The List And Discuss your IKEA Collection Thread

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We just spent $800 there the other day and I spent the weekend assembling two enormous bookshelves, a coffee table and a 6-drawer dresser, and I loved every minute of it.

Currently we have:

GROGGY barware (mixing cups and strainer, bottle opener, stem bottle stoppers)
The silverware with the clear plastic handles that have little bubbles in them
A hurricane glass with some kinda frosted design on it
A plain wooden bread box
Some white plates and bowls and stuff
A couple of rugs that are showing their age after 2 years
A futon mattress cover
Shower curtain

and for furniture etc:

HOPEN 6-drawer dresser x2 (medium brown + blue)
MESNALI mirror
MARKOR coffee table slash TV stand (dark brown)
MARKOR bookcases x2 (dark brown)
zebra pattern NOMINELL desk chair (they have recently discarded this in favor of leopard spots)
EFFEKTIV 4-drawer unit on casters

I have just taken apart my trusty old JERKER computer desk with all its attendant swivelly shleves and height-extension top shelf (they now make the JERKER in black finish! where was that 2 years ago fuckers) for probably the last time, as it has receded into bachelor obsolescence (I no longer live by myself, therefore atrociously-ugly-yet-functional-furniture) is not an option. The JERKER is an incredible well-designed item for its purpose, but it really is just like a computer geek version of Dad's old garage workbench. It just inspires you to pile shit everywhere.

I am quite overjoyed at the discovery of ACTUAL REAL TASTEFULLY FINISHED WOOD items at IKEA (the MARKOR stuff) since I had been under the impression for the longest time that all their furniture was basically either unfinished yellow spruce or laminated fiberboard. While assembling the bookcases I couldn't help but wonder what kind of dolt wants to pay Crate & Barrel twice the price to take all the fun out of new furniture in the first place.

Upshot: The tools they give you are goddamned useless. Everybody should already have their own hex bits and small ratcheting screwdriver, in my opinion, because if you don't you're quite fucked.

I almost forgot the white wine glasses! They are blue and have little DALEK bumps all down the sides. IKEA glassware is tight. The lamps, however, all look like shit.

Over to you.

― TOMBOT, Tuesday, 31 May 2005 19:01 (twenty-one years ago)

All's I got is a coffee table. It's really nice, tho.

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 19:02 (twenty-one years ago)

I have an Ikea cd shelf/tower that Sarah's mom got out of the dumpster at her apartment complex.

― n/a (Nick A.), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 19:03 (twenty-one years ago)

I have SKANARE

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 19:08 (twenty-one years ago)

The nearest IKEAs to me are in Houston, Texas and Woodbridge, Virginia, although they are apparently building one in Atlanta. Hence why I'll never own anything from IKEA.

― Ian Riese-Moraine's exploding hamster zeppelin! (Eastern Mantra), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 19:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I have a chair that I hate every minute I spend sitting in it.

― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 19:15 (twenty-one years ago)

According to their site the SKANARE line does not even exist anymore but they do have SKANKA pots and pans!! hot.

― TOMBOT, Tuesday, 31 May 2005 19:22 (twenty-one years ago)

I was just there this weekend. I bought a funky spatula and my mom bought new dishes and glasses and loads of other stuff.

― Je4nne ƒur¥ (Je4nne Fury), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 19:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Nothing, because they won't get the store in Frisco open. Most of it the furniture looks kind of crappy, based on the website. Faux-metal and non-wood laminate finishes are a dud. I'll have to check out this MARKOR stuff.

― milozauckerman (miloaukerman), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 19:26 (twenty-one years ago)

i have loads of stuff, too much to list here. just about everything in my kitchen.

i think some of the Lighting is okay, the sofas, however, are shit.

― jed_ (jed), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 19:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, I hate my stupid couch.

― Je4nne ƒur¥ (Je4nne Fury), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 19:33 (twenty-one years ago)

the one they just built in houston is silly, how big it is.

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 19:42 (twenty-one years ago)

What couches do you guys have? We were looking at the EKTORP loveseat this weekend too but I dunno if I trust any of that stuff. Why do you hate it?

