apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

When I was younger and unable to spend the money I really wanted to spend on my place Ikea was a god-send. Nowadays I stay clear, except of course when it comes to the rare accessory like the ones mentioned above. While a whole apartment decorated in assembled furniture is cool to others, to me it screams college!

I like my IKEA furniture, but I found my LACKS totally lacking after both of them fell off the wall. The holes to attach them don't line up with standard wall studs. If you're handy, you can drill a hole in the metal and attach them properly, but I gave up and tossed mine. Don't use them for paper storage or books, but non-breakable tchotchkes or framed photos would be fine.

AH-- I love the thinking here, that IKEA is a vast Swedish ocean that must be fished carefully. Interesting to me that two of the contest entries use some of the best pieces (imho) that IKEA has to offer... the Magiker line, and the black wardrobe with the multiple silver knobs.
To Mary's/AH's point, I was also disappointed about the weight the Lack shelving can hold, but do love the look.

I live in Tempe, AZ (Phoenix area), and when IKEA came to town it was a godsend. We all packed our rednecked selves into the store for about a month, buying everything with an umlaut we could fit in our carts.

Now, though, having the same furniture as EVERYONE is my apartment complex is beginning to get me down (seriously - I have seen FIVE of the 8-dollar floor lamps through windows here).

What's the next step up? We have a Crate and Barrel, and that's pretty much it. That's a tad out of the prce range - where can I turn to in this part of the country for better design at only slightly outlandish prices?

man, i am way too old to be actually considering buying linseed oil in order to witness this phenomenon. . .

I have my fair share of IKEA furniture and I agree that the good stuff is good. I have that same little triangular corner table as two of the smallest-coolest entries, and I see some of the more design-y IKEA pieces peaking out of ads all the time. I used IKEA cabinets in my kitchen renovation, after an architect who lives in my building recommended them. While they're a little thinner than the HomeDepot ones, I saved enough money to buy all of my appliances and got to design it myself instead of relying on a salesperson...

Melanie -- have you tried live auctions? My mom gets a lot of cool stuff from a local couple who go to the big auctions in out of the way places [Cincinatti, Tulsa] and pick up great bargains. They especially like Tulsa because they get a lot of playful mid-century furniture from the estates of oil tycoons and the like... They get stuff for far cheaper than an antiques store and then sell them on ebay to us blue staters for buckets of money.

We give you trucker hats and Paris Hilton.

You give us playful mid-century furniture.

We win. ; )

I've mentioned this before on other threads... but I really believe that IKEA kitchen and bathroom cabinet systems and some of their hard-wired track lighting systems and lighting fixtures are quite nice and solidly made. (They were already in-place in my condo after the previous owners renovated it to flip.) I'm in the situation where scraping together the cash for the down payment on a larger space left me with considerably less of a decorating budget. (Damn you, LA real estate market.) So, some of my bigger pieces of furniture (platform bed/sidetables, mattress/mattress topper, 3 dressers and 2 coffee tables) are from IKEA. I was able to get a facsimile of the look I wanted (and all of the utility) with all 10 of these pieces for about $900 total. And my place hardly looks like an IKEA showroom. I think it's all in how you mix things up and, yes, definitely cherry-picking. This stuff works surprisingly well with the various materials used in my unit--bamboo floors, caesarstone counters, marble counters, limestone tile, etc... I guess my point is you shouldn't have IKEA-shame or self-hatred. Sure, most of the stuff is disposable (as opposed to heirloom-quality), but don't we live in a disposable consumer society? How many pieces of your furniture have you owned for your entire life? Do most people actually hold onto furniture that long? Me, I've started from scratch every time I moved (which has been 3 times in the past 12 calendar months). And I sometimes kick myself for spending so much money in the recent past on higher-end (thank you Limn/SF, Diva/LA and Plug/LA) or custom pieces that haven't worked in the new spaces. (They've all found new homes via Craig's List at a fraction of what I've paid.) So, don't knock IKEA, folks. Besides, they are considered to be somewhat cooler in Europe--if that means anything to anyone. Why else are their pieces regularly featured in the mix inside the pages UK Elle Decoration? And didn't someone recently die during the mad-rush of a store opening in England? Okay, so IKEA may sometimes kill, but it's not completely uncool or unworthy. Will I trade up at some point? Probably, but I'm in no rush. Call me an IKEA Socialist (for now, anyway)... Okay, getting off my soapbox now. (And no, for god's sake, I don't work for IKEA.) [Note To MELANIE--I believe there is a BO Concept store in Scottsdale. You should check it out. There stuff is very cool and priced slightly higher than IKEA and less than Crate & Barrel.]

