The best thing about Ikea is that it’s easy. It’s all blonde and European (see: exotic but non-threatening) and comes with adorable tiny wrenches and allen keys. Everyone wins. So when the dogs ate our magazines, ripped the spines off our book, and then finally tore pages out of my hand made recipe book? I knew what we had to do. Get doors for our bookcases to end the destruction.
Which meant we had to have Mister’s parents hit Ikea when they were in Minneapolis last weekend. The result after some confusion on the phone, wrong product codes given for reference, and trying to straighten the whole things out while the dogs flew around the house at lightening speed while barking is, sadly, best summarized as follows: FAIL.
We have toyed with a few options including making a 16 hour round trip to Minne to return them this weekend, pretending the wood does match and everyone else is insane, and uncontrollable weeping. Shipping them back isn’t an option because we have to ship them to a Canadian store and will be burned on the exchange.
So this weekend we will weep, and then I’ve decided we will paint.
We have two options, and I desperately need some input as Mister is leaving this in my hands, so please lend me your design eyes, Internet. This is the situation. Now our doors are wood trim around, and then glass in the middle sections so keep that in mind.
We’re a home divided. I think Option #2 might take us from “OH SHIT. PAINT IT!” territory to “Look, a whimsical accent!” and Mister… I think his camp believes that what ever we do falls into the a fore mentioned category.
Thoughts? Support? Anyone? …..halp?
I should have just asked Apricot….
{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Lady Face.
I know it’s not the BEST option, but do you want me to pick some up to you and send them via greyhound? It means you’ll have two sets of doors, but when we come through that way on our way to TO, we can pick up the other ones for you and return them.
Let me know!
xo
I think I prefer Option #2. It ties it all together so well!
I’m not too far from an Ikea, let me know if I can help.
I think painting would be fun. =)
You do realize that if I were going to be in town this weekend, I’d be launching a PLEASE COME TO MINNE campaign, right? I live about 10 minutes from the Ikea here and would hunt you down and drag you out to lunch or dinner.
But, I’m in fact in Colorado this weekend, so… I fully support the painting adventure! Good luck!
I say you go for option 2 but pay attention and if it looks interesting before you are done, stop. Otherwise, finish and it will be wonderful either way!
First of all, I hope you realize that six months from now, you WILL be making that 16 hour trip to Minneapolis. OR maybe I’ll meet you at the border and return them for you.
I think I’d start with Option #1 and see how that looks. If you think it’s just not quite right, go ahead and finish it up with #2!
I’d say definitely Option #2. By also painting the sides along with the front edges on the top part it will look really nice. What color are you thinking? Add some really pretty hardware for the door pulls and it will look fantastic. All you’ll have to keep up with is the doggie slobber on the glass ;) Honestly, I like Option #2 better than what you had originally planned just because the contents will still be exposed, it won’t close things off, and it will help keep the room more open—regardless if it’s small or large in size.
Paint it!!!!!!!
Option #2, definitely.
I like the idea of painting the outer sides as well. It even looks like a bold color would look really nice in that room, unless there’s already another eye-catcher there.
:)
Definitely Option #2. Your place looks so lovely and tidy and bright!
What color are you going to paint the shelves? I assume it’s not going to be the turquoise in the picture? ;)
I would go for option #2… it just ties it all together to paint it all.
Painting sounds like a charming idea! Let us know how it turns out, love.
Do you have the solid doors, or did you buy the glass doors? If you bought the glass, then just paint the frame of the door a silver color, but be sure to lightly sand it first so that the paint won’t chip. If you have brass accents in that room and not silver, then I would just paint it white. White is ALWAYS a good bet, and doesn’t detract from the contents of the cases.
P.S. I have those exact billy bookcases with the glass doors and love them to pieces.
I’m thinking I like option 1 better. I like simple things. I like glass. Option one does it for me.
I say paint it! Makes it fun and decorative.
I like option #2 best. I think if you’re going to paint at all, you should paint everything. But I’m also crazy and a little OCD and want EVERYTHING to match and “sync.” Drives my bf nuts.
Oh no! What a pain. My first thought, too, was to paint it. Even though I HATE painting, I think that’ll be your best option. I seriously hope you’re not considering making a 16 hour drive! I say paint it! Or, better yet, paint the doors you bought, too. Maybe a cute little accent color, like red, or blue. I bet that would be cute. :]
You don’t need to sand if you use melamine – we’ve been painting our ikea stuff with that forever.. *laugh*
I am going to echo Apricot’s idea: anyway to style or paint the doors you do have? Or stain them? If not, then go with the glass doors and then have fun painting. I think it would look awesome and bring out the content of the shelves in their own special way, you know?
Although I should say that I don’t like painting at all so why I’m suggesting you paint I’m not entirely sure.
I’m sure whatever you and the Mister do it will come out fabulous as it always seems to for you both!
i say #2.
i also like to paint everything….
I’d vote for option one (though I love that you asked apricot – isn’t she brilliant? :)
I say paint! AND I say tht IKEA sort of make mes want to cry everytime I go in there or have to build one of their products. AH.
Okay either way those bookcases are magnificent and you two are brilliant for solving your puppy problems with those glass doors. Could a Canadian IKEA store do a straight exchange of the doors for a different color? Sometimes if you avoid using the word return and tell them your just want to exchange your goods they are a little nicer. Not sure how far it is to the nearest store for you guys though. Whatever you decide on, I can’t wait to see!
Definitely option 2! That’s eclectic/fun/charming, however you want to put it. It looks more deliberately shabby chic than whoops!
If you like option #2 than do it. lol! But I must admit I like option 2 also, so you cant lose. Plus itll make the wood look pretty if you accent it with paint. im sorry about the mixup. that sucks. i love ikea- theres a fabulous blue dresser & a yellow canopy bed that I cant wait to buy when I own a house :)
Option 2! But what colour?
i like option #2 best. granted i think either one will turn out really cute. :)
I say, option #2. It matches your new purse!
i like option 2 but agree with lauren to try number 1 and then go on to number 2 if you dont think it already rocks.
I didn’t know you had this blog! I was wondering where you’d been!! xo
Number two of course, what’s not to love?:)
Option #2. Go for it. Then post pictures!
I don’t have any advice but I do want to say that I am very happy you started up a new blog! Selfishly happy. And love the puppy pix too.
I vote for option 2.
I think #2 will look awesome, but agree with some other commenters that if you’re nervous, you could just start with #1 and see how it goes. I am SO bad at picturing things before I see them, so I tend to get pretty nervous about home decorating projects! And by ‘I get nervous’ I mean ‘I plunge right in and then only occasionally regret it’. Good luck!