Cool stuff: IKEA Summer Collection

My "complicated" relationship with IKEA is no secret -- I love it and I hate it. Right now, I'm feeling like IKEA definitely has its place: While I'm determined to limit the amount of cheap particleboard, plastic, and Chinese-produced goods in my home, I've made peace with the occasional modest splurge at the Big Blue for basics and for fun seasonal accents. And god knows, you can't beat the prices.

In addition to the forthcoming PS Collection that Emma recently previewed, which has me drooling (and which apparently may not even be released in U.S. stores), several things from IKEA's soon-to-launch 2009 summer collection caught my eye:

Roxo Easy Chair, $139, and Tray Table, $40

Greno Cushions, $13 each

Clockwise from top left: Greno Cushions, $10 each, Floor Cushions, $30 each, Tray, $5, Bags, $1.49 each, and Plant Pots, $2 each

Vano Easy Chairs, $50 each, and Styrso Nesting Tables, $40 for three

Solig Solar Lights, $10 each

IKEA's 2009 summer collection will start rolling into the Swedish superstores in the next couple of weeks, and typically sells out by the end of June.

Cool Stuff: Summer at IKEA

I slipped, you guys. Despite my resolution to lay off the IKEA crap once and for all, I bought a whole bunch of stuff there yesterday.

I know it will all fall apart in a few months, and I suspect that it was probably made with toxic, non-sustainable materials by obscenely underpaid workers in Far East sweatshops. But I stopped in to pick up a bunch of Ribba frames so I could finally hang my growing collection of Etsy prints, because those are the only simple white frames I've found that I can afford to buy in mass quantities.

And, well, my resolve to drastically limit the amount of IKEA in my life fell away when I saw all the happy, super-cheap new summer stuff and other recent additions at my local Swedish superstore. (And yes, today I feel hung over with guilt -- but not so much so that I didn't spend most of the morning moving things around to make room for my new scores.)

Sommar Cushions, $8 each

Sommar Paper Tablecloth, $3. (There are so many different ways you could use this large roll of fairly durable laminated paper: wrapping a lampshade, lining dresser drawers, staple-gunning it over a worn table- or dressertop, mod-poging it to cabinet or closet doors ...)

Sommar Food Domes, on sale for $1 each

Sommar Cloth Bags (a little Orla-ish, no?), $8 each

Sommar Gardening Bags, $3 each

Sommar Hanging Planters, $13 each

Sommar Picnic Blanket, $30

Sommar Throws, $13 each

Greno Cushions (I like the yellow), $20 each

More Greno Cushions, $6 each

Hemon Rugs, $15 each

Flyn Ofelia Curtain Panels, $45 for three

Hjordis Fabric, $4 a yard

Knubbig Lamp, $17 or $9, depending on size

Pjatteryd Wall Art, $70

Tripp Storage Tins, $3 a set

Jutanas Decorative Figures, $20 for a set of five

Trollsta Sideboard, $349

Ange Chair, $129, and Hejka Chair, $139

Oh yeah, and they finally have that Egg-like Karlstad Swivel Chair ($329) that I lusted after last summer, when it was only available at overseas IKEAs. Not loving it so much in person.

I didn't actually buy all of this stuff, mind you -- but I bought some of it.

Damn you, IKEA.

(How do you all feel about the Blue Behemoth? Great for deals on fun, disposable decor -- or poor-quality environmental and economic scourge? Post a comment and let me know.)

Over and Out: Have a Lovely Long Weekend

I don't know about you, but I am so ready for summer this year ...

I'll be back with fresh posts on Tuesday morning. Until then, have a good one!

(Above: "Sing a Song of Miles and Miles" photo print, $30, from Etsy seller Alicia Bock.)