School started a week ago today and I decided on Friday afternoon that I needed a desk. I really needed a desk. And I needed it that night. I convinced Bart to come to IKEA with me and we found the perfect desk. Except, when we got to the part where you actually pick up your flat boxes, well, the one I wanted (and could afford) was sold out. We spent nearly another hour there, with me scrabbling parts form the “As Is” section together and Bart trying to convince me that, no, this desk top balanced on a set of scarred drawers wasn’t going to be what I wanted.
We went home empty handed and I cried myself to sleep (yes, I recognize how utterly pathetic I am, and I have no excuse).
The next day I went back to IKEA (because I’m a glutton for punishment, I assume) and lo and behold, the desks were back in stock. But then, when I pulled one off the stack, I realized how HUGE they were. And I remembered, dimly, that our office was not exactly huge. But the smaller one in the color I wanted was not in stock. But it was in white. Finally, after dithering around for far too long, I finally decided on the smaller white one.
I brought it home, assembled it my very own self (and gave myself three blisters with the screwdriver, because I’m not a real woman) and we all lived in non-sobbing peace for the rest of the weekend.
And um, that giant stack of books on my desk is because my water bottle leaked all over one of my library books and I’m pressing it flat. Also, those are books I needed to remember to take back to school today.
Elizabeth says
Oooh, I like it! The white looks really good with the green walls.
I too am one of those instant gratification type of gals and I totally understand the angst of non stocked IKEA items. So devastating to finally make the decision and then no! You aren’t allowed to have it anyway. Boo.
Chelsea says
Ikea can be a great place to get things sometimes. I got the biggest kick out of going there when they originally. They have the most interesting layouts for small floor plan areas! Plus you can’t get out of that place without going through the entire store. Brilliant floor design.
Rhiannon says
I totally get the “HAVE TO HAVE IT NOW!!” feeling. It’s so frustrating!
TheMoncurs says
Mmmm Ikea. Aaron just gave me permission to redo our living room so I’m really looking forward to an Ikea trip!
fluentbrittish says
I love that your pressing your library book flat. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to do that. One time I had a copy of Summer of the Monkeys in my bag at a pool and it got soaked. That was my first library fine of all time. I’ve continued getting books wet on a regular basis since then, but now I take more care to hide the evidence.
Carly Jane says
I have that exact desk and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I know that is a lot fo love fo a little white bit of space. But I do. I hope you enjoy it!
Katherine says
The same thing happened to me at IKEA on Monday. Same desk, even. I don’t want to make the trip again until I’m sure they’ll have it, but your next-day gratification gives me hope.
Stephanie says
this is unrelated to your post. but oh well.
yes i went on study abroad with your father-in-law. he’s intimidating as all get out, but he totally gave me the inspiration for my senior thesis.
too bad my supervising professor didn’t give it the get-go.
anyway…..
Jodi says
Ikea is a very dangerous place! I agree with whoever said they like the white with the green walls!
Operation Pink Herring says
I spent MONTHS searching for the shelf that completed our wall ‘o Ikea bookcases last year… I called every week for about 6 months, and always got the same resonse: temporarily out of stock, but not discontinued, won’t you purchase your shelf in a different color? NO, IKEA, I NEED IT IN BLACK/BROWN SO IT MATCHES THE REST OF OUR SET! BIRCH EFFECT WILL NOT DO! we finally gave in and bought a different kind of shelf that was available in black/brown, which cost 4x as much and took an entire day to screw into the wall correctly. The shelf we’d wanted did not need to be affixed to a stud, but the New Shelf, that DID need a stud, and guess what! there were no studs in the space we’d left for the shelf!
i want to cry all over again just thinking about that stupid shelf. I cried a lot on that Day of Installation. Don’t worry, you are certainly not the only one who has cried over Ikea’s cruel, cruel ways. And yet, after all that, I currently have their website up and i’m thisclose to buying a bed from them this weekend.
hello, my name is amber marie. says
i want to shoot the guy that writes the instruction booklets.
the end.
Julie T says
Hi Janssen! (Heather, Noelle and STef’s mom…) I think you were smart to go for the smaller desk and the white looks great! If you swapped your waste paper basket for a black one, however, I think you’d like it even more! 🙂 Arent’ those sea lions a hoot?! I grew up in SF and know them well. Can you tell me where you rented the bike and how much it cost for the 3 hours or whatever you had it? My friends would love to try that! (Just forward thru one of the girls!:)