JULES BLOG

My 2 essential life hacks to begin the year

2016-12-29T04:07:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it. I'm writing the last post of 2016. In a few days, a new year comes upon us. I've always liked new years. It brings with it the feeling that anything's possible.

I'm not really a resolutions person but I do have a few new year habits.

One of the first things I do at the beginning of the year is to take a week to "fast" from the distractions of life (Facebook, Pinterest, Netflix -- I'm talking about you!) In the 7 days, I quiet down, pray, meditate, take long walks and let my spirit hear what God has to say about my year ahead. Some years He whispers a passage, many years it's only a word. I keep that word deep within me and throughout the year, I return to it for strength. And always, that word is sufficient. Why not try it for yourself as you ease into 2017? No matter what your beliefs are, taking time to clarify what's truly important to you is always a good thing. And a good beginning to all things.

Second thing I do is get a new planner. I just love cracking open a new planner at the start of the year. Reams of empty pages, all waiting to be filled with goals, projects and possibilities. And the smell of new paper ... aaaaah. Don't you just love it?

I'm a bit of a productivity nerd and have been searching for years for the tool to fit my way of working. Finally, I think I've landed on the one that does it for me. I work from home, so I need to hold myself accountable for my time, which means spending time on productive work and not busy work. There is a difference. In 2015, I stumbled on the SELF Journal (affiliate link) when they launched their Kickstarter campaign. I liked what I saw and supported the campaign. What caught my attention was their Zero-based calendar of leaving no unaccounted for time.

I've used it the whole of 2016 and what can I say, I literally know where I spent every minute of last year! It was strange at first writing down "brush teeth" or "water plants" on my planner but I got the hang of it. It made me give my day forethought -- so I can live more purposefully on a daily basis. Another thing I liked was the concept of 13-week goals (versus annual goals). It was so much easier to stay on track when I can almost glimpse the end.

Using it has helped me accomplish a big project through daily, focused steps towards my goal. You know what they say about eating an elephant? Yes, one bite at a time.

If you're frugal like me, download the free pdf, print and test it out first to see whether it works for you. I hope you like it as much as I do. I would be using it again for 2017. Definitely.

That's my two unwarranted life hacks for 2017? What about you? How do you start your year?

And before I wrap up, here's wishing you a fabulous 2017. I look forward to seeing all your great hacks in this coming year.

xoxo,
Jules

Tidings of comfort and joy

2016-12-24T10:00:00.000-05:00

I was prepping for the festivities when I received news of my uncle's passing, followed by yet another uncle a few days later. Two deaths within a week was hard to bear.

Though I know they are in a land that is fairer than day and that we shall meet again on that beautiful shore, but I feel their loss. So for now, I'll dim the lights, bow my head and say a prayer.

Let not my mood dampen yours though. I wish you a joyous time with family and friends. If there's anything that this time of grief has taught me, it's time is short and every moment we have together is a moment to cherish.

xoxo,
Jules

Photo credit: Brian Baker

My METOD Makeover: Installation

2016-04-30T22:00:00.000-04:00

When I was researching on the IKEA kitchen buying process, I did not find much information on the interwebs. So I thought I'd write up a bit more on it. It's a bit longer and heavier than usual. But bear with me. I believe it'll be useful for the next person planning an IKEA kitchen purchase.

My kitchen planning process

I'm old school so I used pen and paper to plan before I laid my plans down on the software. IKEA even provided grid paper here.

Firstly, I familiarised myself with the height, widths and depths of the METOD cabinets. The basic frames are as follows:

Wall cabinets:
Widths: 20cm, 40cm, 60cm, 80cm.
Height: 40cm, 60cm, 80cm.
Depth: 37cm (39cm with doors)

Base cabinets:
Widths: 20cm, 40cm, 60cm, 80cm.
Height: 80cm (with countertop and plinths, it comes up to 92cm)
Depth: 37cm, 60cm. (39cm or 62cm with doors)

There are also open cabinets, high cabinets, wall cabinets with drawers, fridge cabinets in different dimensions.

Then starting from one corner of the wall, I added the right combination of base cabinets according to the length of the wall and how I would use the cabinets. (Eg. a pull out cabinet for sauces and condiments to the left of my stove, drawers for cutlery in the kitchen island) Did the same for the wall cabinets. When I had a rough idea of how it should go I was ready to plan online.

How to use the IKEA Home Planner

You know, the IKEA Home Planner is delightful and at the same time, is responsible for my greatly reduced hair count. The learning curve was a little steep for me actually. It was laggy, it didn’t carry the full range and didn’t always do what I wanted it to. I would click to rotate a cabinet, cook dinner and come back to it and it’s still turning.

Then, I went to IKEA and watched the pros, the Kitchen Planners, use it and picked up a few tricks. After that, it played nice with me and it quickly became my favourite night time activity. Because what’s better than watching kitchen doors transform from BROKHULT to RINGHULT? Sigh ... I have no life.

If you’re using the IKEA Home Planner for the first time, you’ll need to create a profile so you can save your work. You’ll be asked to install a browser plug-in too. Once you've done that, the fun (and hair pulling) begins.

Here are 10 useful tips when using the IKEA Home Planner:

1. When creating your layout, use “3D Line View” (which is the ugly line drawing version) instead of “Front 3D View”. It loads much faster. Switch to “Front 3D View” only when you want to see how it looks in 3D.

Read the rest of the post >>

My METOD Makeover: And so it begins...

2016-03-29T10:27:00.000-04:00

Ever since the launch of the new METOD kitchen range, I’ve developed a major crush on it. Whenever I visit IKEA, I would open and slam the doors just to hear "nothing". (Yay for soft-closing!) And don't get me started on the super configurable drawer dividers, fittings and accessories. All just soooo organized!

Then I go home, glare at my kitchen and sigh ...

My current kitchen is my first.

But we’ve lost a lot of love. When I moved into my apartment 16 years ago, I didn’t know very much about the way kitchens should flow or understood how I preferred to prepare food and cook. But in time I learnt a thing or two and cooked many more meals.

It’s a custom built and it’s not an awful kitchen. Not by a long shot. The white laminate doors show no signs of yellowing or chipping. It has adequate countertop space, does offer decent storage and does abide to the working triangle rule (even though I knew nothing about that then).

Layout wise, it's an open plan. Next to the kitchen is my home office. And further down, is my living room. (Not in picture) Because it's so open and the first thing anyone sees when they come through the door, it needs to at least look neat. Being handsome would, of course, be a bonus.

While the current kitchen is adequate, there are a few things that irk me.

Read the rest of the post >>

This 16 year old baby left home

2016-03-25T03:44:00.000-04:00

I'm getting a new IKEA METOD kitchen!

After weeks of planning, things are finally in motion.

