I Want This

Cool stuff at Target.

Target stuff - doorsixteen.com

When I moved to New Mexico, I steeled myself for what it would mean to not live within (reasonable) driving distance of an IKEA. What I wasn’t prepared for was the total absence of Target in the eastern part of the state.

In 2003, I wrote a lighthearted post on my old blog, Absolutely Vile, lamenting the lack of a Target in New York City. At the time, Gawker was a brand new, little website that covered goings-on around the city, and they wrote a snarky, amazingly shortsighted post about my post, thus earning me my very own tag on Gawker, which, more than 13 years later, does not contain more than that single entry. I guess they’ve done alright with out me…or maybe not.

The first time I stepped foot in a Target store was in the summer of 1994. I was living in Los Angeles during my summer break before my sophomore year of college. We didn’t have Target on the east coast back then, and I thought it was just a fictional department store from Career Opportunities—kind of like how I thought Circle K was just a fictional convenience store from Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. You learn important cultural things like this when you travel! I’m not sure how many times I went to the Target on Balboa Boulevard that summer, but it was a lot. I would walk there (yes, I spent two summers in LA as a non-driver) in the blazing heat, dressed head-to-toe in black, and then wander the aisles for an hour or two, just taking in the sights and basking in the air conditioned, fluorescent lights. I rarely bought anything—it was more about the promise of it all. Target felt so American to me.

Anyway, moving from Portales to Albuquerque carried a huge amount of excitement in part because it meant access to not one, not two, but THREE Target stores. Once again I’m able to wander those aisles of plastic storage bins and rustic baskets and cute slogan t-shirts made for pre-teen girls. I can freely pick up every item in the Dollar Spot at the front of the store and contemplate how much cuter it will make my office. Also, POPCORN: I cannot leave Target without a bag of popcorn from their food counter. It’s so salty it makes my lips shrivel up by the time I’m halfway through. So good.

So here’s some cool stuff I’m digging at Target right now. Because I’m slow on the uptake and I hadn’t really been paying attention for the past ten months or so, most of it has been around for a while now—to the point that a lot of it is on clearance! Hooray for not knowing better. (BTW, I never blogged about Target’s Marimekko collection because I was kind of disappointed by it…and then I felt disappointed in myself for being disappointed. It was a bad cycle of emotions to be having about housewares, so I decided to move on with my life. Sigh. But hey, that’s all on clearance now, too!)

Target stuff - doorsixteen.com

1. Hanging Concrete Planter
2. Ceramic Crackle Two-Tone Pot
3. Desktop Organizer
4. Large Ceramic Pitcher
5. Ziba Sheet Set
6. Flatweave Striped Area Rug
7. Wood Task Lamp
8. Striped Earthenware Vase (link removed due to Target error—thanks, Erin)
9. Earthenware Pillar Candle Holder
10. Wooden Planter Stands with Pots (small, medium, large)
11. Textured Bath Mat
12. Cork and Ceramic Coasters Set

Somewhat embarrassingly, this post was NOT sponsored by Target. They have no idea who the hell I am.

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46 Comments

  • Reply Brenda B July 26, 2016 at 1:14 pm

    Canada had a brief love affair with Target but they broke up with us.
    The truth is, they didn’t treat us right and then blamed us when the relationship didn’t blossom.
    I miss them anyway.

    • Sarah July 26, 2016 at 1:54 pm

      I am about to move to Halifax, Nova Scotia -No IKEA (for now) and no Target. 🙁 Any suggestions of comparable inexpensive cute housewares stores?

    • Irish July 26, 2016 at 2:59 pm

      Definitely Winners and HomeSense. And don’t forget to check out their snack section.

    • Anna @ D16 July 26, 2016 at 3:04 pm

      Thanks for replying, Irish! I don’t know the Canadian retail market it all, so it’s appreciated.

    • Rebecca G. July 27, 2016 at 11:36 am

      I read Rambling Renovators – a blog by a lady living in Toronto – and she has mentioned Canadian Tire (don’t be fooled it’s not all automotive!) which seems to have some cool home goods. And it shows on their site that there are several stores in Nova Scotia. http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/household-pets/home-decor.html

    • Sarah July 27, 2016 at 5:14 pm

      Thanks!

    • Kala July 28, 2016 at 11:14 am

      Superstore has amazing housewares! And I find they’re often on sale – I think because the store is not really known for that section.

  • Reply Courtney @ Foxwood Forest July 26, 2016 at 1:25 pm

    Love love love that blue rug!

    I miss not living close to an Ikea like you. In San Francisco, there was on right across the Bay Bridge in East Bay. Now for Nebraska, the closest is in Kansas City. I do have a Target 10 minutes away though, phew!

