is heading off to college, Emley says “IKEA is perfect place for stocking a first apartment or dorm room.”
5. Hanging wall storage system ($6.99 & up)
What’s up? Your stemware, spices and bottle openers that’s what. Emley is a big fan of getting things off of tabletops and onto the wall whenever possible. For once it’s visually appealing to see your storage just “hanging around” the house!
6. Shelving units
Now you can leave your storage problems on the shelf—and there are plenty of shelves to choose from at IKEA. From three-section shelving units that could consume your entire wall to the more subtle, adjustable shelves shown above, you’ll never be caught stacking your books in the corner.
Emley’s parting words of advice on for your IKEA adventure? “Wear your tennis shoes!” she says. “If anything you can just go in for ideas—I came home with the meatballs, but I’ll be back.”
Photos courtesy of KC Homes 365 and IKEA.com