During a little trip to IKEA this past weekend (I know I know, going to IKEA during the back to school rush just calls for trouble) I not only picked up some shelving but learned a few things about my local Ottawa store when I asked for help.

The first sales associate in bedding and curtains informed me, no, they did not carry any textiles because the Ottawa store was the smallest in Canada.

The second sales associate in shelving informed me, serendipitously, that the Ottawa location was expanding in 2011 to be the biggest store in Canada (this news has been circulating for a while now actually) and also to be the biggest in North America (this was news to me). They were just waiting for the City to approve plans.

A smart move for IKEA, considering the city is packed with government employees, young professionals and students looking to furnish their abodes. Any ideas on what this means for interior design and decor in Ottawa?

On another front, have you noticed that IKEA has changed their font from Futura to Verdana?  Check out the debate over their use of a new typeface in this Time magazine article.