Again, posting a century late, but, hey, what ya gonna do when you're a "newbie."
I LUV IKEA!!!
Where I live I can get to several of them. There's one right in town, and there's a couple on my way to & from driving to my mom's (2 hrs). I never, ever pass up an opportunity to stop and peruse an Ikea if I see one. Never. I get some of my very best inspirations there.
I luv the whole experience. The lights, the colors, the textures, the people, the shiny, shiny I-luv-to-rub-my-face-against-it stainless steel cabinets & tables. I feel everything I walk by as though I were still 6 years old, all the while the ghost of my mother's correcting whisper chastising my wandering fingers. But I don't care. I'm a grown up, a "big people" now and I can touch if I want to. ~:p
I spend hours just looking.... and re-thinking just about everything I see. I'm scoping for the secret thing that lies within that odd looking wall hanging key kiosk. The thing that I can re-purpose, re-make, re-design or hack. I adore using things for something other than they were intended, and Ikea proves to be the quintessential source for just that love of mine. (BTW - that key kiosk - such a silly idea anyway - became a FAB hack-of-a-wall-light fixture for my desk.)
All hail Ikea!
~:0)
jacquilives
July 06, 2008
Ah! As can be the case with some IKEA virgins, the first time isn't always the best.
I've lived both far from an IKEA and now, deliciously close. In all honesty, there is a science to shopping at IKEA in order to ensure your sanity and maximize your IKEA shopping pleasure:
NEVER go to IKEA on a weekend. EVER.
Mondays/Monday evenings are always the best time
If you're going to eat at the restaurant, head over a bit early to avoid the typical noon rush
ALWAYS check stock online prior to going, especially if there's a specific item you're look ing for
Learn the short cuts. There are "doorways" to help you cut through the various departments
: )
incubus_of_habit
June 11, 2008
"How often do you go?"
About once a quarter. The 'marathon' trips where you spend a saturday kind of become unecessary post-college. These days we stock our kitchen with items, the occasional piece of furniture (the only place we could find a nice looking, somewhat modern, NOT poofy sectional sofa that would fit down our basement stairs) and whenever we need to pick up b-day presents for kids b-day parties.
knitrat
April 24, 2007
Any self-respecting Ikea shopper / DIYer needs to know about ikeahacker.
awesome inspiration :)
as a treehugger trying not to consume mindlessly, I feel a certain amount of eco-guilt buying new furniture, but sometimes you don't have a choice. Ikea is the best option for many reasons. The company is very progressive surrounding household toxins and polutants, for example they don't use ScotchGuard (linked to hormonal cancers) or harmful chemicals in their particleboard. Also, because everything is flatpacked the carbon footprint of shipping is less than other companies. And most importantly, because you put it together yourself, it is easily hacked :)
coffeequeen
March 01, 2007
Hahahah! I loved reading your experience and thank you for sharing it! We live about 4 hrs from the nearest, and I had actually asked hubby if we could book a bed & breakfast near one, just so we could go....rethinking that now. I think he would be too unimpressed to enjoy his time with me if he had to drive 4 hrs for that kind of experience. I think I'll just take the weekend alone to hang with him and make the Ikea jaunt a summer day trip with the kids.
lilybee
March 01, 2007
One of the interesting phenomenon of the Ikea in north London is the sheer volume of arguing couples. Seriously, there are hundreds of them, and all demographics are represented.
They may start out civil, but, by the kitchen section, one member of the couple will invariably be sighing from the depths of their soul and the other will be grinding their teeth and using that tone of voice that implies barely-checked aggression. By the time you hit the marketplace it's open warfare. I have actually heard a women shouting "I don't want a bloody wine rack... WHERE ARE THE KNIVES????", oh wait, possibly that was me... Has anybody else observed this or is it exclusive to London?
jasimar
February 28, 2007
Walking through Ikea makes me wish I'd gone there first when I was a teenager and let it help me through college years and my first apt. It's -really- great quality/price for starter situations, imho. Now, I go for sport.
I'm one of the lucky ones to live 20 min from 2 seperate Ikea locations and there's even another one an hour away. Going on a weekday is the only way my DH will come with. Wish I could have warned you, it's SO not worth it on the weekends.
I'm a true Ikea junkie though. I go at least once a week. I eat frogurt and marvel at the showroom. Then I make it to the check out line with a cheap set of glasses or a new duvet cover. For me, it is best as a casual shopping experience.
Oh and you don't -have- to go the route. There are shortcuts everywhere if you know where you're going. Follow the arrows.
abmatic
February 28, 2007
You can actually skip the showroom all together and just go to the marketplace. In my local IKEA the door is next to the elevators when you first walk in and looks almost hidden, but its there! Its the perfect way to shortcut and buy some more cheap wine glasses after you break all of the ones at home...
