The Learner Observer

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High/Low: IKEA Office Style

High:Low Series - The Learner ObserverIt's time for another High/Low post!  I love, love, love, love doing these so much, but they can be a little time consuming, which is why this is only the third ever High/Low (first came the bedroom, then the living room).  But it's back!  And I want to make this a monthly series, so I'm going to need your help.  More on that shortly...I have been dreaming of an office since the day we first saw our house.  As it stands, it's a bit of a disaster zone with all of my to-be-completed-someday DIY projects.  So until the day comes that I can make over my little space, I've made up a (pretty girly) office for us all to swoon over.  No inspiration picture like on the last High/Low.  This time I just started picking items I loved and putting them together.  You can imagine how long it took me to choose some of these...So here is the first office:

Office for less by The Learner Observer

And here is the other:

High End Office by The Learner ObserverAre you an IKEA addict like me and were able to see right away which one is the high vs low?  No?  Ok... Let's see if this makes it easier

Office High:Low - The Learner ObserverSide by side better?

I gave myself a challenge that helped me pick out specific pieces - I challenged myself to design the "low" version of this office using ONLY IKEA ITEMS!  Crazy right?  Me?  IKEA?  I know!  The best part about this project was realizing just how well I have all of their products memorized in my brain, as I looked at something I liked, paused to go through my mental catalogue and decided either "yes, IKEA has something like this" or "move along... this isn't IKEA material."

 Alright.  Let's go ahead and reveal the high vs low, followed by the price difference which shocked even me this time!HIGH:LOW OFFICE REVEAL - THE LEARNER OBSERVERSo did you guess correctly?Now for the moment of truth: the big price reveal!

High End Office - The Learner Observer1. Sundown Retreat Sideboard: $1,509.00   -  2. Scout White Office chair: $298.00  -  3. Pompidou Desk: $836.00  -  4. Julia Wong Scale Cream Rug: $1,500.00  -  5. Noir Elm Bookcase: $1,188.00  -  6. Chamber Desk Lamp: $325.00  -  7. Tonal Stripes Wallpaper: $112.00  -  8. TPS mint file cabinet: $159.00  -  9. George Swivel chair: $1,321.00  -  10. Artcraft on the spot black floor lamp: 217.91  -  11. Sheepskin rug: $215.00

TOTAL: $7,680.91

Office for less - The Learner Observer1. LIATORP:$399.00   -  2. LILLHÖJDEN: $79.00  -  3. VITTSJÖ: $39.99 plus VITTSJÖ: $19.99  -  4. GÅSER: 199.00 -- 5. VITTSJÖ: $90.00 plus 3x West Fraser plywood: $74.25  -  6. FORSÅ: $29.99  -  7. Paint: $50 -  8. HELMER: $49.99  -  9. STRANDMON: $299.99  -  10. HEKTAR: $89.99  -  11. RENS: $39.99

TOTAL: $1,460.19

Here it is.  The price difference.  A whopping $6,220.72!

Admittedly, I did not include ALL of the items you see there.  Most of the accessories are not included in the price, mainly because they are things that can come from one's own home by shopping the house, and special items that I believe should be a collection of your own personal taste.  However, in case you are interested in where some of these precious little items came from, here's a source list.

Heart pink hook pillow: $48.00, Arabella Tufted storage ottoman: $165.00, Areaware – Bank in the form of a pig: $200.00 (But CB2 has gold pig bookends for a fraction of the price at $34.95), Harley The dog Bookends: $120.91, Gold Cucu Wall Clock: $585.20.

The pillow and the ottoman I would definitely consider using, but the rest?  Not so much!  If there's something you see that I did not source, ask away.

So how did I do for this month's edition?

Low with prices - The Learner ObserverOh, if you're wondering how you can help me with this (hopefully) monthly series, I need you to tell me what you'd like to see.  Have a room you're considering decorating?  Colour scheme you want to try, but you're just not sure?  Or maybe you just want to see a certain style done for less and you want to challenge me.  Well... challenge me!  I'm thinking next month will include Holiday decor for more and for less.  A little Christmas High/Low!  Sound good?

I can't wait to hear from you.  Seriously!

xo

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