Wait, you like Ikea? Please explain...
Austin Storm | Homepage | 06.19.07 - 12:59 pm | #

Yeah...why is that a good thing?
Jeff S. | 06.19.07 - 2:01 pm | #

So what is wrong with Ikea?

I like to think of their stuff as affordable aesthetics. I generally like the clean Scandanavian/monderist style that they promote.

I suppose one could dissaprove of the "fake" materials that they use, but much of their stuff is actual wood.

We own a metal loft bed and a computer desk from them and they function really well.

What are your criticisms of Ikea?
The Native Tourist | 06.20.07 - 9:39 am | #

1. It is overly
Jeff S. | 06.20.07 - 12:34 pm | #

Sorry,I guess haloscan does not like html.

I see Ikea as “Geography of Nowhere Furniture”.
http://tinyurl.com/3a68tz

1. It is overly sterile in its aesthetic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauhaus

2.It lacks any evidence that a human was involved in making it (ie no
workmanship of risk).
http://tinyurl.com/3cdtls

3.It is not well constructed in terms of materials or joinery.
http://tinyurl.com/2uk5e3

Do you see it as furniture that will develop a patina and be passed down from generation to generation? What would Ruskin think? :-)
http://wrf.ca/comment/article.cf...m?ID=49& size=15
Jeff S. | 06.20.07 - 12:39 pm | #

I have no problem with the Bauhaus/modernist aesthetic (which I believe truly is an aesthetic). I am not sure I would want an entire house full of modernist furniture, but I find that it (often) mixes well with other furniture.

We are blessed to have many hand-me-downs and heirloom furniture in our house which is wonderfully crafted and in good shape. If we were to try to buy this stuff on our own it would be way beyond our means. (I suppose if we were extremely patient/diligent and "lucky" we could collect this caliber of furniture through garage sales at an affordable price.) I see the offerings of Ikea as supplementing what we have. It offers decent, reasonably functional, aesthetic and finished furniture that families of modest means can afford. Will it have the finish, patina and long lasting value of hand-made furniture? Of course not.

I think a good strategy is to spend money on one or two really fine pieces of furniture (a dining room table, for example) and mix them with other kinds of furniture that are more affordable and aesthetic.
The Native Tourist | 06.22.07 - 8:56 am | #

They make very useful simple wooden picture frames though.
pss
peter smith | 06.24.07 - 10:52 am | #