This past June I was fortunate enough to travel to Sweden and Denmark. Ikea organized the trip and it was wonderful. One of the many highlights for me was a tour through a small museum that Ikea keeps almost a secret — it's under a hotel that they own for corporate guests visiting their headquarters.

We entered through a funny door in the basement, and there before us were rooms filled with Ikea history and furniture examples since the company’s conception in 1943.

 Ikea Catalogue from 1963

 Ikea Catalogue from 1970

 Ikea's old furniture drawings

 Ikea Museum - green chair

 Ikea Museum - orange chair

 Ikea Museum - chair and foot stool

 Ikea Museum - green and wooden chair

 Ikea Museum - old dining room set

 Ikea Museum - living room, colourful wallpaper, furniture, paper lantern

 Ikea Museum - living room, colourful wallpaper, shelf, furniture, vases

 Ikea Museum - living room with blue fluffy furniture

 Ikea Museum - blue fluffy sofa

 Ikea Museum - Ikea's first flat-pack parcel

This was Ikea’s first flat-pack parcel.

 Ikea Museum - orange light fixture

 Ikea Museum - orange light fixture with moulded detail inside

Always-in-style retro lighting. Notice the moulded detail inside.

 Ikea Museum - fry pan with wooden handle

I love the shape of this frying pan with the wooden handle.

 Ikea Museum - tea cups with vintage design

 Ikea Museum - forks with wooden handles

 Ikea Museum - Orange pot and wicker pot holder

 Ikea Museum - yellow teapot

I have to say the mid-century pieces really caught my eye, seeming so current and on trend. It would be so great if Ikea could reintroduce some of these items. The “Classic Collection” — I can see it now. I’d buy the hanging red-orange retro plastic light — imagine it in a rainbow of fab colours.

Click here for Michael Penney’s top picks from the latest Ikea catalogue.

Photo credits:
Morgan Michener

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