Ikea is a reliable source for ready-to-assemble modern furniture (even if we ourselves are never quite ready to assemble it). The convenience factor is there, but what about the “wow” factor? Indeed, no one has ever complimented us on our plain white Ikea shelving unit overflowing with books. Maybe because virtually every other city dweller under 45 has one too?
In any case, we’re happy about the arrival of Argang: A limited-edition collection from Ikea that injects punchy yet sophisticated retro style into furniture, lighting, tableware and textiles. The new line is in fact old, riffing on classic designs from the homeware behemoth’s archives — specifically, the 1950s-70s. Among the standout pieces are the three-legged leaf-shaped Lovbacken coffee table, a riff on the 1956 Lovet table with its rosewood surface and removable black copper-tipped legs; the breezy rattan Gagnet armchair; and the classy Arjeplog pendant lamp made of powder-coated black steel and brass. Items in the Argang collection must be purchased directly from an Ikea store, they’re not sold online. So if you’re holiday shopping for a fan of midcentury-modern furnishings — or that fan is you — better act fast.
See ikea.com for store locations.