I realized this weekend that IKEA's secret is to take all the kitchenware and all the children's furniture and to put it at the VERY END, when you're already tired and moving slow, like the candy and the magazines at the checkout counter of the grocery store. You go in thinking "I'll just see what kind of bookshelves they have" and leave with $70 in silly-looking glassware and a circular bathmat made from recycled chuck taylor high-tops. If that stuff were up front, you could blow by it and ignore it all completely, but no, they're smarter than you are.

― TOMBOT, Tuesday, 31 May 2005 19:42 (twenty-one years ago)

what's wrong with the couches? some of them looked nice, and were comfortable. but seemed way too expensive.

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 19:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, Tom, you've seen exactly how much IKEA stuff we have, buggered if I can remember the names of it all though. Some of it is of course habitat which is simply IKEA for those who can pay a premium to buy from a town centre store, not from an out of town crinkly tin sheds. Also the products are by designers with names. PS wardrobes are he most obvious things, and I can remember the names of them.

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 19:48 (twenty-one years ago)

I got the cheapest couch available. Do not do this. It is bad.

― Je4nne ƒur¥ (Je4nne Fury), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 19:49 (twenty-one years ago)

I hate my chair because although it seemed comfortable in IKEA, it was really uncomfortable the second I got it home. I suspect their couches are the same.

― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 19:49 (twenty-one years ago)

well that's a mean trick.

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 19:50 (twenty-one years ago)

the single most explosively cross moment in my entire life came while i was on the phone to some manager at the ikea complaints department. i transcended white-hot rage and passed through to a plateau of devastating fury. it kinda worked: my missing bookshelf turned up at 8.30am the next morning.

when i was in the shower. i could hear the fuckers in the close while i frantically towelled my parts. "cunt's not in. fuck it. back to the warehouse, then." [clang, vrOOOOm etc]

i hate ikea with an unholy passion. that said: i do like my blow-up chair thing. and, er, this sofa.

― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 19:53 (twenty-one years ago)

We spent a fortune when we first moved in, if memory serves me correct about £1500. Had to go back several times, as usual, as they never had everything in you wanted to make up your set, or there were brackets missing etc. We've got one 10 mins drive away now, luckily we can't buy anything expensive as we don't have any room left.

This is my favourite ikea furniture we've got
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v413/chrisnvicky/bug.jpg

Walnut veneer, NORDNES (with trouser rack and two shelves) but I didn't see it in there last time I went.

Lots of BOND in the front room - 3 bookcases, with one glass door, 6 drawers and 9 cd insert shelves.

4 ARON chairs, and a JUSSI table that folds out and turns to double the table size.

Another BOND bookcase in the spare room along with PAX BORKENES wardrobes - one double one corner unit, three drawers and one shelf divider

Also a bit of furniture supposed to be a shoe rack that we use as a coffee table, we bought a KRISTER computer table that is now in the loft as we ran out of room, and so many bits and bobs that you pick up from the MARKETPLACE. That is where IKEA really make their money.

― Vicky (Vicky), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 20:20 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd never buy any expensive furniture from IKEA, like couches n stuff.

I recently bought a small computer desk, cute (and cheap as hell) little side table, and a few kitchen utensils.

― Mil (Mil), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 21:37 (twenty-one years ago)

ikea is good for everything BUT couches. you can get an actual nice designer one for just a couple of hundred more that will not make you feel like you are sitting on Gumby.

I have kitchen cabinets, a tv stand, pint and half pint glasses, metal wall shelves, plants, trashcans, clocks, and a long counter that our turntables are on. their bathroom towel racks are good also.

― h0t h0t h0rsey (Carey), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 21:42 (twenty-one years ago)

oh and some lights.

i did a lot of shopping for home products in all kinds of stores and ikea always had a more streamlined, simplified version of what I wanted but for 1/4 of the price.

― h0t h0t h0rsey (Carey), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 21:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Tom, the EKTORP sofa isn't too bad for the price. Je4nne is correct in advising not to get the cheapest available. Try to get something with zip off upholstery if possible, and generally speaking 100% cotton fabric covers are not going to last too long.

