Tikkabik

So yesterday Bonnie and I made our way to the region's new Ikea store, located about 45 minutes from where we live. It's the first time either of us had been in an Ikea, although we've been visiting their Web site for quite some time, so we didn't quite know what to expect. I knew the lines getting in the store were long.

My mother told us to set aside two hours.

"Two hours?" asked Bonnie after we found a parking space (while waiting a half an hour in traffic to park. "I don't want to stay here two hours."

We ended up spending more than four.

Let me say at the outset that I'm a big fan of Scandinavian design of all types. I like the austerity and modernity of much of it, so that much was a big win for me. I was flooded with design ideas for our house, and it seems like Bonnie likes some of the ideas too -- which is a bit of a surprise, since her tastes tend to run a little more ornate than mine -- she like the intricate, baroque detail of Victorian-era architecture and design instead.

Most of our time was spent in the top floor showroom area, checking out cabinetry, bookcases, entertainment centers, kitchen tables and various accessories. About half way through we stopped for dinner at their cafeteria style restaurant, then continued downstairs, picking up some knick knacks for the kitchen (including a new faucet which I plan to install today, if I can).

Having spent much of my life using build-it-yourself furniture from stores like Wal-Mart, Target, Bradlees (when there was such a place) and others, I was really surprised by the fit and finish of the Ikea furniture. With a few exceptions the stuff seems sturdy and well-built -- a pleasant surprise, given the general nature of particle board/laminate products.

Perhaps the biggest surprise we found was a bedroom set that we'd both be very happy with, and that is surprisingly affordable.