    • Sarah July 26, 2016 at 4:35 pm

      Thanks so much to both of you!

  • Reply Laura July 26, 2016 at 1:33 pm

    Love the last line of your post. 🙂

  • Reply Ginna July 26, 2016 at 1:53 pm

    At 36 weeks pregnant, I waddled around a Target last week looking for the concrete planter, only to be told – despite what was published online – it was out of stock. Oh well! They’re home goods game really has been so on point!

  • Reply Erin July 26, 2016 at 2:18 pm

    Gret pics. I have a few of these already.
    Don’t order #8 online! It takes you to “Chebe Design Vase Metallic Seal – Threshold™” and I got that tan to white ombre vase in one of the other pictures shown. No matter how many times I tried to contact Target about how I think they have the wrong vase listed for that item they didn’t understand what i was talking about. You can clearly see in the description it’s not describing the cool black and white vase. I haven’t been able to find it in the stores and I keep asking target for the correct link for the item and they don’t know what i’m talking about.

    • Anna @ D16 July 26, 2016 at 2:19 pm

      Oh nooooooo! I was wondering why the title of the item was so…weird!! Thank you for letting me know, Erin—I’ll remove the link from the post right now.

  • Reply jan July 26, 2016 at 3:05 pm

    thanks for showing some stuff from target – i have so missed target ever since they left canada. everytime i drive by the mall they used to be at, makes me long for a little stroll through the aisles – even if i didn’t buy anything. i just loved looking at all the the things. i wish they had even just one store per city here like ikea.

  • Reply Chelsea T July 26, 2016 at 3:15 pm

    Oh those hanging concrete planters are SO cute and affordable, but not sold online, OR within 150miles of me. Wah!

  • Reply Tracey July 26, 2016 at 3:18 pm

    I have the large wooden plant stand and it’s really great. Sturdy, and well made. You can see it here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BERWwFJKZCK/?taken-by=tracey_tilley

    I have the bathmat too! The quality is great and it washes and dries very nicely.

    • Anna @ D16 July 26, 2016 at 3:21 pm

      It looks so cute, Tracey!

  • Reply Nikki July 26, 2016 at 3:40 pm

    This is a great round-up, I’m an unapologetic Target fangirl…I can’t go there without buying something I don’t technically need. I actually own that bathmat you included and I completely love it…even if it doesn’t totally go with the unfortunate brown and tan color scheme of my bathroom tile.

    I too was pretty unimpressed with the Marimekko stuff, however I did end up snagging one of the outdoor umbrellas for my patio table and it is pretty great.

  • Reply Ashley July 26, 2016 at 3:45 pm

    The Gawker post is hilarious! I hope you have that on your LinkedIn profile. :-p (Kidding)

    I’m a huge Target fan. They really do have beautiful homewares. There is a Target up the street from my house which is a blessing/curse. I feel like I’m there all the time. Waiting for things to go on clearance is SO worth it though; I got a really beautiful marble and wood tea candle holder for $7 and it originally was upwards of $30. Also, I <3 Nate Berkus.

    Cute picks! I love that lamp!

  • Reply Julie July 26, 2016 at 4:11 pm

    That wood task lamp (#7) is SO nice. I bought one for my husband’s office and it makes the whole tiny depressing space look better! I stopped by his office last week to help him move his desk and tried the lamp and the switch is a dimmer switch!! Wanted to go back to Target and get another but they were all sold out.

  • Reply Laura July 26, 2016 at 4:28 pm

    Canadian here, this post makes me miss Target so much! Thankfully I’m in Vancouver and close enough to the border to be able to wander around Target and make Trader Joe’s pit stops to stock up on goodies and morning star “bacon”.

  • Reply Tricia July 26, 2016 at 4:48 pm

    Our Target snack bar was replaced with a Starbucks. According to our store manager, this is going to happen chain-wide. Blech. I also miss the popcorn. Target has really upped their game and they can magically suck the money out of my wallet 🙂

    • Anna @ D16 July 26, 2016 at 4:51 pm

      Huh, all of the Targets I’ve been to have their own snack bar and a Starbucks!

    • Tricis July 26, 2016 at 8:20 pm

      It may be because we are s smaller town. We have three Starbucks here: a freestanding store, the one in the Target right next to the freestanding Starbucks and one in the grocery store two blocks down the street from the Target. The rest of town is served by local coffee shops.

  • Reply Katrina July 26, 2016 at 4:58 pm

    Wondering around the home selection of target is my favorite child-free activity. Those glorious quiet moments without little voices asking to look at toys. Even though I do spend half my time fantasizing about decor for their rooms. I’m too old for a stuffed unicorn head on my wall, right?