I used to work at one - the floor models they use are the same ones that you buy. However, sitting down in anything at IKEA will feel much better merely because you've been walking through the showroom. That and the piped-through cinnamon roll smell.

― Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 21:48 (twenty-one years ago)

The gf and I are quite fond of refering to our freestanding kitchen unit by its name, Talbo, as though it were a living thing.

― Hurting (Hurting), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 21:54 (twenty-one years ago)

The silverware with the clear plastic handles that have little bubbles in them

i have these. my ex worked at ikea so i've a lot of bits and pieces from there. i have three tables and a desk, and four bookshelves. and a handful of chairs. and a bin. and possibly more things.

― shine headlights on me (electricsound), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 22:08 (twenty-one years ago)

i got an awsome shelving thing, it takes my telly, all my books and when I got a computer and needed a desk for it, I found one that fitted in with said shelving system, jenius!

― lukey (Lukey G), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 12:16 (twenty-one years ago)

It's all about the BILLY, people. Add a few more shelves and you have a good CD booshelf if you've got a large collection.

All I have in the UK is a KLAS desk, which was crazy cheap (like 15 quid or something), and has suited me just fine. I like the little red plastic footrest/shelf thingy too.

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 12:32 (twenty-one years ago)

I used to be hot on that NIKOLAS shelving action too.

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 12:34 (twenty-one years ago)

**Try to get something with zip off upholstery if possible,**

And look forward to hours of fun trying to get the fucking covers back ON! We've got one of those nice roundy low-backed chairs (don't know the IKEA-speak for it - costs about £80) in cream and the every so often wet and muddy cats fight on it. Trying to get the zip halves close enough together to zip up requires superhuman strength.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 12:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Is BILLY those tall towers that hold about 150 CDs (10 compartments high, each holding about 15 CDs)? If so I have 6 of these in a line -they look great. Also they're CHEAPER every time I go to IKEA. Cheaper! I think the first one I bought was about £50 and the last two were abt £28.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 12:38 (twenty-one years ago)

From what I remember (it's been ages), BILLY are actually big bookshelves that aren't really meant for CDs, which is why you have to add shelves. Properly shelved-up, each BILLY (I had 2), holds around 800 CDs.

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 12:59 (twenty-one years ago)

then it's not Billy that I have..

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 13:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I have Billy! Billy is awesome.

― Autumn Almanac (Autumn Almanac), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 13:09 (twenty-one years ago)

there have been whispers of an IKEA coming to St. Louis (in the city no less!) but I'm not holding my breath. So my nearest one is the chicagoland one, and thus I've never been. Perhaps I can get my parents to drive their truck up there with me and get things for THE BABY, that would really be ace.

― teeny (teeny), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 13:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Dr C, that's probably some kind of LACK product innit? I loves me some LACK, lovely square tables.

Bubbly-handled cutlery: BUBBLOR. Oh IKEA product names.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 13:11 (twenty-one years ago)

We have a big green collander called HUVNITS or something.

― Autumn Almanac (Autumn Almanac), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 13:13 (twenty-one years ago)

I want a BRA wardrobe. Just for bras.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 13:13 (twenty-one years ago)

GROGGY barware (mixing cups and strainer, bottle opener, stem bottle stoppers)

haha omg i'm getting those for a party at my house soon!

our house is made of IKEA. LACK tables, LEKSVIK bookshelf, GOLIAT cupboards and (?)desk (they discontinued my particular one i think), PAX wardrobe, OPPLI tv stand, PALLBO footstools, EFFECTIV shelf, BENNO cd tower, TOVIK bed, SULTAN matresses, SOVA sheets, some kind of quiltcover and pillowcases.

and a LACK shelf that isn't used (too big for my room)

i like how there's a computer desk called JERKER. salút porn

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 13:49 (twenty-one years ago)

x-post.

Could be LACK, Liz. No wait, Ken has it - it's BENNO.

The bra wardrobe would be BUZZOM or HOOTER. Or TITTO.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 13:52 (twenty-one years ago)

oh i forget all the kitchen stuff! whatever the plates! ORDNING cutlery stand, IRIS tea towels, KONCIS garlic press, wine glasses

oh and picture frames!

