apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

In order to document those that I feel are the "best of class" classics (which I also hope IKEA doesn't discontinue), I put together this list for today. All of these below are designs that I've purchased and recommended countless times. Got your own faves? Tell everyone below in the comments.

>> Billy Bookcase - Hey, it's the 30th Anniversary of this seminal, affordable design, which has invited a host of makeover and hack add-ons.

>> Kulla Floor, Table and Pendant Lamp - Often out of stock, this lamp is a crowd favorite and a perfectly serviceable copy of the Sebastian Wrong SPUN lamp that costs over $2k.

>> Frosta Stool - based on the really classic design by Alvar Aalto, the Frosta is a simple, flexible design that can double as stool or table.

>> Vika Legs - designed by Olle Lundberg, I like these legs more than any other that IKEA sells. They are chic, strong and don't look like IKEA.

>> PS cabinet metal locker - ubiquitous in our house tours and reader's homes, the PS series picks up on the vintage metal locker fad and translates it into a line that has many uses and doesn't stand out too much.

>> Pronomen Counter Top - this solid beech counter top is extremely affordable, comes in many lengths, is cuttable and can be nicely aged with oil. I recommend these for tables and desks as well as counter top.

>> Patrik Swivel Chair - who needs an Aeron, when the Patrik can comfortably outfit your home or office for much, much less. A little hard on the seat (adding a cushion helps), the shape is classic mid-century modern and the whole thing is durable.

>> Expedit Bookcase - a fabulous copy of the much more expensive Conran orginal, Expedit is great for any kind of storage and/or creating walls in loft-like spaces. Look for new sizes and colors this year!

>> Knappa Pendant Lamp - another great and more recent rip off of a good design, the Knappa pops up almost everywhere.

>> Grundtal Kitchen Hardware - these have been around for years (thank God!) and can be used all over the house. I've used them in outdoor showers, kitchens, bathrooms, you name it. The Grundtal series is a good example of "building blocks" in that it can be used in many different ways.

>> Ribba Frames - I forgot to add these to the email, but these simple wooden frames come in many sizes, are great basics and work well in multiples. Wood frames can get really expensive, these are not.