Yesterday, the guys came and took away my 16 year old kitchen. Installation of the new babies will only happen in 3-4 weeks, so in the meantime, it's like camping, right in my own home. It's fun finding new ways to cook and wash without a proper kitchen. Not always easy. But definitely interesting.

Now that I've pressed the 'reset' button, I can't wait to see what boots up. Hang in there with me and follow along on #mymetodmakeover.

IKEA Cheras is open!

2015-11-21T10:15:00.000-05:00

Groggy. Eyes barely opened, I made my way to IKEA Cheras last Thursday at 7am for its special opening ceremony. Now, I don't usually do well in the mornings. Tap my pulse and you probably won't find any sign of life until I down a cup of coffee ... but that morning I was glad I beat the sunrise to Cheras. There's nothing quite like the buzz and excitement of a new IKEA store opening.

For one, being early meant no traffic. It was a smooth ride all the way to Cheras and the car park had ample spaces for the invited guests. (Two hours later, it was a completely different story). We were treated to 7 years of ABBA music and a very Swedish breakfast. In case you think we were served a box of tacks, "Tack" means "thank you" in Swedish.

In the box were chicken meatballs with beetroot sauce, hard boiled eggs, pancakes, scrambled eggs, grilled tomato and fried potatoes with onions. Way too much for so early a morning. I couldn't finish the box of goodies.

But we were more fascinated by this tube of fish roe spread. It's kinda like salted fish mashed with mayo. Sounds gross but it's super yummy on KNÄCKEBRÖD.

After we had our tummies warmed, we were ushered downstairs for the opening ceremony. Read more here.

My RASKOG makeover and giveaway

2015-11-09T12:30:00.000-05:00

Two weeks ago, I was invited to IKEA Cheras for a pre-launch blogger event. I shared what IKEA hacking is all about and demonstrated an easy makeover of the RÅSKOG cart.

After my short presentation, I let everyone loose on the RÅSKOG. The creativity in the room was wonderful. The bloggers were really giving the cart their own spin with the materials given. We used tissue paper and ribbons from the FRAMSTÄLLA range and SPRUTT Decoration Stickers.

See how amazing we look in orange.

Me at work. Game face on.

I'm into the whole B&W thing at the moment, so I used the FRAMSTÄLLA tissue paper to wrap round the RÅSKOG cart trays. A decoupage medium would have offered better results but in the time that I had, I used craft glue to stick it on. FRAMSTÄLLA gift ribbons as trim finished the look.

The best part is ... you can win this little cart that I madeover. Here's how:

Repost a photo of my madeover cart on your Instagram and caption why you want to win it.
Tag me @IKEAHackersOfficial and hashtag #IKEACheras & #IKEABuilt4Me before 14 Nov.
I'll select a winner and IKEA Malaysia will send the cart over to the lucky one.

Note: This giveaway is for Malaysian residents living in the Klang Valley.

Update: The giveaway has ended. The winner is @poison_ivy_916. Congrats!

1 RAST, 14 Ways to Dress it

2015-10-24T10:30:00.000-04:00

In fashion mags, they will take a piece of clothing ... a simple dress or shirt and show you 6 ways to dress it. Well, the RAST chest of drawers is kinda like that. Squat, square, and solid pine (which is a good thing). On its own, it's plain, almost dowdy, nothing to write home about. But when it is dressed up, my-oh-my, does it shine! Add some bling, shod it in pointy shoes and it becomes cheekily fun, even glamorous. Don't believe me? Look at these 14 ways to dRASTically (sorry, couldn't resist that) makeover the RAST.

Give it some alchemy

See Shirley weave her magic on the RAST, turning it into a nostalgic library card catalog card cabinet. Read more.

Dress it shabby chic

Laura dresses it down with a distressed paint technique to up its cute quotient. Read more.

See the other 12 ways to skin the RAST.

IKEA Cheras on track to open end Nov 2015

2015-10-09T07:37:00.002-04:00

A Roof Capping Event?

I immediately had thoughts of giant cranes lifting the roof to the top of the building, which would be quite a feat to witness. Alas, my imagination proved too wild for IKEA Cheras. A Roof Capping event is a Swedish tradition to celebrate the end of construction and thank neighbours who helped out in the building process. In this case, IKEA Cheras invited the press and a little blogger to the event on Sept 28.

This event took place at the site of IKEA Malaysia's second store, at Jalan Cochrane. We sat at the makeshift "event space" in the markethall, with our neon jackets and hard hats, which we were told were safety measures as the building was still under construction.

We gathered at the makeshift event space in the markethall

After event refreshments

I tried to take a peek beyond the markethall but was barred from it. But from what I can tell, the store is going to be huge. Much bigger than IKEA Damansara. To be honest, I felt a bit envious of Cheras folks and the spanking new yellow and blue mothership landing in their neighbourhood.

Tidbits for the guests

Then Mike King, Regional Director for IKEA Malaysia, Singapore & Thailand took to the stage and shared some facts about the new store. It spans 42,000 sq-meters and is 20% larger than the first store. The Cochrane MRT station (to be completed in 2017) will connect right into it.

I am pretty stoked that a second store is opening. For one, I hope it will somewhat reduce the people jam at IKEA Damansara and shorten the insanely long check-out lines. Secondly, I hope a wider range of products will be brought into Malaysia. Till end Nov, I am keeping my fingers crossed.

12 unusual ways to use the RIBBA picture ledge all round the house

2015-09-26T11:11:00.000-04:00

At the last IKEA sale, the RIBBA picture ledge was marked down and I grabbed two of them, without knowing what I would do with them. So I did a search on it and lo and behold, found so many interested uses for it. Some that even I had forgotten.

The advantage of the picture ledge is its width. It's so slim it can practically fit anywhere, as you will see from these awesome hacks and unusual ideas. All pretty easy to DIY too.

In the entryway

When you don't have a spacious landing, a RIBBA picture Ledge can work wonders. Use it to catch your mail and keys. Go one step further with a customized LEGO key holder. See complete tutorial.

Click to read the rest of the post.

Back to College? Study these 6 IKEA styleboards

2015-08-15T09:42:00.000-04:00

When I saw these styleboards on IKEA.com, my thoughts zipped back to my campus days. College was awesome in many ways, but the decor was definitely not one of them. Lots of beech veneer and beige walls. Utilitarian. Rent was dirt cheap though, its only saving grace. I stayed in the dorm for a year before I moved to a rental off campus.

Here, take a peek at a similar dorm room from my alma mater.

Watch the video if you are in for a bit of decorating horror.

IKEA did not exist when I was in college. But even if it did, I wonder whether I would have styled up my dorm room extensively. I was a frugal student before frugality was in and absolutely clueless about DIYing and decorating.

But now, should a Freaky Friday thing happen between me and a college kid, you can be sure that I will exorcise the beige-bland-demon out of that dorm room. I love the Worldly Wanderer but my younger-self would have gone for the Word Nerd or maybe the Fashion Addict. Oh, so hard to decide.