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 13:53 (twenty-one years ago)

oh and we have a standing light too, i have no idea the name.

the only thing in the house which isn't ikea - leather chair from argos (cheaper - but actually quite shite), leather sofa (from my old house), my little clothes drawer (my mum bought it), 2nd computer desk (from my old house)

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 13:56 (twenty-one years ago)

SO PRECIOUS

http://www.ikea.com/PIAimages/16065_PE100371_S4.jpg

― teeny (teeny), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 14:18 (twenty-one years ago)

I almost forgot, we have the red one of these:

http://home.gwu.edu/~tombot/BAM.jpg http://home.gwu.edu/~tombot/BAM2.jpg http://home.gwu.edu/~tombot/BAM3.jpg
http://home.gwu.edu/~tombot/BAM4.jpg http://home.gwu.edu/~tombot/BAM5.jpg http://home.gwu.edu/~tombot/BAM6.jpg

― TOMBOT, Wednesday, 1 June 2005 17:33 (twenty-one years ago)

http://image.lotte.com/lotte/images/goods/005026005/7277528_p.jpg

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 17:54 (twenty-one years ago)

I only have a bookcase and a CD tower, they are blue.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/jel2004/ikea.jpg

― jel -- (jel), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 17:58 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't have one fucking goddamn thing from Ikea.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 17:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Not even a catalogue tracer? It's the best thing they do!

― jel -- (jel), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 18:00 (twenty-one years ago)

If they made just one piece of marginally gnarly furniture I might be interested. But I always live in apartments with sloped floors and chipped kitchen tables. Any Ikea piece would look as if it had dropped in from some snooty other dimension. I can appreciate the "pragmatic" factor, especially of the shelves but c'mon people. They're SHELVES. They don't have to be a brand name, for Christ's sake.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 19:14 (twenty-one years ago)

But Tracer, lots of IKEA stuff is great for sloped floors! The NIKOLAS stuff had these wheel-adjustable floor pegs for uneven floors, which every damn place I lived in Toronto had.

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 19:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Point of information, please. Is IKEA pronounced 'icky' or 'ikey'?

― Aimless (Aimless), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 19:22 (twenty-one years ago)

eye-key-ah

― teeny (teeny), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 19:33 (twenty-one years ago)

fuck ikea, it's all about ARGOS, people! Just got me one of these babies:

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10001&catalogId=3151&langId=-1&searchTerms=8757726&go.x=5&go.y=13

fuckers won't let me remote link the pic, but damn, it holds 760 CDs. We need three, I think :-(

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 19:41 (twenty-one years ago)

i only order from mcmaster-carr:

http://www.mcmaster.com/

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 19:44 (twenty-one years ago)

"in Pine Effect"

― jed_ (jed), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 19:45 (twenty-one years ago)

it's a bit like "in full effect" but smells nicer.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 19:46 (twenty-one years ago)

We discovered that the floor underneath one of the big bookcases was uneven and that the right front foot was actually floating off the hardwood by a little under an eight of an inch, so I took two quarters and jammed them underneath. Now it's steady as can be!

xpost I always wondered where that title came from
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000003RX9.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

― TOMBOT, Wednesday, 1 June 2005 20:14 (twenty-one years ago)

three years pass...

the JERKER is OOP!!! RIP web 1.0 furniture http://adam.pra.to/content/jerker/

― El Tomboto, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 21:31 (eighteen years ago)

none of those links work.

― s1ocki, Thursday, 5 June 2008 05:52 (eighteen years ago)

anyway

http://youtube.com/watch?v=LTClsWzUHBo

― s1ocki, Thursday, 5 June 2008 05:52 (eighteen years ago)

BILLY bookcases
MORDO bedside tables
SMOODAY collander
OWNNGE serving spoon
JERGINS bendy chopping boards
OBAMA cheap-arse glassware

― Autumn Almanac, Friday, 6 June 2008 03:06 (eighteen years ago)

Over half the lights in my house came from IKEA, I think.

― joygoat, Friday, 6 June 2008 04:06 (eighteen years ago)

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