IKEA Rules


I am one of the many people who will tell you straight up: IKEA rules. I went there today with Angela and our respective offspring. We had lunch in the cafeteria and then let the kids play in Småland while we walked around and talked. I can't think of a better way to spend Friday afternoon (that doesn't involve nudity).

The best IKEA site on the web is ikeahacker. It is a collaborative blog where people post decorating tips using IKEA furnishings as a starting point. It is definitely an inspiration to check out before you hit the store. Another great IKEA-related site is Bemz, an outfit offering custom slipcovers for many upholstered IKEA products. My experience with IKEA's upholstered products has taught me to exercise caution; the couches suck, but the chairs are okay, and you can't beat the price.

Three more observations about IKEA:
  1. IKEA's attempts at more "traditional" decorating styles (i.e. Pottery Barn knockoffs) aren't very successful.
  2. Whither the Marimekko fabrics? I didn't see any today. That is a pity.
  3. The "It Only Happens Twice A Year" Sale is coming next month, just before they roll out the new catalog.

Comments

  1. AnonymousJune 2, 2007 at 2:52 PM

    Oh, this is good timing. The sofas suck, huh? We need a knock-around sleeper sofa for the new basement/playroom, and were seriously considering the Ikea ones. And is the sale in June or July? (please say end of June!!!)

    ReplyDelete
  2. mamacitaJune 2, 2007 at 7:01 PM

    Our couch has not held up well under the gymnastics of the monkeys, I mean, children. If I had it to do over again, I'd get an ugly, sturdy couch from a resale shop and get a new slipcover for it.

    Ours started to fall apart only a couple of weeks after we got it, but we didn't think about complaining to IKEA. It turns out that the problem was a common one in that model, and IKEA was fixing them for free if you asked. So keep that in mind.

    I think the sale is actually in July, but I'm not 100% sure. Of course, you can get a good deal in the scratch-and-dent section.

    ReplyDelete

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