Utilitarianism

Yesterday we went to the East Bay to Ikea, to get onto the water and general outing (is this sad?). I was dazzled by all the ideas, ideas in profusion, clever uses, grand gestures, wonderful colours. The execution disappoints me sometimes, but when you think we-the-people are the recipients it is breath-taking for the price. Other stores have my number - Conran's anyone? - but I love the exuberance and generosity of Ikea. They are so relentlessly essence-oriented, not image-oriented, not branding-oriented. I think William Morris would have approved.

On the other hand I am slightly ashamed of liking anything by Ralph Lauren, so preppy and elite and waspish.