What about you? Click here to see all 6 boards. If you are going back to college, which is your favourite style board? Tell me in the comments section below.

DIY IKEA NYTTJA bulletin board (Free stencil template)

2015-08-08T11:30:00.000-04:00

This DIY project simmered on my backburner for a while now. My church wanted a bulletin board and I volunteered to make a pair. So, like eons ago, I bought the NYTTJA frames and then left them to languish in my spare room.

Finally, 2 Saturdays ago, I was convicted of my tardiness and rolled up my sleeves.

But it wasn't entirely my fault (cough... ) you have no idea how hard it is to get a large sheet of corkboard in Malaysia. It's ridiculous. Shops don't seem to sell them in large sheets or not already framed as a noticeboard. One of the shops I enquired at said if I wanted large sheets, I needed to order like a 100ft of it. What?! If you know where to source them, please let me know.

I ended up at Daiso (the famous RM5 shop) and I bought A3 sized corkboards and joined two of them into one. It's not ideal as there's an ugly joining in the middle but it works.

Materials:
Corkboard
Nippon Paint Pylox spray paint - white
Elmer's Multipurpose Spray Adhesive
Araldite Epoxy Glue
Cellophane tape

Tools:
Utility knife
Ruler

How to:
First, I drew my stencil template. I printed it on 2 sheets of A4 paper and cut out the crosses. I joined the two A4 sheets with sticky tape into one larger stencil. You can download the template here.

Then I marked where my stencil should go on the corkboard.
I lightly coated the back of the stencil with Adhesive Spray. (If you oversprayed, let the adhesive dry out slightly but not too much. I aired it too much and the stencil did not adhere firmly to the corkboard, making edges of the crosses a little blurred.)
Then I glued the stencil onto the corkboard, aligned with my markings.
Cover the rest of the corkboard with newspaper and sticky tape them down.

See ugly joining! :(

Using a sweeping motion, I sprayed the stencil cut outs until I reached the depth of colour I wanted. And woohoo, the stencilled corkboard is done!

Then using Adhesive Spray I fixed the corkboard onto the front of the plastic glazing. (Remember to remove the protective film first, on both sides!)

As I wanted a transparent border around the corkboard, I had removed the cardboard backing of the NYTTJA, which has the hanging hooks embedded. How to hang the frames then?

I salvaged the hooks from the NYTTJA backing and glued them with Epoxy Glue to the back of the plastic glazing of the NYTTJA.

All you need to do now is slot the plastic glazing (now with stencilled corkboard glued onto it) back onto the frame and secure it with the little metal clips.

Here's how it looks:

For the second board, I decided to use my all time favourite pattern - stripes. It is also much easier. I simply marked the width of the stripes I wanted on the corkboard. Covered the stripes with masking tape and spray painted the exposed areas.

Lastly, I felt blue no longer fit in with the decor of my church. So I went back to the spray board and the blue NYTTJA frame is now a chalkboard black.

And that's it! Two bulletin boards in one afternoon.

The stencils gives you something to look at, even when there are no notices.

Checked this off my to-do list, at last. :)

3 ways to enjoy Avocado Mousse

2015-08-01T08:30:00.000-04:00

In my quest to reduce gluten intake and satisfy my occasional cravings for cake, I've taken to baking. I am still awful at it. The latest disaster being a "too bitter, too dense" version of the Healthy Chef, Teresa Cutter's Naked Chocolate Cake. The issue isn't her recipe, just my "creativity" and throwing in too many "ideas" of my own. (Hey, why do you think I hack IKEA?) I've had great success with her Banana + Coconut Bread though, which is delicious to the power of 3.

However, as in most things, there is a silver lining. The Avocado Mousse, made to top the cake. It made my ruined cake almost edible. Trust me. It's the bomb! I wondered how I lived so long without tasting this Avocado Mousse Supremo.

This is my first time but I promise you this, it won't be the last. A quick google later, I found the Avocado Mousse touted as a healthy alternative to icing, a gluten-free fan favourite. I also discovered that most people just ate it as well, mousse. That can't be! I made up my mind that this yummy thing should have more application than one. For the next few days, I raked my baking-noob brains for other ways to savour every last dollop of the fluffy, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth goodness.

So I humbly present to you my experiments on the Avocado Mousse.

A modified recipe of Teresa Cutter's Avocado Mousse (Serves 10) Thanks, Teresa!

1/2 cup organic maple syrup (I replaced this with 1/2 cup of water + drops of Stevia to taste)
2 large ripe avocados
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup raw cacao or Healthy Chef Naked Chocolate (I replaced this with 1/2 a bar of Baker's Unsweetened Baking Chocolate Bar, melted)

Teresa suggests a high-speed blender. I don't have one, so I used my regular Philips blender. First I poured in the liquid Stevia, then I added the avocados, vanilla and melted chocolate.

Blend for about 30 seconds until smooth and creamy. You will need to scrape the mousse off the sides of the blender to mix well. Add a splash of water or coconut milk to achieve the consistency you want. Taste and adjust sweetness as needed. Spoon into a bowl and allow to set in the fridge.

Now that you've got the mousse, it's time for some fun!

1. Icing on a cake

This needs no explanation. Make a better version of the cake than I did and slather the mousse all over it. Dig in.

2. Avocado Mousse Coated Banana Popsicles

This was inspired by the cute Tokyo Banana I saw on my trip to Japan. But instead of a banana-shaped-sponge-cake, I thought the mousse may go well with the real deal. At first I wanted to coat a whole banana on a stick but it kept slipping off the skewer. Dang! If you manage to, let me know.

In a bowl, mix the Avocado Mousse with bite-sized banana cuts.

Then, it gets a little messy. When bananas are coated, poke them through skewer sticks. On hindsight, one bite-sized banana on a toothpick may be more fun to serve and eat.

Place the coated banana skewers on a tray and leave them in the freezer for 2 hours. Don't leave them for too long as they will be become impossible to bite into, unless you have jaws (and teeth) of steel.

After 2 hours, they are ready. Cold and crunchy. Sweet and chocolatey. A summer treat.

They should be eaten promptly. If left out in the heat for too long, you get soggy avocado-bananas, which won't fly.

3. Avocado Mousse Coffee Cream

Of the 3, this is my fav! The bitter coffee blends beautifully with the sweet mousse. The creamy coconut seals the deal. It's also beautiful to behold.

First, brew your coffee. Keep it black. Let it cool. (Hot coffee will melt the coconut cream a little and you'll get coconut swirls like the photo below. Impatience, I am looking at you!)

In a shot glass (or small jars, if you wish to keep them for later), gently layer in the ingredients. Using a teaspoon, scoop in a dollop of mousse. Keep adding until the base is covered.

