Help me furnish my house [Archive]

PvtPyle

03-09-2008, 00:23

Dudes

I have just moved into a new (rented) abode in Alresford, Hampshire. 2 bed detached bungalow, newly renovated inside - smart kitchen and two very nicely finished bathrooms. BUGGER all furniture though, which is an issue for me because I have been at home with my folks so I own nothing.

Intend to start with the bedroom (I have fill in tat for the lounge), and unless anyone can offer a cheaper/better alternative, IKEA will soon have a large handful of my hard-earned monies in their grubby Swedish mits. I rather like their "MALM" range in oak veneer:

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/categories/series/07468/

Anyone else got anything to suggest?

Gnat

03-09-2008, 00:26

I used to have the Malm bed, but i ended up witha constant bruise on my knee from hitting my knee on the edge of the bedframe :D

PvtPyle

03-09-2008, 00:28

I used to have the Malm bed, but i ended up witha constant bruise on my knee from hitting my knee on the edge of the bedframe :D

An inevitable side effect of being bent over it I suppose...

Gnat

03-09-2008, 00:29

An inevitable side effect of being bent over it I suppose...

From turning over in my sleep actually :D

Gnat

03-09-2008, 00:29

plus...

Have you chosen a sofa yet?

:D

PvtPyle

03-09-2008, 00:30

Meh, whatever you reckon ;)

Seriously though, what is the build quality like? I am an IKEA virgin.

Edit: Sofa joke was far too obvious. Nil points.

Gnat

03-09-2008, 00:35

Meh, whatever you reckon ;)

Seriously though, what is the build quality like? I am an IKEA virgin.

Edit: Sofa joke was far too obvious. Nil points.

I think Ikea is ok actually. In my previous house, I had the anneboda wardrobes, and they survived much door slamming and general abuse from me and baby. and they were still exactly the same condition as when i moved out after a year.

When I moved here, we bought a huge big wardrobe, which was much more expensive, and the whole thing fell apart on me after 12 months.

I then ended up breaking a hole in my ceiling trying to get the rest of it apart.

And a hole in my stair carpet trying to get it down the stairs.

I then went to Ikea and bought the aneboda wardrobes and drawers, and they are ok, and have been moved all around my room and stuff numerous times , and used as hiding places by children etc.

Del Lardo

03-09-2008, 02:00

I've had quite a bit of Ikea stuff as have quite a few of my friends and "it does what it says on the tin". Pretty easy to build, the Malm stuff is sturdy and my bed is still going 5 years on despite being moved 3 times (taken apart moved and rebuilt).

One warning, if you buy a spring matress make sure that you do not bend it too much to get it through doorways otherwise the middle will sag badly after a year or so.

lostkat

03-09-2008, 05:54

We also have a Malm bed as do Pickers & Pheebs. We love ours. Solid as a rock. I too bash my shins, but I'm just a clumsy so and so. Our wardrobes are nearly 10 years old now and I bought those from Ikea. They're starting to get a bit rickaty now, but they still work and have had a hard life :p Certainly can't complain.

People slate Ikea, but as Del Lardo says; it does what it says on the tin. Just bought our kitchen from Ikea and it's absolutely brilliant. They delivered everything and it all fitted together perfectly. Really nice quality finish too.

Wryel

03-09-2008, 07:36

Another one for the Malm bed, taken it apart and put back together 5 times, hardly creaks at all ;) I also have a good folding table from Ikea, can't remember what its called but its a beech colour, same as my bed. Very sturdy and has a cool folding mechanism to make it twice size (or half the size depending on your outlook on life).

Knipples

03-09-2008, 07:45

I have the wooden Ikea sofa, and I am currently able to only sit on either end of it, I cant sit in the middle because it is held together with another bit of wood from where it has given way in the middle (insert gag about me being a heffer at your peril ;) )

I have this sofa http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/S09839853 and its the wooden bit on the front which has died.

