IKEA!

Mostly I just like to look at the Ikea site.  I love the designs of some of the furniture.  The contemporary stuff.  But I can build any of that stuff in the shop, so I just go for ideas.  Sometimes though, there is just no way I could build the stuff for the price they sell it for. 

sl2crmeg

Any other IKEA fans? I saw some other stuff I liked

We are Borg, we like IKEA. For the longest time, the nearest one was in Houston, Texas. Now, we have one in Frisco, Texas. About 45 to 50 minutes away. Our computer desk is from there. A nice, wide, plain one that holds everything, tower,  keyboard, DSL modem, monitor, printer, speakers, scanner, and still a quarter of space left over.

They have display areas that show how much stuff you can cram into 300 or 400 sq ft, etc. It's about hanging as much stuff on the walls as you can and get it off the floor.

I love Ikea, though you really do get what you pay for.  We are Dutch, and the Dutch are the tallest people in the world, and with height comes....density.  Let's just say Ikea furniture does NOT work for my DH (he's not fat, but he is 6'4" and "athletically" built).  Our bed collapsed half a dozen times (and no we weren't even fooling around).  His computer chair just plain snapped off the base and I don't have the tools to weld it back together.  I won't get something important (like the bed) from there again, but I should have known better.  It's all just particle board and cheap veneer.

I mostly love Ikea for decorating on a dime.  I have 4 large rugs from there, some blinds, and other small items like plants, candles, vases, frames, and artwork.  

Overall, it's a little too contemporary/modern style for me to do an entire room in Ikea (like the display modules), but a piece here and there....definitely!

Our latest purchase was a small square kitchen table, two kitchen chairs, and a small unfinished bar stool.  I sawed a few inches off the legs of the bar stool, stained it to match my nice end table, and use it in our living room as a laptop stand b/c I like to sit on the couch and multi task (read: watch TV) while I'm on the laptop.  I'm such an idiot, I painted my chairs red to match my red microwave, only to realize that those chairs were available with a red paint finish!

I must say, their website REALLY sucks!!!  It doesn't even have 1/4 of what is in stock at the store.  If you want to get an idea of their stuff, order a catalog.  

The other thing I like is that they carry the same things forever.  They don't have totally new lines every season.  Last Christmas I saw this holiday candle holder I wanted, but didn't buy it.  My mother in law went a few weeks ago and bought it for me.  It's also pretty universal.  I picked out everything in the catalog beforehand and we go to two different Ikeas (Schaumburg, IL and Canton, MI) and they always have the same things, everything you see in the catalog. 

My Ikea stuff:

The table, chairs, and rug

The "Serengeti" artwork on the wall, the artwork frames, the curtain hanging over the window (I like it dark when I sleep!), and a rug on the right side, which you cannot see)

The area rug, computer stand, and fake animal skin basket on the bottom of the TV center

Both book shelves and the rug the dog is sitting on

 

 I buy food at Ikea.   It's the only Swedish food place I've found in Toronto.

I've never actually gotten anything at IKEA, but I do get their catalog and love their stuff.  I don't live in an apartment, but my house is fairly small (ranch style) and the closets are small, rooms, etc. so IKEA, always gives me ideas of what I can do.  Just haven't actually done anything!  lol  The nearest IKEA to me is a good 40min. or more away and it's through a busy section, especially around this time of year.  So, maybe come spring, I'll take another run over and see what new things they got.  Congrats, you got a lot of stuff for little $$.  Doesn't that feel good?

I have sooo much stuff from Ikea.  I think my entire living/dining room is done in Ikea stuff, aside from some art and knick knacks.  I've got a leather sofa and matching chair, nesting coffee tables, rug, floor lamps, TV bench, dining table and chairs, computer table, cd rack, shelves, and on and on.  I feel a bit like I'm living in some sort of mass produced pod.  I bet I can go into the show room and see my living room set up almost exactly.

My dogs like to hang out under my computer desk too!   

I love Ikea. We have one in Northern Virginia, and I lived less than a mile away from it. Everything in my house except my couch is from Ikea. And I mean everything. 

Janet808

The nearest IKEA to me is a good 40min. or more away and it's through a busy section, especially around this time of year.  So, maybe come spring, I'll take another run over and see what new things they got. 

Oh, you HAVE to go!!!  The two we go to are 2.5 and 3.5 hours away!!  The best was when I went with DH and a friend and somehow fit a queen sized bed, a queen sized mattress, a 2" mattress pad, the 7' book shelf, area rugs, large artwork and frames, and a bunch of stuff my friend got all in my mom's car!  That was an interesting trip home. 

 ikea has some great, well made items, and some that are totally rubbish. as long as you can sort it all out , i belive there are plenty good values to be had

Nice decor Liesje! Ikea is pretty new in the Bay Area, I remember when they opened their first store here. I had never heard of them so I didn't know what all the fuss was about but we had to check it out. It was MOBBED for months! I don't remember how long it took us to get into the parking lot, but it was a loooong time. I've bought rugs, office desk lamps, plants, the dog cabinet in the garage, accent type stuff there, never any major furniture. The quality isn't the best, but at those prices who cares?

Before Ikea we had Scandinavian Designs. http://www.scandinaviandesigns.com/ It's like a high class Ikea but without the housewares. They just have furniture, rugs and lamps. Their leather couches are decent quality, not nearly as good as my Macy's ones, but at about half the price.They have terrific modular office furniture and bookcases at great prices too. In our home office (hubby is self employed as a general contractor) we have corner desks and storage cabinets from Scandinavian Designs that wrap around 3 walls, a really efficient use of space. The wood furniture is veneer over particleboard but again, at those prices, who cares? I've bought a ton of stuff from SD - in our breakfast/family room the couch, the rug, the breakfast table, and the bookcases are all from there - almost everything is this picture:

I like the style of Scandiavian furniture, it's clean and simple so it coordinates with other things really well. 

I love IKEA.  I like to go through their kitchen and outdoor stuff. I got a set of 12 juice glasses that hold about 8 oz. for $3.99 and I never leave there without stopping at the market and picking up some frozen Swedish meatballs and a few envelopes of their gravy mix. In fact, that's what I gave the boys for dinner tonight - Swedish meatballs w/gravy over rice.

Joyce

i love IKEA. i'm an interior designer and a lotta people always assume i'm anti-IKEA for that reason, but i like the simplicity of their designs and i think the whole do-it-yourself thing works pretty well. yes, it's cheap and not exactly top quality, but that doesnt mean it's bad. not everyone can afford designer furniture (including me). i always buy all my stuff there. it's so convenient.. also i like their space saving ideas. awesome!

Liesje

I picked out everything in the catalog beforehand and we go to two different Ikeas (Schaumburg, IL and Canton, MI) and they always have the same things, everything you see in the catalog. 

I love IKEA.  When I moved into my first apartment, I outfitted my kitchen with a lot of stuff from IKEA.  My school also uses IKEA's lighting, furniture, and other stuff that we creatively find uses for.  :) 

Liesje, I have two IKEA's that I can go to, but I really like the Schaumburg one.  You should let me know when you are going there again...we can meet!  lol

Sue