Uh, the trucker hats were nothing new to any midwesterner/southerner. You guys just added the irony. And take back Paris Hilton! ;)

let us now bow our heads and thank whatever deity you wish for "Billy" shelves. Yes, in the past they were not so great.... but I've had my law books (serious heavy weight) on them for quite some time now with no problems.
We have blonde Billies w/lower solid doors in a room painted BenjMoore "vanilla ice cream", and the effect is a built-in.... truly fantastic for the price.

Love inexpensive ideas that look great! Shelves are cheaper than buying the wood to make them and the kitchen cart looks great....but what are you doing with your head in the oven?

Just wanted to pipe up and testify about the flammability of linseed oil. When I was a sophomore in high school, my family's brand-new house burned to the ground because my mom had left linseed-oil soaked rags she'd been using to stain the floor draped over the side of the bathtub, and they spontaneously combusted in the middle of the night. She told me that the town fire investigator was very confused as to how a fire could have started in the bathtub until she told him about the rags!

Mary - I know this is too late for you but if you ever have a stud problem in the future this may help. Cut out the dry wall along the length of the shelf and replace that section with the same thickness of plywood or solid wood. You should hit at least two studs with the wood. You can now screw anywhere along that length of wood meaning screw holes do not have to line up with studs.

If the section you cut out is slighty smaller than the shelf all round (possible because lacks are nice and thick) then you don't have any finishing work to do to blend the wood to the drywall.

Enrique, you're my new bestest friend. I'm pawing through the BO Concept site right now... very nice.

I don't go for all-slick-euro-mod, but a few sensible, well-made pieces are enough to build all my eclectic crap around.

AND the furniture looks like it was built to a slightly larger scale than IKEA stuff - that's better in our big Southwest home, and better for my 6'5" boyfriend.

YAY!

Hi, I'm contestant #26 of the smallest, coolest content and I have to say...Yes, my place is full of IKEA stuff and I am not afraid to admit it. Not only have I purchased items from IKEA because it's cheap, but because it is aesthetically nicer than the other cheap options (Kmart, Walmart etc). We are on a budget and can not spend money on high end items (yet).

Can anyone give us some ideas on stores that have nice looking furniture/household items but won't rape our pockets??

I rather save $300 than spend it on a lamp...just my opinion.

WOOHOO Enrique!!

Cilla-- You should not be apologetic at all about IKEA in your home (I don't think you were apologizing, btw, just reassuring you there's no reason or need to!!)... your place is charming and highly personal. And with no doubt, IKEA fills a niche. Two other budget-friendly suggestions where you CAN get a lot of style for the money... Spiegel and Target. And since your interior has some great touches of the exotic, Pier 1 (in small doses!), and Pearl River here in NYC could continue on in that same vein.

