We have been an IKEA shopper for years. And while we love the selection of affordable goods, we recently looked around our apartment and realized we are a bit IKEAed out. As our design style has slowly changed over the last few years, we've been gravitating toward more of vintage look and our dear IKEA surely does not carry this style. After some research, we have found a gem. Check it out after the jump.
We found an affordable vintage shop with a wonderful selection of furniture + accents called This Is Not IKEA. Founders Alexis and Tom began the online shop for vintage and retro finds after Alexis had looked around his place and realized that his apartment was "...page 22 of the IKEA catalog (minus 4 little screws)".
Ready to to evolve his style, Alexis began window shopping at high-end design stores and shopping at consignment shops and estate sales. Slowly the IKEA furniture was replaced with mid-century items, retro finds and rustic accents - all bought for great deals. When friends began to want to similar pieces for similar prices, This Is Not IKEA was born and has grown to have a great following.
If you are looking for cool, unique, vintage pieces in a range of styles but have an IKEA budget, then this shop is the place for you. Shop the online galleries and have fun!
Check out more vintage ideas from Apartment Therapy here:
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Tom Black Espadrille
Comments (16)
I have a stop sign just like that one. The site looks awesome, really. Especially since the nearest IKEA to here is hours away.
they are going to be sued for that name
"We have been an IKEA shopper for years."
i don't get what is up with the whole "i/we" debate... I frankly don't care or notice but the first sentence of this post boggled my mind. If you're gonna speak as a collective, at least keep the entire sentence that way.
"I are going to explode"
Or just go all high school english and use "One" instead of " I/we/me.
"One is going to explode"
I've searched his CL ads and website. Sometimes the prices are a little kooky.
What I see is they may not be Ikea but they are selling lots of crap for too much.
I actually tried to contact them about a few of the items on the site; I emailed them (as it says to do on the site) and listed the items I liked and asked when I could come see them... I did this twice. Never heard back. The name should be thisisnotmyrealjob.com.
I am not impressed with their prices. The 2 white CB2 side tables for $65 each are particularly unimpressive, I got mine for $15.
I bought a mid century desk from one of the guys. He was really nice, and I had no problems reaching him. Maybe he was out of town when you tried to contact him? He does have a ton of stuff and has been collecting for over 5 years. I'm sure you can find some of the stuff somewhere for cheaper, but that is how it goes when you have a business. I'm sure you can negotiate on a more reasonable price. When it comes to used items, the seller needs to mark up to prepare for haggling. I don't think their prices are totally unreasonable.
Good for these folks for starting their own small online business! Having said that, I feel their asking prices are a bit on the high side and their items are not especially unique---mostly just "cool" retro junk. Part of the problem is that the items haven't been "staged" for the pictures or made to look appealing, or placed in a creative, aesthetically appealing context, etc...
I think they have a great idea, but I'm not impressed with the look of the online catalogue.
I'll stick with Craigslist and thrift stores.
I wish their selection was better edited. I've purchased a few times from them, before they had the website. The guy had me driving all over looking in different garages for the pieces I was interested in. Then climbing into the garages trying to see in detail a particular piece. I would hardly say this site is a "gem" and I think their business needs some definite refining.
That's true. I have to agree with "anyimage." He did have several storage spaces, and we had to drive to different ones. I was expecting him to have the piece ready for me to pick up. They could use some refining.
This first sentence blew my mind. I cannot focus on the content of the article.
The whole point of a business like this, to me, is that they would edit down for you all the junk you encounter at a garage sale or thrift store- presenting the best of the best. Unfortunately, all the products are crammed in a room of this guy’s house, or in dusty, dark storage spaces. Also, the online listings don’t describe the measurements, materials, etc. so you go there somewhat blind – hoping something you saw looks like what you think.
This “store” would be a lot more shoppable and enjoyable if he hauled out all the stuff onto his front yard and driveway and held garage-sale like sales each week.
I also agree the prices are too high.
The guy constantly spams craigslist advertising his stuff.
It's downright insulting the prices that he charges. And what makes it even more insulting are the laughable descriptions - everything is either "retro" or "vintage" or "mid-century" - that show how little he actually knows about any of the wares he's selling. Most of which really is junk, anyway.
Anther thing I want to point out: what's up with using a Kodak gallery to post his photos? He can't take the time to build out a decent webpage? Please.
For my money, I would rather spend it on a reputable seller than just another guy trying to make a fast buck.
well, ya, i have given this guy a few chances to redeem himself.....but, honestly, it is all WAY overpriced, and in horrible condition. nice guy, but just doesn't get it. he pretty much buys stuff for dirt cheap at garage sales, estate sales, etc..... takes photos, posts on his site, stores the stuff in random peoples garages, and then marks it up 5 times what he paid. good concept, but rough around the edges.....i advise, if you like garages sale stuff, i am sure you enjoy the hunt....so, get out there and find the good deals yourself;)