Rick and I went to Ikea on Thursday afternoon and bought the largest size Expedit bookcase they sell. It is about six feet by six feet and each cubby is about 13 inches square.
It actually went together pretty quickly. This is a very heavy, sturdy bookcase. It comes in a million pieces and includes non-verbal instructions (just a little happy guy or a sad guy depending on how well you follow direction).
I bought the white boxes at Ikea too – only a few years ago. They still sell them only I think the corners are different now.
The baskets I bought at Cost-Plus World Market. They are made out some kind of strapping material and are my favorite shade of taupe. They were only $6.99 a piece and came in a number of other colors. I found them in the bathroom area, not the basket area.
I cleared out my craft closet of any art/craft related product and left the sewing stuff in there. Now I can finally get at all my decorating magazines. Most are from defunct publications so I can't bring myself to part with them. The magazines take up four cubbies along the bottom row. I bought those magazine holders at Ikea a few years ago and lord only knows why I bought black instead of white. I may have to replace them.
The next shelf up holds all my decorating and craft books.
I love how everything is contained, yet easily accessible and identifiable. The boxes all have labels on them and I'll add tags to the baskets (even though I can see right into them).
I had to paint all the lids to my jars so they match. I think I might be getting a tad compulsive about things matching and lining up.
I have plenty of space in the various boxes and baskets so I have growing room.
I can't tell you how many times I rearranged the items on the shelves until I could get them as symmetrical as possible.
Next week I have to tackle the craft closet which will now be solely used as a sewing closet. It looks like a bomb went off in there.
I couldn't get a picture of the entire thing straight on because the dining room table was in the way. But you get the idea. I'm very happy with how this turned out.
Belle likes it too.
Very, very nice! Love those boxes and baskets. Belle is perfectly cubby sized. Better leave her an empty one to nap in or in case she needs to supervisor you from her perch.
This is fantastic! What a wonderful solution to your storage needs! I am so impressed. This is so attractive and at the same time practical. Don’t you just want to sit in there and stare at it? You qualify for a spread in Where Women Create!
If there’s a small confined area, and particularly if it’s up high, there will soon be a cat in it. I love your shelves/cubes! They look great. I’d love to have some. I’ll have to think where on earth I have room to put some now!
Brenda
I’m all for symmetry… looks fantastic! 🙂
Andrea! I <3 this! Can I hire you to come and organize my house?1
It looks great!!! I keep seeing more and more of these Ikea bookcases popping up on my blogroll! It might be a sign I need to make the drive to Ikea myself! ;o)
very nice. I don’t think we have a cost plus market but I sure like those baskets.
I love these IKEA cubbies. . . but I’ve never seen them look so well accessorized! (is that a word?) Really – I love your baskets & containers (& Belle!) – beautiful. I wanted to get these units so badly for one of my rooms. . . but they won’t fit – getting in & out of the door (corners in the little hallway) – so if they would ever need to be moved – they would have to be dismantled (- & I will be replacing the flooring in a few years). So. . . I will enjoy yours! :o)
xo, Bren
. . . oh!. . . & now you have put me on a hunt for more white/ivory buttons . . . I love your button jars!!! (sigh!)
xo, Bren
Don’t ya just love IKEA!
Looks wonderful! I like how you got it all organized..very attractive.
I love all your storage you put it together wonderfully.
Your shelves look like something from a Pottery Barn catalog! Congratulations, that must have been so much work. Are you a neat nut that will keep them looking so lovely or do they already have a totally different, I’m cramming stuff here look?
Oh mannnnnn! Now I have to clean out my cubbies. I didn’t realize how bad they were until I saw yours. ~LeslieMichele