  • Reply Sam July 26, 2016 at 5:05 pm

    I’m devastated that they closed in Canada. I loved wandering the isles! They ship to Canada now but not all items do and its really expensive. 🙁

  • Reply Becky Harris July 26, 2016 at 11:45 pm

    Wait, there is Marimekko left? I thought I bought it all. No Isola black and white reversible placemats for you? I’m surprised – they rock!

  • Reply Ann July 27, 2016 at 10:08 am

    I live in Minneapolis, and my closest Target is one of the official “test stores”, so store layout and other things change all the time. It’s pretty fun. Most recently, they removed the “unhealthy” Pizza Hut/snack bar and replaced it with a Fresh-ees or something like that. No more breadsticks, Icees, etc.. Not sure about popcorn. Lots of expensive smoothies and other organic stuff. Very Minneapolis hipster 🙂

  • Reply LAURA V. July 27, 2016 at 10:57 am

    have you seen their line of “cheeky” items? i saw it and loved it and thought of you immediately!
    http://www.target.com/s?category=0%7CAll%7Cmatchallpartial%7Call+categories&searchTerm=cheeky%20home

  • Reply Suzy July 27, 2016 at 3:11 pm

    Getting your drivers license will allow you to buy way more stuff at Target!!!! You go girl!!

  • Reply Ana Denmark July 28, 2016 at 2:56 am

    The home accessories section is great! The actual furniture, though, always looks crappy.

  • Reply Annie G July 28, 2016 at 11:36 am

    We don’t have Target over here in England – nor Crate and Barrell, nor Pottery Barn – which saddens me. I love it. I first visited when in northern California in 1998 and realised I had found my spiritual home. Enjoy your shopping. BTW you do seem happy these days. Bung ho! As we say in England. Sometimes…

  • Reply Naomi D July 28, 2016 at 2:44 pm

    Target is my store! My friend and I once cruised up and down the aisles for FIVE HOURS! We were there for so long someone approached us. Who we thought was a random customer ended up being undercover security. Or it may have been because I was standing on a chair trying to get a better look at a dresser. Oops! I was awaiting your post on the Marimekko collection and was surprised to see none. I too was a bit disappointed. By the time I got around to checking it out in person, I managed to only snag the throw blanket…on clearance.

  • Reply Beth July 28, 2016 at 2:45 pm

    Did I miss something? Is this in your new house?

    • Anna @ D16 July 28, 2016 at 5:47 pm

      No, these products are all available at Target.

  • Reply Lizeth July 28, 2016 at 6:10 pm

    Walmart is NOT Target. Shame on Gawker.

    I live 10 minutes from a Target and an IKEA – I don’t know how I could live any differently.

  • Reply Malia July 29, 2016 at 5:14 pm

    I totally laughed at your non-sponsorship disclaimer.

    • Anna @ D16 July 29, 2016 at 5:47 pm

      And they still haven’t contacted me, hahaha. XD

  • Reply Kristan July 29, 2016 at 8:10 pm

    I love Target. I either spend hours and buy nothing or I stop in for one thing and leave with a full cart. One of my earliest memories is sitting in the Target parking lot with my mom and brother waiting for them to open. And then walking in to that familiar smell including the infamous popcorn.

  • Reply Jess R. July 29, 2016 at 10:19 pm

    We actually have 5 Targets in Albuquerque to choose from! (Uptown, Eubank & Lomas, Montgomery & Wyoming, Paseo & I-25 and Coors & Irving). There’s one in Rio Rancho too if you need something in a pinch and the others are out of stock, but it’s hardly ever worth the drive. I may have a Target problem.

  • Reply Fiona August 1, 2016 at 5:03 pm

    I bought that wood lamp for my partner’s office and it’s perfect! I am so happy to have Anna-approved taste 🙂

  • Reply Wendy August 2, 2016 at 11:06 am

    Your post made me bring up all the feelings I have about missing Target. Their Canadian launch didn’t go so well and believe me, I did everything I could to help their sales but alas it wasn’t enough. When work or pleasure takes me to the US, Target is always on my list and the reason I bring an extra large suitcase.

  • Reply Tricia August 6, 2016 at 1:30 pm

    Target is having a sale this weekend. 10%off select home decor and it includes some of your picks. Use code SAVEONHOME.

  • Reply Buford Wolske August 28, 2016 at 11:00 pm

    Walked into Target the other day and was immediately greeted by their dollar store bins, right by the front entrance. Gotta love it! Look at all the cool stuff they have for teachers setting up their classrooms.

  • Reply Ronnie October 8, 2016 at 10:55 pm

    I love the chair in the first image. I’ve never seen anything like it at my target. Really enjoy your humour.

  • Reply fefe January 22, 2017 at 6:19 pm

    There’s no shame in ya Target game. They have some really beautiful stuff!

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