No Assembly Required

For Ikea's Live-In Weblebrity, Reality Comes at a Discount

PARAMUS, N.J.

Mark Malkoff is asleep in his affordable Swedish bedroom at 7 a.m. It is three hours before the Ikea store opens, and his wire-rimmed glasses rest on the "Malm" bedside table. His producer, Brian Stankus, gently taps him on the shoulder.

"Mark?" Stankus whispers. "You have a visitor."

Mark Malkoff lives in this Ikea. You may have heard his story -- apartment being fumigated, filmmaker needs home for six days, Ikea says yes. You may have even been one of the million daily hits on his Web site.

In case you aren't, Malkoff, 31, is really excited to grant total access to the experiment:

Can you . . . have breakfast with him?

Try the French toast sticks!

Rummage through his dresser?

Here's where I keep my socks!

Eat the leftovers you found in the fake fridge?

Please! I've been on a raw kick lately!

What's happening now, Mark? Bathroom? Let's go!