Enrique-- re-- that IKEA soapbox--
"Some assembly required." ;)

Cilla--Yes, your place is loaded with charm and character! I didn't even realize you had IKEA in the apartment until you pointed it out. You obviuosly "mixed it up" well. Other good places that have worked me and my other friends on budgets... Overstock.com (nice selection of rugs and interesting selection of world imports), Cost Plus World Market (like Pier One--as pointed out by Patrick(too), good in small doses but also a good place for wine and nibbly things),indie import shops in the ethnic neighborhoods of any major city (Chinatown, Thai Town, Little Tokyo, Little India, etc.--but you sometimes need to sift through a lot crap to find a few gems), any dollar store (I hit the "99c only" chain in L.A. for inexpensive pillar candles--and gag birthday gifts, ie Barbi Twins 2005 calendar), flea markets (where I get to participate in one of my favorite competitive sports--haggling), plus of course, ebay and Craig's List. But, I'm sure you're already savvy to these spots.

Patrick(too)--Don't I know it. I have more allen wrenches that I'd like to admit to owning.

When I got my place the first thing to do was lay down a beech floor from IKEA. Everyone who visits remarks what a nice floor it is. My penchant for black furniture is balanced by the lighter wood. I also have the ubiquitous beech Billy bookcase - groaning under the weight of graphic novels. Time to go bigger. As for the LACK shelves, my Dad drilled extra holes in the metal brace and used his own heavy-duty screws. They're not budging but I know better than to pile lots of books on. They mostly hold picture frames and objects. I entered the Smallest Apartment contest but apparently didn't make the cut (Billy-overkill?) The rest of my stuff is a mix of Crate & Barrel, Room & Board & Bowery restaurant supply. Mix it up!

Hey Pamela! Thanks for noticing the trolly cart photo ...I was going with a "Cindy Sherman for Ikea" look. Might be a fun way for them to liven up their catalogue, no? Too much?;)

Melanie! Are you kidding?? Arizona is the motherlode of *everything* design; amazing vinitage/thrift stores, Mexican furnire, retirement communities with awesome mid-century castoffs, you name it!

My husband and I were just bemoaning the utter lack of good/cool thrift stores in NYC, especially as compared to Tucson.

Irony of ironies that now we live in nyc, make a decent living, and can't seem to find a single decent vintage/thrift or even furniture store in manhattan that is moderately affordable, clean, not 100% picked over or full of junky stuff. I'm going to try some of the flea markets in MA this summer, but jeez-- in Tucson I used to stop over at Value Village on my bike on the way home from school or work and pick up some mid-century textiles or plates like it was so much produce. Sniff!

When I moved from NYC to LA last summer I ditched my pricey cart from Crate and Barrel and declared myself free of carts forever! Flash forward two weeks, and I desperately need one in my new apartment (whoops). I called Ikea every week for 2 months waiting for the Bekvan to come in. I love it. It is sturdier than most on the market, and the price cannot be beat.

I can offer two non-flamable alternatives for the cart 1) block oil (at hardware stores, some cooking/kitchen supply stores) or 2) good old basic mineral oil (at drugstores - keeps cutting boards in perfect shape for years).

Melanie, I really, truly believe that Craigslist is the best place to get furniture. If you're patient enough, whatever you want will eventually show up there.

But then maybe that's just in San Francisco and NYC; I don't know how good CL in Arizona is.

Crate & Barrel Outlet and CB2 can be great resources for household stuff. I've never bought anything from Room & Board, but their stuff is supposed to be good, too.

Recently bought a piece from americanmodernfurniture.com at their warehouse in San Francisco. They have good-quality knock-offs of Eames chairs, Nelson benches, etc.

Enrique--Huntington Hospital thrift shop in Pasadena. Vastly superior to anywhere else.

----slowly raises hand---- guilty

I have lack shelves in my bedroom and living room.

Originally i got them in the living room for stereo equipment. Guys being guys...i didn;t read the instructions and mounted about 4 of them vertically.

I placed a receiver on the top shelf and down came the mountain. (about 50lbs)

I later enforced the shelves and now use them for dvd's and video game consoles with some accent lighting (also from ikea)

In my bedroom I have reinforced lack shelves which run about 75% of my bedroom down both sides at about 45ish inches high. Great for keys, wallet,items i need at a moments notice.Even some books as well.