Then slowly pour in coconut cream. Stop when it reaches the midway mark of the shot glass.

Lastly pour in the coffee. Leave it to set in the refrigerator.

Yums...

Pin it!

16 things I like about the new IKEA Catalog 2016

2015-07-25T08:30:00.000-04:00

The arrival of the new IKEA catalog is always an event, on IKEA Hackers at least. So when the online version went up, I browsed and bookmarked my favourites, way past bed time. This issue is especially fun with "moving" pictures - steam wafting up, water trickling down ... woohoo! There are still loads of little details to pore over - videos to play and extra bonuses to unlock - so this is my first impression of the IKEA Catalog 2016 and the stuff that caught my eye.

The 2016 catalog is all about food and and celebrates how food – and all the activity around it – brings people together. (Last year was the bedroom and bathroom.) In line with the food & cooking theme, the catalog opens with gorgeous spreads of kitchens. The one below with the gold stripped backsplash is definitely attention grabbing. The kitchens also showcase the versatility of the new SEKTION/ METOD system.

I'll start from the kitchen and dining sections and work my way through the catalog. Let's take a look. Here are my top 16 picks from the IKEA Catalog 2016.

#1 LISABO dining table

Besides its curvy profile, the solid birch LISABO has an interesting back story. It all started with a funny looking dowel. A wedge dowel that completely changes how an IKEA table is assembled. It promises to cut down assembly time by up to 80%. That alone is worth celebrating!

#2 MÖCKELBY table

The MÖCKELBY has traditional country good looks. Made from solid oak and it is pretty hefty looking. I think it will last forever. Sits 6 comfortably.

#3 SINNERLIG range

The SINNERLIG range was one of the items I saw during my trip to Sweden and I totally fell in love with it. The use of cork as the base for this range is genius. Unlike some cheapo corkboard material, the SINNERLIG cork has a warm, natural feel. I can't wait for it to arrive in Fall.

#4 RIMFORSA range

In the RIMFORSA, IKEA introduces another star material - the bamboo. (We will be seeing a lot more of bamboo, that's for sure). It combines beautifully with glass and steel. Hang up the RIMFORSA rail & accessories to free up your kitchen worktop for clutter free cooking. The RIMFORSA tablet stand may also mean the end to hacks like this.

#5 RISATORP cart

I met the RISATORP in person during my last trip to IKEA and was immediately taken by how attractive it is. It's a pretty cart to have around the kitchen for cooking essentials you want to keep close by. The baskets are also detachable. A friend also commented that it may be good for serving a super sized traditional English afternoon tea.

#6 OLOFSTORP storage unit

I can see the OLOFSTORP working for small kitchens. As a breakfast bar, additional prep area or even a compact kitchen island. I can also foresee lots of people adding wheels to it and carting it around.

#7 New IKEA 365+

The IKEA 365+ range finally gets an update. It's not too fancy and very practical for daily use. I like it especially because of the use of cork as accents.

#8 JÄTTEVIKTIG candle holder

I like this purely for its curves and how it can be used for tealights or candles.

#9 SÖTCITRON self-watering plant pot

The food theme extends to growing edibles. For inept (and forgetful) gardeners like me, a self-watering pot is a god-send. Fingers crossed, my herbs will not die on me now.

#10 BITTERGURKA

The name BITTERGURKA is just too cute and seems to be a close cousin of the bittergourd. (Or a very angry Gurkha). That aside, the hanging planters are plain clever! It comes with a hook that lets you hang the pot from a rod. Simply add more pots for a vertical garden. The touch of bamboo makes it so pretty.

#11 JOXTORP

Moving away from the kitchen, after all, there is more to a home, let's take a look at other sections of the catalog. In the lighting department, I like the JOXTORP paper shades. It's origami-like and at $7, you can swap one out every month or two.

Besides that I am very happy to see that IKEA is all-in with LED lighting. More energy saving and bulbs that last longer. Yay!

#12 SVIRVEL work lamp

I find the SVIRVEL lamp irresistibly cute. It looks like a guy holding his oversized head or plugging his ears (depending on how you want to see it).

#13 TSUJIG hanger

The branch like TSUJIG hanger is one of IKEA's better looking clothes hangers. You can build up rows of different heights for visual interest. I am not sure yet until I see this in person, but I think it has lots of hacking potential.

#14 NORDLI for the landing space

The NORDLI is not new but I like how it is used here to create a colourful and open landing space. If it is well-organized, a landing space becomes a display in itself.

#15 RÅGRUND bathroom range

The RÅGRUND bathroom range is made entirely from lacquered bamboo, a material that boasts the ability to withstand high humidity. It looks akin to the MOLGER but with more "texture"? I'd need to see it in person to confirm that. But that too tall towel chair over there, I definitely want one!

#16 YDDINGEN cabinets

And lastly, these streamlined tall bathroom cabinets will make any bathroom look neat and structured. I think they will hold loads of stuff and will make great lockers and landing space storage too.

And that's my rundown of favourites. What about you? What's your favourite piece in the new IKEA Catalog 2016? Tell me in the comments section.

Besides the products, there are lots of inspiring room sets to oooh and aaah over. Like this one.

And this.

Another thing I noticed is that IKEA seems to have muted the colours -- going for cool whites, softer greys and blacks. You'd find fewer fire-engine red, green or cyan. Canary yellow is still in but only as an accent colour and where it does appear, it really does pop.

Hop over here to view the IKEA Catalog 2016 (US version).

Pin it!

All images courtesy of IKEA.com

How about chalk "wallpaper"?

2015-06-24T05:41:00.000-04:00

It was too hot to sleep, so I did this instead.

My chalkboard wall is turning to be my go-to place whenever I feel the need to "do something with my hands". Before this triangle "wallpaper", I had on a whimsical bird on a clothesline. But last night, I was in the mood for more geometry.

The hardest part was getting the lines straight. Which I seem not to be able to do, even with a ruler. After some trial and error I got better.

But it's chalk! No fear. Mistakes gone with a wet cloth.

At last, I nailed those triangles down but they looked kinda stark. I filled in some spots for more interest. I wished I had gotten some colored chalks, but white was all I had in hand.

I am happy with it for now. Let's see how long this stays up? What pattern should I have up next?

Hello chalkboard!

2015-03-22T10:05:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to post an update on the red wall.

It's now a chalkboard (Nippon Satin Glo Crater Black).

Truth be told, I had a bit of painter's remorse the few days after the red wall was gone. The room felt a tad darker and I wasn't sure I had picked the right colour. And my furniture didn't seem to go with the new scheme anymore. (That red chair has to got to go. Am thinking how to reupholster it?)

But it has grown on me and I am looking forward to doodling and writing my favourite poems on it. Give me some time, the rest of the room will slowly shift shape to melt into this new black.

