apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Hi everyone-
What isn't my project this month? I'm vowing to declutter my apartment, paint my walls, and hang these really cool vegetable box ends (you know, the ones with the colorful labels) I was given over the many years I shopped at this great vegetable stand by Mt. Tom State Park in CT.

I'm also putting up shelving. Here's my question to throw to the masses- should I stain a bunch of 1x6's and put them on those pretty wrought iron shelf holders to save myself a trip to that Godforsaken hellhole Ikea? I'm leaning toward yes. Decor is on the fab/eclectic side -- lots of different eras and bright colors that all go together.

Just because IKEA ain't your cup of lingonberry tea, that doesn't make it a "Godforsaken hellhole".

But, yes, forego the trip. Fewer people in the aisles is a good thing.

Ptoo- I was there on a Saturday (I can't go during the week), and two out of the three people on the trip, including me, were reduced to tears by the end of the day (and yes, we're all sane, emotionally stable people). I wasn't commenting on the furniture, but on the environment. The crowds, gambling on whether something is both in stock and stocked properly, screaming children running wild, and the maze-like floor plan makes it a Godforsaken hellhole.

"God forsaken hellhole" - yup, quite apt. After Christmas last year, I went to IKEA, thinking it would be nice and quiet. The store apparently thought it would be nice and quiet too and had hardly any cashiers, so I somehow ended up in the self-checkout lane, without knowing it (the lines were too long to see what was in the front. I didn't even know they had self-checkout). The self-checkout sucked and that line took twice as long as the other long lines. After a while, I figured I should have bailed for another line, but by then it was too late and wouldn't save any time. I won't ever go in any self-checkout line now. The line control was horrible. When they opened a new checkout, they didn't get those waiting the longest, even though we had complained about our horror, thus infuriating us further. I now dread going to IKEA at any time. The funny thing is when I opened the furniture package, for some reason it was basically impossible to put together with additional pieces--nowhere stated--so I had to bring it back--another huge hassle with no car, but at least the return went well. End of rant.

withOUT additional pieces, I meant to say.

One more IKEA comment - their return policy is VERY liberal, no questions asked. So, that's a good thing.

The hellhole Ikea (and I am a huge fan) is particularly bad in post-back-to-school times -- or at least it was the past couple of years. Lots of window treatments and poster frames out of stock...

Now you can check stock online www.ikea-usa.com.

But wait, I'm supposed to be CLEANING not SHOPPING . . . or is it some other sort of work I'm supposed to be doing . . .

The IKEA experience depends on when you go (time of day, time of week) and which one you go to. If you get on the bus when everybody else from Manhattan does, you are seeing IKEA (time and location) at its absolute worst.

And I've found the biggest problem to be clueless, rude, oblivious fellow shoppers... not anything about IKEA itself that is the real problem. Although the Elizabeth location needs some help.

I recently went on a Saturday around 2pm, with my husband foretelling certain doom with all the crowds, and literally breezed through, no problems. There is just no telling how it will be. There were probably 50 cars in the parking lot.

I usually bring a flask with me to IKEA and it usually is a much more pleasant experience.

I agree with you Fishman. One time I got so drunk at Ikea that by the time I got to my car to leave I could no longer drive. I had to go back in and load up on Pom Frits and Meatballs so I could sober up. When I did finally get home and looked at what I purchased I realized that I hadn't paid for $300 dollars worth of merchandise. That was a great experience. Hellhole? I think not. More like the worlds best watering hole with excellent door prizes!!!