My coffee table...ikea..I also used accent lighting underneath for when watching moves and indirect light is needed

The only piece I have thats painfully ikea is a pong (is that the name?) chair

I needed a light arm chair I could move to the center of the living room when for when I really get in to killing hookers and running over cops (GTA)

I have tried finding a comfortable alternative...but none really top it.

Boooo, IKEA. Worldwide design homoginization sucks. In NYC better stuff can be found on the streets.

Enrique, Mary and other ppl interested in Ikea kitchens -
If anyone knows Fine Homebuilding magazine you wil know that it is written by and meant for those home builders that are obsessed with the best way of building homes, furniture etc. The readers have pretty strong feelings and vioce them when they think a method touted it sub par. The reason I give this context is that the mag did a piece on a custom kitchen that had one area that used stock cabinets from Ikea. They did a side bar to explain how the Ikea cabinets held up in terms of construction etc to the custom units. Basic gist was that the carcasses were solidly built and you got better hardware than was usual (hinges and full extension drawer slides for example). The consensus was that Ikea cabinets were of good quality and no one should have any qualms about using them.

Now coincidently I was looking for pictures of a friend's loft that he recently sold (because he used Ikea cabinets and I thought it looked really good) and I found a picture while browsing through archives of downtownexpress
www.downtownexpress.com/de_100/picturesqueskylights.html

He spent money on the granite countertops, the Thermador range and hood and running a vent for all 5 units' hoods (he bought the whole building and did a gut reno). He saved money on the Ikea cabinets and the stainless steel backing of the Island and the stove backsplash (China town and construction adhesive were his friends).

So what do you think of thos Ikea kitchen? Too white? Too cheap looking? Too cold? Great? Cool?

Holy cow! I didn't know about spontaneous combustion. So you wet the rag, then use the oil? BTW, isn't linseed oil one of the few non-toxic furniture oils? I need to find something to polish my furniture, but do not want to use something toxic. Any advice is welcome.

I think it looks great!

I'm probably too late to join this conversation, but, once again, the vicious putdowns are much too much. IF YOU DON'T LIKE IKEA, STAY AWAY FROM IT!!!

There are many of us who can make discerning choices regardless of where we shop - if you like it, you buy it.

jamiepup--I think your friend's kitchen looks fantastic!

Thanks Patrick...really cool coming from a person that has a highly envyed apt. Yes! I didn't even think of Target and especially Pearl River!! I've been meaning to get over there.

I'm afraid I'll walk into Pier 1 and have a melt down and grab every candle and candle holder I see. I must make a budget for myself.

You know...TJ Max has household items that aren't too tacky.

Enrique, I'm sure a lot of people would be surprised at what little gems could be found at the right 99 cents store. I didn't think of going to the ethnic neighborhoods! I will definitely hit Little India for some Saris (curtains/throws) and pillows =)

Jamiepup...that kitchen is awesome! I love chrome/steel in kitchens. It looks so streamlined and clean, yet not cold.

Rachel--Thanks for the tip! I'll check it out when I get back into town this weekend.

Todd--Okay, for my next place, I'll furnish my place entirely from items found on NYC streets... Kidding! You say "worldwide design homogenization". I say "democratization of design". Poh-tay-toh, Poh-tah-toh... Let's call the whole thing off!

I think IKEA quality used to be a lot better when they arrived in this country (in the 80's as far as I know.) It's really dismaying to walk into an IKEA store for a specific item - say a dresser - and all of them are flimsy, with some actually falling apart on the showroom floor, except a few solid, ugly ones.

I agree with IKEA kitchen cabinetry being great. I've lived in two spaces that have two different styles of IKEA cabinets, and have been very pleased with the kitchens.

I do have a very ugly, "what was I thinking" pine TV corner unit, originally purchased for a corner in a previous place. Mostly, it was cheap. As soon as I figure out what else to get, it's going on Craigslist ASAP.