Bye Bye Red

2015-02-12T06:07:00.000-05:00

After living with this red wall for 14 years, I feel a twinge of sadness as I say goodbye to it. After all, I lovingly painted it - solo - when I first moved in. Three coats in three days. On one wobbly ladder.

While I loved it (and still do), I am ready for a more understated colour now. Sign of maturity (or perhaps, old age)?

Tomorrow, it's a new colour. And a new chapter.

Join me at StarLIVE on Dec 20th

2014-12-10T22:18:00.001-05:00

This is the reason I have been running around like a headless chicken the past week and I foresee the next 9 days. It's been challenging preparing the presentation for this talk (should I say this or that? tell this joke or not at all?) and trying out a few hacks to see which will work.

I will be sharing the story of IKEAhackers and there will be 2 hack demos at the end too. It should be fun, if you like to kick off your weekend listening to the whirr of drills and firing a glue gun.

If you are available, do come and join me at Menara Star, Petaling Jaya. Admission is free but registration required. Here's a itty bitty write-up on it. See you there!

Date: Dec 20
Time: 10.30-11.30am
Venue: Menara Star, 15 Jalan 16/11, Petaling Jaya

To book your seat, email starlive@thestar.com.my with your name, NRIC number, phone number and email.

All in all ... I am thankful for this opportunity to share about IKEAhackers. A great way to end the year before I flop down exhausted for my Christmas break. (And I haven't even started on Christmas gift shopping! Argh)

Learning to speak ...

2014-12-06T07:22:00.000-05:00

Outside of this blog, I don't talk much about my work and what I do on IKEAhackers. So when my church asked me to share a bit of my story to a group of young working adults, I thought I should step up and share the things I've learnt over the years.

Public speaking has always been a struggle for me, maybe because I prefer to write than speak and I am naturally a shy person. But there are days one just has to thicken the face and do the deed. I am glad I did. I am not sure what the audience took home but I personally learnt a lot from the experience as well as from the other speakers in the conference.

Here's what I learnt today:
1. Be clear on the one thing you want to hit home. If you manage to deliver that, then it's a job well done.
2. Share the good. And the bad. It's okay to be vulnerable. They don't think any less of you after that.
3. Look at the smiling faces and nodding heads. For a beginner speaker, a little instant validation is helpful and keeps your energy up.
4. After the talk, review what worked and what did not. And don't be too hard on yourself if you think you missed some important points or did not deliver the material well. There will always be another opportunity.

My next one is in 2 weeks. No time to rest on my Poang.

Trip update Part 3: Let's talk

2014-10-25T05:22:00.000-04:00

Read Part 1 here.
Read Part 2 here.

Our last day was spent at the IKEA Concept Centre in Delft. It is an actual IKEA store with learning and research spliced in. In here, IKEA studies customers' interactions with their products, floor displays and information. They conduct experiments to better the flow, engage the customer and look into every small detail such as the floor directory to help customers find their way through the store.

For the uninitiated, the first visit to IKEA can be harrowing - the crowd, the maze, the self-service-dunno-how. My first time, I felt sucked into a blackhole with no way out unless I obediently followed the arrows. Now 10,000 trips later, I have the floor plan and shortcuts etched on my palm (till IKEA Malaysia smartly went and renovated their store, just to throw me off!)

The good news is, IKEA works tirelessly to improve the customer's journey through the store. Denis, the very animated store manager of IKEA Delft, took us on a tour and explained the ins and outs of the journey.

The redesigned store directory to get you from Point A to Z - inspired by subway maps.

When you first step onto the retail floor, you will be greeted by 4 to 5 room sets presenting a variety of styles and budgets. The big first impression. In advertising, it would be the headline - the first 3 seconds to catch your attention. At a glance IKEA wants to show that it has some thing right for you.

Denis, store manager extraordinaire, revealing his playbook.

The first phase is to inspire you with ideas and stimulate the chemicals in your brain to think "Yeah, I can afford to do this!" or "This reading corner is gorgeous!" Next would be to show you the individual parts that would allow you to re-create it - the sofas, the bookcases, rugs, etc and your range of options - from a more expensive STOCKHOLM down to a PELLO armchair - yes, you can have a reading nook to suit your budget and style.

Denis also proudly pointed out a few hacks they did in store. I was impressed with the use of their PAX wardrobes to hide different sections of a room such as the workstation, washroom, media centre. Close all the doors and the room is serene with just a daybed, coffee table and no clutter.

Room with many PAX, each housing a different function

Wash up in a PAX

Workstation in a PAX

I must say, if you are ever in Delft, don't miss the Concept Centre. The display here is a cut above other IKEA stores. More creative, progressive, jaw-dropping (well, compared to my local IKEA). I couldn't help feeling underwhelmed when I visited my local store a few days ago. I know, I know, it is hard to beat the mothership.

Solutions for attic rooms common in The Netherlands

After Denis was through, I was amazed at the amount of research that goes into perfecting the customer experience. They have feedback machines for customers to "like" a room set, they gather statistics on how well a product sell when placed at a certain spot ... let's just say nothing is random but a carefully calculated route to inspire and excite you enough to swipe your card.

Instant feedback machine - only at Delft

I also have the chance to view the new Paper shop. Like!

The paper range is limited at the moment. Looking forward to more.

Last on the agenda was the meeting to discuss the issue of IKEAhackers and the trademark dispute. The Chairman & CEO of Inter IKEA Systems B.V, Torbjörn Lööf joined us for the meeting. I was floored, seriously, that Mr. Lööf would make time to meet with a blogger and take a personal interest in the matter. In the meeting the IKEA team explained that the IKEA brand has come under a lot of abuse over the years but realised that they cannot apply the traditional method of handling trademark disputes in the case of IKEAhackers. Which was the reason they took steps to reconsider, invite me over to find another way to solve it.

We had a good discussion with Torbjörn and team

Several suggestions were thrown back and forth including having IKEA only advertising, coming under the IKEA brand among others. My view is that IKEAhackers has to remain independent because that is the strength of IKEAhackers. It is powered by fans for fans. I have never and never would want to feel obligated to blog/promote anything for IKEA because I have to. I am open to collaborations but independence is vital for the site and my sanity.

Fika time! Hot cinnamon buns to sweeten the deal

And after an hour or so of discussions, the conclusion is this: that IKEAhackers remain an independent fan site with permission to use the IKEA trademark in its domain so long as it does not damage the brand (eg. no porn, no nudity, no drugs). No other restrictions or conditions were applied.

Win! Win! Win! For all parties.

I get to continue to run this site as is. My readers get to continue sharing their hacks and be inspired by hacks from others. And well, IKEA, get to continue selling more furniture to people who want to hack them.

And that was the best news from my 3 days with IKEA. I wanted to do a celebratory somersault there and then. But one must act appropriately in the presence of a CEO.

