Not your mama's Ikea

My husband is a social butterfly, and during one of his evenings on the town, met a man who put us in touch with a Vietnamese man who makes and sells furniture to international distributors. The best part of the story is that he also will sell to private individuals for COST - hello lovah! Erik and I took a trip out to his home/workshop/personal Disneyland in October, and I went back today to place our order. He lives with his family out in the country in a compound he designed and built - it is nothing short of magnificent - it was designed to entertain buyers while they stay and learn about his line of goods. Today, it also greatly entertained one toddler and one four-year-old while their mother spent their inheritance on furniture - I AM KIDDING. Between the dedicated play room, and free-roaming horse, the girls were well looked after.

The showroom/building he constructed looks nothing like an IKEA or a Crate and Barrel - it is a cross between a church (where the furniture obsessed can worship) and a medieval castle. Impressive doesn't even cover it.

If Erik and I ever renew our vows AND we are living in Vietnam again, we have totally found our location.

Blog readers? Meet my new dining room table...

In the immortal words of Stevie Wonder, isn't she lovely? She is square and made of acacia and will be joining us on this worldwide adventure.

And this is her second cousin, our new bed -

Erik and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary in November and the traditional gift is wood, so this new bed (and tables, and chairs and a sideboard) was our gift to one another.

Here's to our next anniversary and our gift to each other - Ramen Noodles!!!