The wardrobes I have are great though, and have not had a problem with them. And in fairness the sofa was fine for almost 4 years.

Fayshun

03-09-2008, 07:54

(insert gag about me being a heffer at your peril ;) )
Thinks about it, looks at belly, thinks better of it!

Pheebs

03-09-2008, 07:59

Tha Malm Bed ROOCKS!

It's fab for run and flying jumps (although I receive disapproving looks off Picky when I do this!)

Not had the knee problem? Though we do have a HuuUUUuGe fat mattress which means there's quite a height from the mattress to the wood!

It's neat, it's sturdy, the drawers are HUuuge in depth (not like other silly makes which gives you a widgy space to put stuff in) and it was affordable (we were on a budget... though saying that we still are :p :))

I reckon if we had more monies at the time we would have looked at solid oak bedframes buut to be honest... what we've got looks awesome!

I'll find a piccie...

http://pheebeh.googlepages.com/MalmUnits.jpg

http://pheebeh.googlepages.com/MalmBed.jpg

The bed here has a smaller mattress on it... ours now is muchos higher!

I don't mean to brag, I don't mean to boast, but it's like hot butter on some breakfast toast ;) *loves sugar hill gang*

Oh how I wish it was still as tidy as that though :'(

SidewinderINC

03-09-2008, 08:08

I spent the most money I have on my bed, £300 on the frame and then £400 on the mattress, I wouldn't think about spending any less personally - it's where I am for between 7 and 12 hours in a single stretch and I really appreciate a good nights sleep.

Try littlewoods direct as well as Ikea, unless you're going for the top range Ikea stuff the littlewoods stuff is built just as well (if not better) and there's plenty to choose from.

Lomster

03-09-2008, 08:17

Ikea is good for quality and price :)

You can get nice Sofa for 300 with removable covers and they are comfy and you can chuck covers in the washing machine.

Everything you need is under one roof and plates cups etc.... are really cheap :)

Good luck :)

SidewinderINC

03-09-2008, 08:20

I got the 2 seater klippan sofa for £120 with the black cover it came to £140 and it's pretty sturdy, I've washed the cover a couple of times and it still fits (just).

If you need a sofa, and can't get a freebie, it's a good starting sofa - but I won't be keeping mine too much longer (had it since january)

PvtPyle

03-09-2008, 10:00

Thanks for all the feedback guys. Looks like the MALM is a winner! Mummy and Daddy have kindly offered to buy the mattress :D

Wryel

03-09-2008, 13:50

Thanks for all the feedback guys. Looks like the MALM is a winner! Mummy and Daddy have kindly offered to buy the mattress :D

I got the top end Ikea one, its a pocket matress or sumink. Aren't Ikea beds a slightly different size to normal beds? Just a warning in case the matress comes from somewhere else. Like Preston.

PvtPyle

03-09-2008, 14:17

Eugh... Delivery estimate is 17th Sept :/

Pheebs

03-09-2008, 14:54

Make sure your Ma and Papa barter! We got ours knocked down from 700squid odd to 300!

PvtPyle

03-09-2008, 16:00

Jeezy creezy! Was that in store?!

Pheebs

03-09-2008, 16:11

Was at a mattress place near us...

I believe Monsieur Fakeysnakey got one from them too and managed to secure a darn good deal too!

You're not a Southerner though and don't think they're a chain! Boo!

Oi! Fakey! Where are you!?! What's the place called again and is it a chain?! Hmm hmm HMmmMmM?!

PvtPyle

03-09-2008, 16:48

I strongly refute the claim that I am not a Southerner. Just because I am not a West Country mentalist :p I am most certainly still located in the Home Counties!

Pumpkinstew

04-09-2008, 21:03

West Country mentalist

Oaroight, moi babber.

Have a good look at the stuff when it gets delivered, if there is the slightest mark on it phone up and complain right away (with the driver still present). They won't want the cost of having the driver bring it back to them and will offer you a discount....