To Torbjörn, Lena, Henrik, Anders and Jenny, thank you for making this trip possible. It is one of the most illuminating and inspiring trips of my life. I learnt so much and had so much fun. I never thought it possible but I do love IKEA even more.

Hej då and hope to see you again!

After the heavy lifting, we chilled at the Royal Delft and found our animagus. Lastly I want to thank two special persons who went with me and supported me throughout the trip. Kat and Sook Han, thank you. The trip was great, but you two made it awesome!

Cheers!

Thank you team! Sook Han Wong (left), Katherine Law (centre)
Couldn't have done it without you gals.

Photos: Katherine Law

Trip update Part 2: Entering the heart of IKEA

2014-10-12T02:38:00.002-04:00

Read Part 1 here.

After a good night's rest, I was ready to be wowed by IKEA of Sweden (IoS). I was told that this is where IKEA is most IKEA. The DNA thickest. The heart. And indeed it is.

The new extension of IoS opened not that many weeks ago and there were still many unsettled corners in the building. Spots of chaos aside, it was new and shiny. It has an amazing expansiveness about it. Lots of light, blond wood and dashes of colour.

We arrived at the same time the co-workers were getting in. They were busy getting their morning coffee, sandwiches. We, tourists, went crazy for knäckebröd - a type of crispbread - slathered with Swedish honey. There were muffled talking, mingling, laughing. It felt like I entered a buzzing hive.

The lobby with stacks of the new catalogue - in different languages.

The 'stairs' overlooking the cafeteria. I love this!

The cafeteria - the lively busy hive.

Sufficiently fueled, we met up with Marcus Arvonen, the designer behind the iconic MASKROS chandelier.

One day, while walking in one of the fields he noticed the weed - the dandelion - and how common yet beautiful it was. It was the seed thought that inspired him to created a dandelion-like chandelier. But the initial design was way too complex with too many parts to put together and could not pass the IKEA process. Through numerous revisions, the MASKROS bloomed and became a bestseller. (And a lamp we love to hack it: Like this, this, this)

His MASKROS story brought to life the concept of "Democratic Design" which is the starting point for every IKEA product design. "Democra-what?" Big term and I'm sure I had a "huh?" look on my face. Marcus explained that Democratic Design is essentially a just-right combination of form, function, quality and sustainability at an affordable price, in order to offer good design to as many people as possible. It is the backbone of every IKEA product. Some products are high on design, not so low on price. Some the other way around, but every product takes into consideration these 5 elements.

With the "conceptual stuff" behind us, we toured the facility. With the expansion, the design process now takes place all under one roof. And that has helped shorten the process dramatically. Previously, it took almost 2 years for an idea to leap off a designer's sketchbook to the retail floor. Now, it may take half that time or less, which IoS is continually pushing for. So let's hope we see more timely on-trend designs from IKEA.

Prototype centre for 3D models. No, IKEA is not coming up flatpacked faces.

Prototype centre: Printing new textiles to be made into slipcovers, etc.

Sewing centre

Then, drumroll ... the highlight of my visit. I was told earlier in the day that I would get a preview of next year's range. Top secret stuff. No photos allowed. I felt humbled and privileged to be privy to their new collection. As much as I want to, I can't share what I have seen from the new range, but I can say that there will be a lot of good stuff coming next year. Interesting new materials and designs, that are quite a departure from the IKEA staple. I am seriously holding off buying furniture till 2015.

This is not the new range.

Me doing some "product testing"

The Design Team comprise about 20 designers actually, with hundreds of contract and freelance designers worldwide.

The design team

Learning from designers Knut Hagberg and Johanna Jelinek

I always thought IKEA of Sweden was just a big workshop full of designers but IoS is so much more than that. Lena introduced me to the other co-workers who are just as important in keeping the IKEA engine running.

The risk management team who handles any reports of product failures, accidents, etc. They issue recalls and learn from these recalls to ensure that no similar accidents happen in the future. I must admit I've always had question marks about IKEA product recalls. Don't you? What's with all this stuff that fail or have safety issues? That day I had a mindshift about recalls. It stems for their low tolerance for product failures. Despite their best efforts to test and retest, a company can never fully know the ways in which their products will be applied and used (er ... IKEA hacking for example). When there are reports of incidents of product failure, IKEA will not hesitate to recall the product. The incident is then investigated and findings fed back to their design process to come up with a better, safer product.

The Risk Management team sharing what comes out of a recall

Our next stop was the test lab and we witnessed first hand the punishing tests that all IKEA products are subject to. They are punched, pushed, hammered, trodded on mercilessly. IKEA products need to exceed a long list of safety and quality standards from around the world and often, the strictest standard is applied. Every aspect of a product is tested for durability, safety and whether it stands up to its claim. For instance, this LED light bulb is supposed to last approximately 25,000 hours. So it is tested for 25,000 hours (with some down time to mimic normal usage). And did you know even your IKEA candles are tested? The flame is measured as the candle burns down to ensure that the flame burns at a consistent height, with no sudden flare ups to minimise fire hazard.

It was a wet day at Älmhult

Light testing

This machine opens and shuts the cabinets

Test machine mimics a sitting position. Another machine tests jumping on beds.

Last stop in Älmhult was the communications department. This is the place where they create the most distributed catalogue in the world. It is like a giant photography studio with makeshift room sets. I gather this building is never static - always shifting in colours and looks for a new shoot. We also dropped in at the 3D graphics department and caught a peek at the 3D drawings that are changing the way room sets are presented. At the end, we were given a test. We were shown 3 photos. First, a conventionally photographed room set; second, a totally 3D rendered room set; and third, a room with mixed elements - real images and 3D renderings. We scrutinised the photos for about 5 minutes and passed! The salad gave it away but it was really quite hard to tell. The way 3D graphics are improving, I doubt we would be able to pass the test next year, or even next month.

A giant mock-up of the bedroom set featured on the 2015 catalogue cover.
It is really me jumping in there. Not photoshopped. :)

And that was our day at IoS. We had a plane to catch so we made a beeline for Copenhagen airport. But not before stopping to buy knäckebröd and Swedish honey.

(Next: The Concept Store and Meeting in Delft. Read it here.)

Photos: Katherine Law

Trip update Part 1: Museums and meatballs

2014-09-25T06:36:00.000-04:00

It's been more than 3 weeks since my trip to Sweden and the Netherlands and I finally found time to gather my thoughts and write about my meeting with IKEA. I know some of you have been anxious to know the outcome and my apologies for not posting earlier. It wasn't because I couldn't talk about it. I have so much to say and found it hard to trim it down to a manageable blog post. Hence the trilogy.

For those who just want the scoop (and not my rambles), here is it.
I did not meet a single person in IKEA of Sweden or Delft who wanted to shut down IKEAhackers. Seriously, none. In fact, they were very supportive. Even the designers whose furniture we hacked, sawed, repainted, reshaped into things unrecognisable like what we do on IKEAhackers and are pretty tickled to see their designs turned into frankenthings.

