Finally we got to the point when it makes sense to spend some money and efforts on finding actual furniture for the studio, rather than just on paint, security systems, and electricians who never show up anyway. This is when the fun really begins! We spent some time last week browsing the internet and the vintage furniture stores for some used stuff. (And IKEA, for some new, which was such disappointment. For the first time ever I left IKEA without buying anything, not even napkins - and I felt very very good about it!) Instead we ended up getting this credenza from the 50's from a little store in the neighborhood. So much better! The teak credenza is Swedish design, and it even has a stamp from the factory and the designer's name in it (which I can't remember right now so it's probably not one of the most famous, but still). I love this piece of furniture, and can't wait to unpack the boxes after more than six months, and arrange the books and things in our new beauty!
For the walls we're also "going Swedish" with String shelves in teak and black. We bought two of them, and have gotten the shelves (i.e. the wooden pieces) but are still waiting for the "strings" to be delivered. I feel very happy with this purchase as well, and for not ending up with a crappy IKEA shelf like this poor woman did – it's so easy, we were also very close... (sorry, the link is in Swedish. What she says is basically this: "S-t what mistakes one does when decorating one's home. I could have gotten a super nice designed String shelf for exactly the same price as I've spent on ugly IKEA shelves. Things like that make me furious. I hate IKEA.")
Well, I shouldn't praise ourselves too much for our decision as the shelves aren't on the wall yet, but getting used, solid furniture from your neighborhood feels good straight throughout, for many different reasons ... evironmental, financial, social ...
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We might make a set-up similar to the one below (picture "borrowed" from Swedish Craig's List Blocket). We will have black end pieces on ours though.
When looking at the picture below, you guys will probably think that Nothing happened with the hall in the studio since last time I posted a picture of it in May or so... But it actually did change a lot. The walls are sanded and painted, the drop ceiling torn down, the pine floor is there – and we put up some lamps the other day! J and M also did some "IKEA-hacking" (great blog!), and put nice, black, fabric covered cords from Byggfabriken on the lamps, instead of the cheap-ish ugly, white, plastic IKEA cables that they came with. (So yeah, we did get a few IKEA things anyway).
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What just happened though, that made the hall look all crazy again, is that M & F started building their recording studio. But with the speed that these two Irish (male) & Swedish (female) carpenters are moving along, I'm pretty sure they'll be done before I even unpacked my first box...
ps. Thanks for posts and emails! (I'll reply soon!) I'm glad to hear that everybody happily and safely made it back from Japan, if so a little bit exhausted :) I'm still envying the beautiful photos (here are some of J's pictures), and would love to go some time soon!

























