Thursday, December 9, 2010

Expedit-ion

After searching fruitlessly for months for a really nice old pigeon hole unit to use for display and storage in our hallway, I finally gave up and decided to buy the next best thing - an Ikea expedit. I'm not usually into very square modern furniture but what I love about the expedit are the little cubes, each one acting as its own little display/storage space. I wasn't sure whether to go for the white or dark brown but luckily that dilemma was solved when I went to Vinnie's one day and picked one up in dark brown for $70! These retail at $219 in Ikea and it was in perfect condition so as I said to my hubbie "I haven't spent $70, I've saved $149" ;-)

It's now sitting pretty in our hallway allowing me to store a lot of books and display a few little things that had been stuffed away in cupboards...

Dark brown is definitely the right choice for this hall. With cream carpets and walls a white expedit would just have been too much paleness!



Yes, I admit it. I am addicted to cookbooks. There are more in the kitchen. High Australian book prices had curbed this habit for a while but the discovery of Book Depository caused me to fall off the wagon ;-)

Home Decor books are another weakness of mine.

More display space on top of the expedit.

The 3 Ngai Sing painting I posted on previously, a cute fan I picked up at a market for $2 and a beautiful turned wooden bowl I bought on eBay direct from the woodworker. Note the scratch courtesy of my eldest son, it always amazes me how furniture, toys, books etc can last for years and make it to an op shop in perfect condition only to be wrecked/scratched/scribbled on within minutes of entering my home, hmph!

$1 lamp with Target shade, wedding photo, little wooden family purchased on Etsy and cute helicopter bought from a vintage store.

Each little cube makes its own lovely little display space.

Baskets are great for stashing hats, sandals and other random stuff that accumulates in the hallway.

20 comments:

Anna White said...

Absolutely fabulous..love it..and you have arranged everything so beautifully. You still havent shared which vinnies you visit ; )

Vonlipi said...

Nice! We are looking at a similar solution right now...and it would house....guess what? well Pyrex of course! lol

Really good look for your hallway.

Sale-ing in Denver said...

we are finally getting an ikea next autumn and i can't wait. a year ago, we drove 16 hours round trip to go to the nearest ikea to buy all of our kitchen cabinets.

i loved your post! great display!

Peta said...

cute, cute, cute and EVER cuter! I love it

Engracia said...

Looks good A, nice collections you have displayed. Love those brass deers, real envy here.
E
xx

Kate said...

So lovely! And a great deal.:)

(Although I do feel terrible that I introduced you to Book Depository!!)

Minnie said...

I've always loved the Expedits. It's a great showcase for your thrift finds and has so much storage.BTW, I cannot believe you found yet another typewriter for the unbelievably low price of one dollar!!!! I can't even find one during my thrifting - at any price.

kurrabikid said...

Ikea at its best...

Super Sarah said...

I too have an expedit in my hallway! We have the 4x4 shelf one with an additional 4x2 on top meaning LOTS of room for various bits and pieces but sadly also a place for lots of crap to accumulate.

Evelyn said...

great find, love those Ikea bookshelves! and I also love those little blue ceramic horseys.

like I always tell my hubby during my auction trips; it's not how much you've spent it's how much you saved!"

Alyssa Bee said...

Your display is gorgeous!! So jealous that you were able to thrift an expedit! Love your logic about saving the $149 :)

Mushee said...

'Expedit', I had to check if that was an actual word (it's not, it seems it's an Ikea word). It's very nice. But won't the little scamps keep pulling everything off the bottom shelves? x

Mushee said...

By the way, this is Mushee.

monogirl said...

I wish I could use my Expedit for more display and less books. I have 2 4x4's and they are full to bursting! Now I have inspiration to do a bit more decluttering!

Ky said...

I think I've told you this before, or maybe I just thought it, but you ARE the queen of bargain finds! I have an expedit, but half the size of yours. They are just the best piece of furniture. I have baskets in the bottom half for storing toys. So neat and tidy.

Flotsam Friends said...

That's so funny. We just relented to this as well for Gus's room. We bought a smaller bookcase in birch with little white inserts. We've also been spending years trying to find the right piece for all the lego etc. It's just perfect (even though my husband still isn't convinced). As I said to him "there's a time and a place for Ikea". You have to give it to them for practicality. Yours looks fabulous. Now I know where you store all your wonderful treasures! Pruxxx

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your Expedit! I have the larger one in my kitchen with the attached desk and I love it. Yours looks great!

Vanessa said...

Gorgeous display for a dedicated collector. Great find! I love how you've staged your thrifted goods.

Aliya said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Aliya said...

love this!! am following you :)