DIY Maven
February 28, 2007
Oh, Chris, Chris, Chris...you NEVER EVER go to IKEA on the weekends. NEVER! If and when you do go again, go mid-morning during the week and it'll feel like a different store. Seriously. You'll find a good parking space; there won't be any long lines to the bathrooms or the checkouts. AND there might even be an associate around if you need some help! BTW, if I remember correctly, we went to IKEA last Easter Sunday...now THAT was a great day to shop!
Sydney
February 28, 2007
Sorry your experience wasn't better; definitely avoid IKEA on weekends and holidays. I hate shopping in general so I have to psychologically prepare myself for the IKEA experience, and am always exhausted (mentally and physically) when I depart. I have to drive about 80 miles to get to the closest store to me; I envy friends in Atlanta who live close enough to just run over for candles for parties, etc. Enjoy your new table at least!
qtpuh2tme
Again, posting a century late, but, hey, what ya gonna do when you're a "newbie."
I LUV IKEA!!!
Where I live I can get to several of them. There's one right in town, and there's a couple on my way to & from driving to my mom's (2 hrs). I never, ever pass up an opportunity to stop and peruse an Ikea if I see one. Never. I get some of my very best inspirations there.
I luv the whole experience. The lights, the colors, the textures, the people, the shiny, shiny I-luv-to-rub-my-face-against-it stainless steel cabinets & tables. I feel everything I walk by as though I were still 6 years old, all the while the ghost of my mother's correcting whisper chastising my wandering fingers. But I don't care. I'm a grown up, a "big people" now and I can touch if I want to. ~:p
I spend hours just looking.... and re-thinking just about everything I see. I'm scoping for the secret thing that lies within that odd looking wall hanging key kiosk. The thing that I can re-purpose, re-make, re-design or hack. I adore using things for something other than they were intended, and Ikea proves to be the quintessential source for just that love of mine. (BTW - that key kiosk - such a silly idea anyway - became a FAB hack-of-a-wall-light fixture for my desk.)
All hail Ikea!
~:0)
jacquilives
Ah! As can be the case with some IKEA virgins, the first time isn't always the best.
I've lived both far from an IKEA and now, deliciously close. In all honesty, there is a science to shopping at IKEA in order to ensure your sanity and maximize your IKEA shopping pleasure:
: )
incubus_of_habit
"How often do you go?"
About once a quarter. The 'marathon' trips where you spend a saturday kind of become unecessary post-college. These days we stock our kitchen with items, the occasional piece of furniture (the only place we could find a nice looking, somewhat modern, NOT poofy sectional sofa that would fit down our basement stairs) and whenever we need to pick up b-day presents for kids b-day parties.
knitrat
Any self-respecting Ikea shopper / DIYer needs to know about ikeahacker.
awesome inspiration :)
as a treehugger trying not to consume mindlessly, I feel a certain amount of eco-guilt buying new furniture, but sometimes you don't have a choice. Ikea is the best option for many reasons. The company is very progressive surrounding household toxins and polutants, for example they don't use ScotchGuard (linked to hormonal cancers) or harmful chemicals in their particleboard. Also, because everything is flatpacked the carbon footprint of shipping is less than other companies. And most importantly, because you put it together yourself, it is easily hacked :)
coffeequeen
lilybee
jasimar
Walking through Ikea makes me wish I'd gone there first when I was a teenager and let it help me through college years and my first apt. It's -really- great quality/price for starter situations, imho. Now, I go for sport.
I'm one of the lucky ones to live 20 min from 2 seperate Ikea locations and there's even another one an hour away. Going on a weekday is the only way my DH will come with. Wish I could have warned you, it's SO not worth it on the weekends.
I'm a true Ikea junkie though. I go at least once a week. I eat frogurt and marvel at the showroom. Then I make it to the check out line with a cheap set of glasses or a new duvet cover. For me, it is best as a casual shopping experience.
Oh and you don't -have- to go the route. There are shortcuts everywhere if you know where you're going. Follow the arrows.
abmatic
DIY Maven
Oh, Chris, Chris, Chris...you NEVER EVER go to IKEA on the weekends. NEVER! If and when you do go again, go mid-morning during the week and it'll feel like a different store. Seriously. You'll find a good parking space; there won't be any long lines to the bathrooms or the checkouts. AND there might even be an associate around if you need some help! BTW, if I remember correctly, we went to IKEA last Easter Sunday...now THAT was a great day to shop!
Sydney
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