Thoughts on Ikea

[Meenah]

Re: Thoughts on Ikea

I am not so happy with the kitchen stuff I got from there - pots, pans, utensils etc. They are awful and make me want to weep every time I cook. I am hoping to upgrade after the move.

Garage sales and Freecycle are great places to get good quality, used kitchen items. The older things tend to be made well.

Re: Thoughts on Ikea

DH went back to Ikea last night around 8:30. Much better when they are about to close! He had to exchange the vanity drawers and at the same time ordered some butcher block countertop (he pulled the formica counters off of the basement cabinets, will post before and afters soon).

For the price, these countertops are surprisingly nice.

One thing I like about Ikea is that it is appropriately sized for smaller dwellings. When we have smaller rooms to decorate, it can be hard to find furniture that fits without looking like you stuffed a huge couch in a small room. I'll give them that.

[Vishenka69]

Re: Thoughts on Ikea

IKEA is great for some things, not so great for others. Aside from couch and mattress, every other piece of furniture we have is from IKEA. I also get lots of compliments on their curtains. Our particle-boardy furniture has survived 3 moves and 4 apartments and is currently 8 years old.

Some of my favorite pieces from IKEA though are the kitchen accessories. The cast iron pan was actually made in France and a fraction of Le Creuset price.

[DCJenn]

Re: Thoughts on Ikea

We redid the DC kitchen in IKEA (corian countertops and pine cabinets) and were generally pretty happy with how it turned out. We have had various pieces of IKEA furniture- most finally have bit the dust but withstood numerous moves.

I like their bedlinens- especially the duvet covers- a new bedroom for so little cash outlay!

Jenn

[medpedspouse]

Re: Thoughts on Ikea

I looove IKEA kitchens. It must be because I am decorating/see the potential challenged. I only go to the store a couple of times a year and usually end up buying throw rugs, plants (love them and they are cheap), and closet/office/kitchen organizing "thingies". However, I spend the majority of my time in their kitchens. I want them all! For some reason walking by the kitchens at Lowes/Home Depot and similar stores do not peak my interest enough to open every drawer, look in every bin and fantasize about like those IKEA kitchens.

[peggyfromwastate]

Re: Thoughts on Ikea

The College Park, MD Ikea has a lot of passthroughs and it's really easy to get out of there. I sometimes go just to look at one section or another. We have lots of sturdy bookshelves from Ikea, some kid toy storage stuff, and that's about it. It's a nice place to go for a break for me-- the childcare room is usually available when I'm there, and so that's worth it right away. We usually go maybe 2-3 times a year.

My sister got almost all her furniture at Ikea, and they've moved a lot. She calls it "disposable furniture" but it has survived over 10 years and... 6 or 7 moves? Plus her crazy wild kids. I think it's more durable than it's given credit for.

I get all my kitchen cooking stuff at Costco, though. I don't even like to look at Ikea kitchen stuff- except for things like straws (great prices on straws), and dishtowels, kid utensils, etc.