The meeting with Torbjörn Lööf, the CEO of Inter IKEA Systems B.V. together with Anders, Henrik and Lena, was open, warm and honest. They recognised the contributions of IKEAHackers and admitted that they "did not handle this (the trademark issue with IH) very well". What impressed me most was their willingness to admit their mistake, make a u-turn and find a solution that was good for both parties. Various suggestions were thrown back and forth and we came to the agreement that IKEA will continue to let me use its trademark on my domain, IKEAhackers.net, as long as my site does not bring harm or damage to the IKEA brand. (eg. porn, nudity, drugs - that kind of stuff which won't appear anyways.) As of today, I have yet to receive a draft of the agreement. But for now, in all likelihood ...

IKEAHackers.net stays.

Yay! Pop the lingonberry juice!

I want to thank you for your support in this crazy situation. Without your very vocal support, I doubt I could have made this behemoth corporation change its mind. By now, you must tire of hearing me say this, but I will say it again from the bottom of my heart - THANK YOU! I am beyond happy. So let's raise our saws and continue hacking!

Now for the blow-by-blow story which means you can stop here if that's not your thing...

It all started in March 2014 when I received a Cease & Desist letter from IKEA. I was told that I had infringed upon their trademark and if I did not voluntarily transfer the domain name IKEAhackers.net to them, they reserved the right to take any legal action it deemed necessary against me. When I went public with that information and the possibility of my site having to move to a new domain, there was a huge outpouring of support from the public. Which lead to IKEA rethinking their move and subsequent invitation to meet me in person and talk about this issue.

I jumped on the plane and headed to Sweden and the Netherlands.

I arrived in Copenhagen airport on a blustery morning. It was sunny yet cold. But I was greeted warmly by Lena from IKEA of Sweden, my host for the next 2 days. She was waiting for me (and my two teammates) with an IKEA catalogue, hot off the press.

We got into her car and she showed us this. Our itinerary of the next 2 days. Handwritten. Nice!

First stop was IKEA Malmö, about half hour from the Copenhagen airport. This was where the IKEA museum team was meeting with the museum consultants.

In case you missed the news, IKEA is planning to build an IKEA museum in Älmhult, on the site of the first IKEA store by Ingvar Kamprad in 1958. I gate crashed their meeting and listened in on their plans for the building and exhibits. Of particular interest is the possibility of an IKEA hacking section in the museum. Woo! I like that. To me that means IKEA is beginning to see hacking as part of its brand’s evolution.

We had some "fika" (Swedish for coffee break) which I would come to realise in the next 2 days is very much part of the IKEA culture. There is always reason to stop, drink coffee and nibble cinnamon buns. I love fika!

Happy together! The museum team. Me, second row, first from right. Lena, next to me.

One of the reasons for the visit to the Malmö store, besides meeting the museum team, was to view the MANGSIDIG range. Not many IKEA stores carry this special range and I was privileged to see them. The MANGSIDIG range is a community project to help women in underdeveloped areas sell their wares and build a business. To encourage social entrepreneurship.

Taking a closer look at one of the pillows from the MANGSIDIG range

After touring the store, we had lunch. Oh. My. Meatballs! Confession, I have only eaten IKEA meatballs from Malaysia and seriously, never understood the fuss. If given a choice, I rather not eat at the IKEA Malaysia cafe. But here in Malmö (I would realise later, not just in Malmö) everything in the cafe tastes and looks way more appetising than those in IKEA Malaysia. No wilting salads and Gravad Lax that has seen too many days in the freezer. (Sorry, IKEA Malaysia. But tastebuds don't lie.)

Enroute to Älmhult we made a quick stop at Lena's home. We ooh and aahed at the IKEA furniture she collected over the years and then she showed us the piece in pride of place - the stool that Ingvar purportedly designed. The only, it seems. Sadly, not for IKEA and of course, no longer in production. It was inspired by cows. More precisely, the stool for milking a cow. Here it is. So cute.

Ingvar's milking stool. And Memphis the dog.

Älmhult is everything they say it is. A little town that appears out of nowhere. Everywhere that's anywhere in the town is walkable. I am not sure they even have a cinema. But hair salons, aplenty! Before I could contemplate a blow-dry, we checked in to the IKEA Hotel. It's the catalogue in 3D. The rooms are modest. Nothing fancy or lavish. Cosy and strangely familiar, almost like bunking in at the home of a friend. And oh, all the rooms are decorated uniquely.

IKEA Hotel lobby

IKEA Hotel cafe

Where I spent the night

Another room. This one's more cheery

Before dinner, we took a stroll through the IKEA "Through the Ages" exhibit, which is housed at basement of the hotel. This exhibit will form part of the museum when it opens in 2015. Ingvar started his empire selling matches and seeds and kept his stock in a tiny shed. It was only much later did he start selling furniture. He didn't design or make them but he sure knew how to sell them.

Entrance to the exhibit

How the IKEA logo has changed over the years

Ingvar's merchandise ... he didn't start out selling furniture

An old IKEA set sold to Britta and Nisse Westholm. Read their story below.

Dinner was a 10 mins walk to a charming French restaurant, Brasserie Goaroije. Marcus Engman, the design director from IKEA of Sweden joined us too. I had the salmon which was lovely but the mussels took the cake.

Mussels to die for

With a full and warm tummy, I snuggled under the sheets and slept like a baby. After all, it felt like home.

Continue to Part 2.

Photos: Katherine Law

Little change, big happiness boost

2014-07-31T12:26:00.001-04:00

I've got a new header!

I love how my illustrated-me seems to be savouring coffee in an enchanted forest. All thanks to my web designer, Urniez, who is also a talented artist. You made me grin - ear to ear.

A sneak peek at the IKEA 2015 catalog

2014-07-22T08:12:00.000-04:00

So it is here again! The IKEA 2015 catalog could be heading towards your mailbox even as you read this.

This year's catalogue themed, "Where the Everyday Begins and Ends" highlights the bedroom and the bathroom where most people start and end their days. Judging by the new "Bedroom" products that will be launched and the recent Shakespearean bed ad, IKEA seems to be indeed pushing the bedroom scene.

I have not seen the new range in person but from the photos released to the press, they look good. I am smitten by the ARKELSTORP (how in the world do you say that?), which according to its designer, Ebba Strandmark is a "modern interpretation of furniture that has roots in Swedish folklore." Solid wood too. No particleboard stuff here.

Let's move on to the photos and the many that caught my fancy.

ARKELSTORP

An expandable drop leaf coffee table. And I love that red armchair too.

Half moon window tables. Very versatile.

This desk looks like a keeper.

