Need input!!! IKEA: who has shopped there? are the cabinets OK

[yellowdogintexas]

I am seriously considering IKEA kitchen cabinets when we do our do over.

anybody have them? Have you even looked at them in the store?

any and all comments are welcome and thanks in advance.

gotta go eat my oatmeal now

[commander bunnypants]

1. I know a girl from Germany who swears by it

CB

[Kali]

7. heh, funny - I know a girl from germany who says it's crap.

I have no opinion or experience, just thought that was funny.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. I like IKEA. I've bought a number of furniture items

and some cabinets that I haven't put together yet. They looked good in the store.

[emmajane67]

3. They have some nice stuff and some crap stuff.

Choose wisely. They cut corners. It's okay for some things.

I've not seen many major furniture pieces from there in real life but you may end up paying less but paying more later when you have to replace them sooner than you may have otherwise.

Then again you may not.

[LostinVA]

16. Nope, Consumer Reports rates their furniture very highly

I've had "major" furniture pieces I bought there years ago, and it's in terrific shape.

[Kerrytravelers]

25. Nope- well, kind of.

I've bought stuff there. Some of it is crap that falls apart, and other pieces are wonderful and hold together quite well. It really is hit or miss.

Couches- no. Beds- not the best. Storage units, cabinets, etc I've had some very nice pieces.

The stuff I put together lasts better than the stuff I don't.

[Whoa_Nelly]

4. Some links re: IKEA cabinets

A recall/replacement:
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/recalls04/ikea_cabinet.html

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml04/04222.html

A forum thread re: IKEA Cabinets:
http://ownerbuilderbook.com/forum/messages.aspx?ID=2169


Bob Vila's take on them:
http://www.bobvila.com/wwwboard/messages/22051.html

[Tyler Durden]

5. Good stuff on the whole...BUT

I redid my entire kitchen cabinets for less than a thou, solid maple doors, interiors veneer. And I didn't have to assemble them...(big plus). Of course, I did the counter tops myself, of ceramic tile and grout (figured into the thou). Largely a snap, one weekend job.

Lowe's.

[conscious evolution]

6. A friend has IKEA kitchen

Easy to install,looks good and ,at 1 year old,seems to be in good shape.
He did say you want to go with the higher end stuff,though.

That is something that I have noticed there.THeir cheap stuff is eXTREMELY crappy while their higher priced merchandise seems to be of a very high quality.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

8. i like ikea metal furniture better than the wood furniture

the wood warps and gets all funny..

[Momgonepostal]

9. I have know experience with them but,

I know someone who works in the kitchen department at the new IKEA in Round Rock. Is that the one near you?

[yellowdogintexas]

13. Fort Worth, actually nt

[Taverner]

10. Ikea: Cheap stuff at rock bottom prices

It's great to decorate your first apartment, or a college dorm.

But if you expect it to last, think differently.

The stuff has maybe a 2 year shelf life

[LostinVA]

17. I've had stuff 10+ years, and apparently you haven't been there

in a while. They have cheap stuff all the way to very nice stuff. CR rates them very high. I have friends and family who bought stuff there and it's still in great shape. My sister bought pieces of furniture in Germany the first time they went over -- that was 1989. They still have it.

The company also treats its US employees terrific.

[Taverner]

24. Nothing wrong with Ikea

They're a good company, and they make good stuff.

I liken them more to Old Navy - they make stuff that isn't really meant to last (and their commercials confirm this) for the right price that you would pay for something that wasn't built to last.

I still have all of my Ikea cabinets and they do hold up. Their cooking equipment, however, doesn't really last long. No tears shed tho - I paid next to nothing for it.

[Kerrytravelers]

26. I've had the same experience.

We don't have kids playing on the furniture and no large pets.

It really depends on what you buy there. We have a ton of their furniture, but often, it doesn't survive a move from one apartment to another in great condition.

[lavenderdiva]

11. you might want to try the DU group-

DIY, Home Improvement & Crafts Group. Here's a link: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=287

they have all sorts of home improvement threads, and a lot of very informed DUers who might have experience with IKEA cabinets there... Just an idea :hi:

[liontamer]

12. their cabinets are good, but not meant to last more than five years

in my opinion. you might not want to redo your house with them if you plan on staying there for awhile. Great however for a rental

[LostinVA]

14. Am going there FRiday actually, for cabinet hardware and a dresser

Great stuff, and the company treats its employees GREAT.

If it wasn't for IKEA, I wouldn't eb able to buy furniture...

Two coworkers have bought cabinets there the last year -- they are very satisfied. We would, if we had a bit more money.

[Rabrrrrrr]

15. I suggest you see them in person first.

I have a number of things from IKEA - I love the stuff, I love the store. BUT: and this is insanely important: IKEA sells A LOT of stuff that is JUST SHIT.

Anything you are considering buying from IKEA, buy it in person. See it, feel it, touch it, know it.

I would NEVER, EVER, EVER buy anything from IKEA from the catalog alone. ONLY after seeing, touching, feeling, knowing it in person would I buy anything.

[LostinVA]

18. They redid all their cabinet stuff in the last year or so

They are really concentrating on the "interior decorating/planning" stuff. THeir cabinets are tres nice, especially the "Shaker" line.

[Rabrrrrrr]

19. I don't doubt it! But I'd still check out a design in person before buying.

[LostinVA]

20. Oh, I would, Too!

They have a neat computer program that they use to help you with layouts, etc.

[MNDEM2004]

21. We are thinking about redoing our kitchen

We are wondering about the quality of the products and how much money is needed to redo a kitchen.

[yellowdogmi]

22. I would rather have my

teeth pulled with no anesethia than go to that place. I have been there on the weekend and it is like a warzone. But they do have good furniture.

[bridgit]

23. some of the stuff they have looks good price-wise, but when you pick...

through it and find that balance between price, style & design you'll be pleased is my thought; hubby is big on design and what he refers to as 'joinery', and so the stuff we picked up we (he) assembled at home and it's holding up very well, go for it :thumbsup:

[ThomCat]

27. Some of their stuff is amazing.

And some of it is shoddy.

You just have to be careful what you get. If you have an IKEA showroom in your area then definitely go and check the stuff out first.