I also bought a drawer unit and a cabinet unit from IKEA's "Journalist" storage system a few months ago, and I haven't been able to put them together because I feel they will be a terrible mistake without the overall system (they're hidden under the bed, my favorite hiding place). And trekking back out to IKEA to return it just hasn't happened.

Fiona, beeswax is a great non-toxic furniture polish that doesn't combust, and smells good too! I don't think I would use it on a cutting-board, though. And I think that with the linseed oil you use the oil on the rag, and when you're finished you soak the rag in water.
...and my apartment contains far too much IKEA. It's just hard to stay away when you're practically broke, need furniture and their stuff looks decent...

As a Swede who has been more or less surrounded by IKEA since day 1, I've got mixed feelings about the place.

I really hate going to their huge stores on a weekend and jostling for space with all the other shoppers. A lot of the stuff, especially their sofas/lounge chairs, are really low quality (they did have a series called "Stockholm" for a while, which included a sofa, a rip-off of the Austrian-Swedish architect and designer Josef Frank's stuff, sold at a very pricey store in Stockholm, Svenskt Tenn). The effect that comes from doing your place up completely with IKEA stuff is of course well known...

However, I can't help but admire IKEA and its founder, Ingvar Kamprad. He really is the Henry Ford of the furniture industry. IKEA was the first (and in many places apparently still is) the first to make well designed furniture available to the masses. Today, in places like Eastern Europe (I've lived in Poland a while and travelled to most of the ex-Communist countries & former Yugoslavia) IKEA really is the only sensible alternative to dark, stodgy, poorly made furniture.

All kind of Furniture, please contact:
www.roomsByUs.com
www.DressingHomes.com
www.MacondoFurniture.com
www.SartiSales.com

This is likely a long-dead thread, but I suppose that's not terribly important.

I just took the fourth copy of the same model pendant lamp, GLIMT, I think, back to one of my two local IKEAs. None of the four worked, i.e., lit up, because of bad transformers. The second through fourth times I bought GLIMT (a Finnish word meaning "sucker," I now believe), the lighting department person (often a ten-minute hunt) claimed that the problem was known, the bad stock removed, and what was now out was all fine, tested, wonderful, and so on. I heard this same line at both stores. I swear, I bought the same individual lamp twice.

I started shopping IKEA in California before they arrived here. Let me explain. Two entrepreneurial guys copied IKEA's merchandise or maybe bought it from the same suppliers and opened two identical stores called STOR (with an umlaut over the "O") maybe 18 years ago. There was little for IKEA to do but to buy them out and open the genuine article, even using the same two buildings.

With the real IKEA in place, I felt I had become a member of a Swedish combination religious cult and furniture store. I just adored their maketing and their then-high quality merchandise: almost everything was made from solid wood and very well made. When I divorced 15 years ago, I went to the local store, grabbed a "customer shopper" (they had them then) and uttered a line I had always wanted to: "I need everything." I bought much of their stock over the next several years. With the exception of things that have worn out and they don't carry, I still have all that furniture, it works just fine, and few people now have any idea that it came from IKEA, as its quality is several notches above their current (mostly) junk.

I'm now in the status of so many members of religious cults: my leaders have been caught with either a live boy or a dead girl in their bed and it's impossible to ignore. It's hard to feel much positive when the only Swedish food item in the cafeteria is apple cake and meatballs, the remainder of the food is bad sandwiches and weird steam-table food, and you cannot even get water any longer without buying a bottle of it, as they took that option off the soda fountain.

IKEA is now marketing here for college students, immigrants, and the newly divorced person who doesn't plan to move the stuff from his first place, as the attempt would turn it all into sawdust and a small handfull of their odd metal connectors. A pity.

Getting my money returned from the fourth GLIMT and heading to my PC to see what the Internet offered (including the original it had been copied from for twice the price--and well worth it, I'm certain), I could almost hear the refrains of whatever music is played at graduations.