Then there is the HURDAL. It would be a hit for those who love the country farmhouse vibe. Pinewood and traditional lines and curves. And very hackable, I must add.

HURDAL

Country style bed with storage drawers.

Love this HURDAL linen cabinet in green. May make a good hideaway TV cabinet or shoe rack too.

The kiddos are not left out either, with IKEA offering the little ones fresh new textiles. I do find the colours more muted and the patterns subdued compared to years past. A nice change. Furnishing a child's room does not necessarily warrant loud colours.

TEXTILES

For the bathroom, I have not seen anything much. Except this cheerful pair of stools, GLOTTEN. Nothing like a little yellow to brighten up the mornings but I don't think it can beat the BEKVAM in terms of stability and durability.

Beyond the bed and bathroom, I like these NYMO lampshades. In fact, I spotted the black one on my recent trip to IKEA and was keen to buy it. But I couldn't find the stock besides the sample piece. I will definitely hunt it down as it would make a gorgeous lamp on my nightstand.

The last one I want to share in this sneak peek is this dual purpose container-serving bowl. I have been doing this for ages with my mismatched bowls and plates. Finally, maybe the contents of my fridge will look chic.

You can have a preview of the new range here. Or view the digital version of the IKEA 2015 catalog beginning July 24.

What's it that you do, Jules?

2014-07-15T10:59:00.000-04:00

Recently, conversations with strangers or old friends go this way ...

"What do you do?"
“I am a blogger.”
“Hmm... Ok. What do you blog about?”
“The crazy things people do to their IKEA furniture.”
He/She stares at me blankly for a moment. “Oh, my aunt has a blog about her cats ...”

Not that I have anything against blogs about cats but I get the feeling that friends and family find it hard fathom what I do. They understand usual occupation labels like “accountant”, “sales manager” … even my previous incarnation “copywriter”. (Oh, you must be so creative!) But blogger? (They nod and maybe secretly think I should get a real job.)

Then, one of the most common questions I get asked is, “What do you do every day?” or “You must be so free?”

On one hand, yes, I do have better control of my time, compared to my crazy no-sleep-full-on advertising agency days. But no, I am not twiddling my thumbs wondering what to do next.

So let me invite you to spend a day with me. My days may vary from day to day, some days with more out-of-home-office time but the structure remains. I like structure. It gives me room to build upon.

The best part of my day is I don't wake up to an alarm clock. I mean I have an alarm clock but I don't set it unless I need to wake up early to catch a flight or an appointment. On most days, I wake up when I wake up. (And I am not a chirpy morning person. So please don't call me and say “Gooood Moooorrrrning!!!” Don't. Do. That.)

I believe in breakfast but I also believe it should be quick. On my go-to breakfast menu are 2 – 3 soft boiled eggs with a side salad of diced cucumbers or tomatoes sprinkled with salt and extra virgin olive oil. It is nutrient dense and hassle free. Here's what I do: I place 2 eggs in a stainless steel pot, with water just enough to cover the eggs. The pot goes on top of the stove and while it is waiting to boil, I turn my attention to the most important morning ritual - my coffee! It's a delightful thing which cheers up most of my mornings – preparing my espresso with my Bialetti Moka Pot. When the water in the pot of eggs boil, I remove the pot from the stove (but leave the eggs in the hot water) and place the Moka Pot on the stove. When my Moka Pot finishes its happy gurgle, my feels-almost-like-Italy-coffee is done and so are the eggs – perfectly soft boiled. Beautifully timed to go together.

While I eat brekkie, I read (and listen) to my Bible on my iPad. Today, I read Ephesians 1 – 3.

Then I start work. It usually begins with my Most Important Task (MIT) – the No. 1 thing(s) that I want to accomplish for the day. This is a principle I learnt from Leo of Zenhabits. Big rocks first and then the little pebbles. I don't have a lot of MITs – usually just one or two that I prioritize for the day. Too many can be distracting, overwhelming or defeating. Today my MITs are to provide my designer with temporary logins so that he can get on with some design tweaks and secondly, finish this post.

I block out an hour or two for MIT sessions, depending on the complexity of the tasks. Today will probably take two hours or more because content creation takes time.

Photo: StephenMitchell

After I am done with the MITs, I turn my attention to what I call my “Dailies”. On my browser bookmark bar, I have a folder named “Daily” because I need to use these sites everyday. They include my emails (personal and for IKEAhackers), my Adsense account, my website IKEAHackers.net, my WordPress admin, my Google Analytics and my Google Calendar. I open all bookmarks on my browser, crack my knuckles and dive into it. I process my email, moderate comments, check my numbers on Analytics for sudden spikes or drops (and try to figure out why), check my calendar, schedule to do's and appointments as needed.

Usually emails are the one that occupy the bulk of my time. Today, a reporter sent me a list of questions for an interview, another blogger emailed me on possible collaborations, some readers check in on the latest on the IKEA trademark dispute with me. I also subscribe to Google Alerts on all IKEA related news. With the volume of mail I get it does take me all the way to lunch to process them down.

Fortunately one thing I have learnt from my advertising days is that I should never put work before food. Terrible things happen if I skip meals. Angry makes up half of hungry. I am not a terrific cook but an efficient one. I made Chicken Cacciatore and a big ass salad in 30 minutes. If I feel lazy, I walk out to a cafe nearby for lunch.

Photo: Tony Horton workout mantra.

With lunch firmly in the tummy, I brew another cup of coffee and get down to posting on IKEAhackers. I review the hacks that have come in and select suitable ones. For some posts I do photo resizing and editing. Another one had some photos missing, so I emailed the hacker. For all, I check for typos, grammar errors (as much as I can) and clarity. I schedule posts to appear automatically on my blog. Whenever I can, I try to bulk process and complete posts for two days or more. When the posts are done, I move on to IKEAhackers' social media – comments and messages from Facebook, Pinterest and Google+. Social media is something I am still grappling with, especially on how to maximise these channels to engage with my audience. Lots to learn.

It is close to 4pm now and my work day is almost done. Time to hit the gym! A workout feels good after sitting on my rear end the better part of the day. (Note to self: I should hack a standing desk.)

After my workout, I am all ready for dinner. I'd be meeting up with a friend for a meal and a movie – my default method to unwind.

If I don't have plans for the evening, I do have the bad habit of continuing to do work/blog related things - like reading up on how to use Instagram for blogs (do we need one?) or looking for WP plugins that can serve the site better or learning new stuff from Darren at Problogger.

There is no end to what I can do on a daily basis as a blogger. I have a running list of things I have yet to start on – like a reader's survey, an ebook (this is coming along), ideas for future site expansion (videos? designer content?). And there are always things to test and tweak for better engagement, more traffic, higher page rank, SEO etc … you get the idea.

By 1.00 am, I collapse on my SULTAN bed.W

Till tomorrow,