Ikea Furniture lasts longer than some marriages....

My kitchen, err I mean, our kitchen....after 6years of living in our home, I finally feel like the kitchen is complete..! Slowly over the years we made little changes, tweaked this and that.  Then this Summer we really went to town! We chose a back splash, well lets be honest, I chose the back splash and then while shopping Hubby saw another tile that was on sale...in the end, I went with his decision. I then took it a step further and decided, (in a time when people want storage) to take away storage! I got some quizzical looks and emails about "why would you do that?" And you were all told, "I was cleaning, if you really go through a cupboard and decide you don't use it, donate it or sell it!" We took down the cupboards and microwave(shock and horror) over the stove! It felt wonderful! Light and airy, open space! And finally, I wanted to tackle the back wall!! The big wall that just sat there...and no matter how I tried to dress it up, it just wasn't right!! It didn't feel complete!

It didn't feel complete till I thought about built ins!! I know what you are thinking...didn't you just take away cupboards and now you are thinking about built ins? YES!! I have kitchen stuff in the living room and pretty things hidden in other cupboards! Why not make the kitchen sing and put everything kitchen-y into the kitchen?

Hubby considered building from my sketches...then I saw a unit on line, Ikea!! Why not buy it in a box? He can build it!? I would supervise! What could go wrong?

I haven't been to Ikea in over 5years...and I just love walking through the mock living spaces...giving me so many ideas! I had a few tissues with me, drooling at tools and sinks and back splashes...! I brought my Daughter and had my bestie with me, we needed a pick up truck! (Reason number 48 to own a pick up truck)

We had a blast...and after realizing how many boxes we had to load(UGH).. we went to pay! It was there, while waiting in line, we started to chat with another customer. He told us that the furniture and instructions had gotten better over the years! Him and his wife had purchased a wall unit, over 30 years ago...and it was still standing! But not the marriage! It was then that we noticed he was buying a bed, and a mattress was rolled up on top...OUCH!!

In the end, I have come to the conclusion that Ikea furniture in its many boxes and with a thick instructional manual, might test a relationship. And if built properly, will outlast some marriages in the end.

Our marriage...still standing!!
Perhaps the key to a successful marriage is to have a few bolts and nuts leftover....