Or I'm not a cider guzzling, rugby loving west country mentalist.

PvtPyle

05-09-2008, 12:51

Thanks! :)

flump

08-09-2008, 15:28

Wossi

08-09-2008, 16:15

Flump's Ikea Top Tips

*Buy some wood glue and use it.
*Buy yourself a man size drill, and use that to do up the screws.
*If you have to visit the shop, go alone. The scores of arguing couples will show you why this is important!
*NEVER get taken in by the painted corn stalks etc. I mean WHY?
*Get your stuff delivered. Warning, deliveries are only ever done the next working day (IIRC).
*The moment you catch yourself thinking "oh, thats a nice pattern/thats a useful storage solution/I really like that tap" GET THE HELL OUT MAN.

Definately missing the visage smiley here!

I had my mattress delivered on Sunday from Ikea last month. Was a bit weird as A, it was delivered on a Sunday :shocked: and B, I'm fully expecting to be robbed as the 2 blokes that delivered it looked dodgy as anything. :D

Well it was the Coventry store I ordered it from :p

PvtPyle

08-09-2008, 17:00

My first marriage collapsed after we went to Ikea together. Be warned.

Fixxxored. :cool:

Blackstar

08-09-2008, 17:04

My sister works in Ikea, evil evil place too many distracting things that you never actually need but you want anyway.

Wossi

08-09-2008, 20:52

I remember getting lost in an Ikea store once. Was quite distressing as I was on the top floor and trying to find the way down to the car park, but of course their layout means there is no such thing as a straight line so it took me 20 minutes to get out :(

True story.

-J-

08-09-2008, 20:53

Could I be the only person who has never set foot in an Ikea, ever ?

Metalface Mark

08-09-2008, 20:55

Could I be the only person who has never set foot in an Ikea, ever ?

I dont think Bin Laden has either, although no one has probably looked there for him, so i may be wrong.

-J-

08-09-2008, 20:56

I dont think Bin Laden has either, although no one has probably looked there for him, so i may be wrong.

you may be onto something there!

half the reward?

sleepy

08-09-2008, 22:24

Definately missing the visage smiley here!

http://upload.yhack.net/image/5223_visage.gif

Gnat

08-09-2008, 22:33

Could I be the only person who has never set foot in an Ikea, ever ?

I had only ever been once up until a few weeks ago.

Never going again, The place is cursed, Every time I go I end up having a massive row afterwards.

CURSED.

:D

Wryel

08-09-2008, 22:43

Last time I went to Ikea me and my mate had hot dogs and meatballs, (Fnar) and then left. Had no intention of buying any furniture. We thought about having a massive argument in the middle of Kitchenwares but thought better of it and went to the pub.

Gnat

08-09-2008, 22:43

Pumpkinstew

08-09-2008, 23:04

The girlfriend had quite a nasty tumble down some wet stairs in the carpark at Ikea.

She still has the scar on her elbow and refers to the store as 'The Big Blue House of Pain'.

Flibster

08-09-2008, 23:31

I can recomment www.pinesolutions.co.uk

Not the cheapest around, but it bloody solid stuff.

Fayshun

09-09-2008, 01:14

I can recomment www.pinesolutions.co.uk (http://www.pinesolutions.co.uk)

Not the cheapest around, but it bloody solid stuff.
But they don't do meatballs with jam.

Gnat

09-09-2008, 10:06

But they don't do meatballs with jam.

Or that lovely special meatball gravy stuff!

vix

09-09-2008, 10:32

I can recomment www.pinesolutions.co.uk

Not the cheapest around, but it bloody solid stuff.

I can second this recommendation. /strokes bed

They don't do meatballs though.

Flibster

09-09-2008, 10:34

I can second this recommendation. /strokes bed

They don't do meatballs though.

Not even going to mention that the girlfriends brother owns it... ;)

Damn... :D

Oh well, he's getting married on Saturday and needs and the money he can get!