Come on, how do you expect us to virtual interior decorate with so little to go on? What's the shape of the room, dimensions, where's the window/door etc - I need a vague blueprint

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I love IKEA! Probably because we don't have it... I've spent a shocking amount of time on their website, decorating at least 7 nonexistent rooms

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Anyway, since you're starting from scratch it's an amazing opportunity to be creative and get your dream space. IKEA furniture on its own is incredibly bland and the quality is so-so... However, it's possible to use it as a base and with a little improvisation, make it almost unrecognizable. They've used IKEA furniture in the shop where I work, so it's not so obvious - deconstructed bookshelves as hangers etc... They have this table (the legs):
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S39002017/ but instead of the glass counter top they've used something like this (not exactly this, the dimensions don't match, I'm sure theirs is from IKEA too but either it's discontinued or I can't find it):
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30193304/ So it's like an improvised display case (there's jewelry there).
Which leads me to the point I wanted to make. I think, rather than looking at an upright display case you should look for options to make your desk/vanity a sort of display case, where the top is glass and you can see into the top drawers and that's where your brushes could live. Say you had 2-3 drawers throughout the total length of your desk, you could have your brushes organized within the drawers (probably not all of them, or then again, depending on how much space you have, there could be two-three desks creating a sort of beauty cockpit, while you sit surrounded by them in a Herman Miller chair like the chief commander), either in beautiful boxes that they came in, or you could get ones that match the brand or series out of nepalese paper etc... And line the drawers with LED light strips.
Just a couple of thoughts. And perhaps check out the Sveio
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/search/?query=sveio and Nyvoll
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/search/?query=NYVOLL drawer solutions. It's just... I've seen a lot of makeup and storage collections on youtube too, and whenever they use units like Alex or other cold, utilitarian shelving solutions, it takes away from a home feeling like a home. Your home shouldn't feel like a shop or a warehouse
