Ikea is a nice place to shop for sofas, but would you want to live there? The home-furnishing giant is applying its functional yet stylish minimalism to low-income housing: The company is slated to break ground on a development called BoKlok in Gateshead, England, later this year. "BoKlok seemed like a natural extension of our knowledge of how people want to live," says Ikea spokesperson Mona Liss. The high-ceilinged, open-plan abodes come ready to occupy, with Whirlpool appliances, bathroom fixtures, and kitchen cabinets. (Perfekt Duvbo!) And buyers don't have to worry about pimping out their new crib, either — a consultation with an interior decorator is part of the deal. An 872-square-foot, three-bedroom home is expected to list for around $290,000, though getting one won't be easy. With plans to manufacture just 500 homes a year by 2009, the company may hold a lottery for interested buyers. Swedish meatballs optional.
— David Kushner
credit: Chip Wass
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