IKEA Christmas Lighting 2016- Setting the Holiday Mood with a Flick of a Switch

IKEA Belfast kindly sent us some Christmas lighting to start setting a holiday mood.

The star shaped STRALA shades can be swapped with your regular lampshades on either downward hanging bulbs, or table lamps.

There are strings of colour changing star lights which I used in a bowl to create a centrepiece, or they can be used traditionally as a string of lights on your tree.

Finally the stand alone candelabras are perfect for windowsills, or as a feature on your table. All on sale now in IKEA UK.

STRALA red star on table lamp

LED candelabra 

STRALA white star on roof fitting, LED candelabra  

The IKEA Flat-pack Lunch #MakeMoreThanJustFood

We just received this wonderfully kitsch IKEA flat-pack, self-assembly lunch! The Kings of DIY furniture have just released their 2017 catalogue, and as with other years, they have a theme that ties the showcase of products together. 

This time around the theme is 'Make More Than Just Food', a celebration of growing, cooking and sharing food with family and friends. From memories made making buns with your toddler, to relationships blooming at dinner parties with friends.

They sent us the flat-pack lunch, complete with instructions! The food shop part of IKEA Belfast is possible my favourite part of the whole store. There's elk sausage, mild cheese and crispbread to 'self-assemble'.

So watch for the 2017 IKEA catalogue hitting stores and coming through letterboxes very soon.

IKEA's Crayfish Party Evening- Thurs 4th August, Plus a Summer Filled with Free Kids' Activites

​It’s about that time of year again when IKEA Belfast holds the hugely popular Swedish Crayfish Party in the customer restaurant, which has just undergone a refurb of its own.

Kicking off at 5.30pm, you’ll be treated to a bumper Swedish buffet, including the Crayfish guests of honour, and complimentary cocktails. Then you can dance the indulgence away with ABBA tribute act, The Bjorn Identity.

The store is also hosting workshops and activities for kids all summer long. 

 Details here of when, what and where. They are all globally themed and best of all FREE!

Eyeballs, Flamingoes & Mermaids: Fashion Meets Home at IKEA Belfast Tomorrow.

Last minute shout out about a handy little event running at IKEA Belfast tomorrow, just in case we have another washout of a day.

This Saturday 2nd April, the fashion and interiors industries will convene during an exclusive, one-off event, a live fashion installation with local stylist Sara O'Neill and photographer Khara Pringle. They are celebrating the launch of GILTIG, a new, limited edition collection of homewares designed in collaboration with London menswear designer Katie Eary.

What is truly unique about the installationis that Sara will be using only products from the collection – including tablecloths,coasters, napkins, lampshades and bowls - to create the unique look on model Kirsten, from 10am-12 noon. An IKEA hack you can wear? Sounds cool to me.

Sara O'Neill

Sara is a professional stylist from the North Coast of NI, sort of a Rachel Zoe of the Giant's Causeway. If you haven't heard of her, and her glorious Éadach silk fashion collection, then Sara's Instagram account is a beautiful place to start. Her eye for natural colouring & love for her surroundings is addictive and inspiring. I'm excited to see her collaboration with IKEA, she's definitely the best woman for this job!

GILTIG is the first of three fashion-inspired collections that will be launched by IKEA from April to September that will allow customers to furnish with fashion. It is an eclectic range of soft furnishings and dinnerware with fish, cat and eyeball prints at the forefront of the design aesthetic.

The Limited Edition collections focus on re-invigorating interior design, and push the boundaries of what can be achieved through large-scale production in the home furnishing sphere.

The GILTIG collection is on sale now, with GLӦDANDE following in June and SVÄRTAN in September.

My must-buy

Tillfalle IS Coming to IKEA Belfast!

I featured a look ahead to Spring 2016 before Christmas, but I wasn't sure how much of this tropical Tillfalle  collection we would get locally. It's been confirmed that we will be getting a selection of pieces, in store from February. My favourite is the black and white coffee table. 

Super Exclusive Look at Ikea's Art Event, Instore this April

Fancy adding a splash of colour and freshness to your living spaces? This April Ikea are hosting an art event with world class artists making exclusive prints available to buy in store. What catches your eye?

Short on Space? How to Create a Herb Wall Garden.

Just a quickie, link blog today as it's been a busy day for us. Ikea have a Pinterest board showing you how to make a herb wall garden.

https://www.pinterest.com/IKEAUK/how-to-make-a-herb-wall/

Exclusive Early Look at Ikea's Christmas Ranges for 2014. There are Owls & Foxes!

A little peek at what Ikea is currently bring stocked with for Christmas 2014. Some items will already be in stock from 1st October, so get stocked up early. Being a red & white stripe junkie I'm thinking of making my present wrapping all brown parcel paper with red & white stripe cable string decorations this year. Classic.

What catches your eye? Check out the ranges here. 

Loving the classic gold.

Plain green wrap with gold ribbon would look swell.

Adore these prints on parcel paper.

These doodles remind me of the Moomins.

Wine bottle boxes

IKEA also sell real Christmas trees at very reasonable prices in December, more on that when I know the date it starts. As for now, you can get a head start with buying your decorations.

I am useless at making gingerbread houses, but every year I give it a go!

Foxes and owls.

The bird houses are so cute. I think I'll buy a couple of packs and hang them outdoors all year round.

A young ambassador with his Ferrero Roche?

Hairy faced babies, what's to be frightened of??