I made this!
I have had an allen key in my hand again. I suppose it is a prerequisite of moving house. When we moved from a furnished, rented flat into our first house back in 1997 I found myself on my hands and knees a lot, assembling a small catalogue's worth of Ikea furniture with pornographic-sounding names. It was cheap and handy and presentable and we lived quite near Croydon. Also, all snobbery aside, I liked Ikea furniture. I still do. Ikea has its downsides - the tyranny of their lightbulbs being the most obvious, the fact that normal mattresses don't fit their beds, and their shops can be strength-sapping when they're busy. (Also - new thrill! - they now charge 70p if you want to use a Visa card.) But one problem I've never had with Ikea is putting the stuff together. In fact, I love putting it together! I find the instructions clear, and I've never had a missing screw or piece of dowell. Today, I assembled this ...
... in 50 minutes flat. (Actually, it started out flat, but ended up, 50 minutes later, bathroom chest-shaped; width: 40 cm; depth: 40 cm; height: 125 cm.) It's called an Aneboda. I like the ones that require not just the allen key, but also a selection of screwdrivers and a hammer. Last week, I assembled this ...
... in about 10 minutes. (It's only four bits of wood, but still.) It's called a Mikael. In neither case did I end up stressed or confused. In both cases, I ended up with a nice piece of furniture that cost remarkably little and which I didn't have to have delivered. I don't mention this so that you are impressed by me - although I am impressive - but to dispell the myth that Ikea furniture is difficult to assemble. It isn't. And you get a free allen key with every purchase!
This is not intended as advertising for the Swedish store. There's much nicer furniture out there in the world. But not having erected any for so long, I'm infused with enthusiasm for their methodology. I've never eaten their food though. I rather suspect you have to assemble it yourself.
posted by Andrew Collins @ 2:32 PM
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7 Comments:
Well I've aten at Ikea! Can't really remember it as I was about 8 and bored out of my mind walking round with my mum and dad! Don't know why I felt the need to mention that!
We carted our Ikea Lillehammer bed half way across the world only to discover the removal company had managed to lose a vital bit. The loss was further compounded by the fact that Australian Ikea doesn't sell Cal King-size. With a bit of bodging I put the bed back together and now we endure nights of uneasy sleep waiting for it to collapse.
And another thing. Brits seem to love Ikea - the Perth, WA store is always full of expats. Accents from hither and thither.
PS We've got a three-drawer Aneboda - I'm sure it took me more than 50mins! I'm impressed with your skills Andrew.
We still have some of the Ikea bits that we purchased on 1990 in their store on Long Island NY.
It survived the trip back to Dublin and still does what it says on the tin.
Oh the meatballs with the gravy, cranberry sauce and those chips - I'd have this as my last meal if I was on death row. Everyone should try it at least once.
How strange! I wrote my blog yesterday on the exact same thing! I constructed a triple-doored Ikea wardrobe today by the name of Aspelund.
we have an aneboda too. We keep loo roll in ours.
Ikea in Cardiff is a vast store of wonder and I think we were under its spell at the time of purchase.....
Regarding Ikea food:
I'm usually suspicious of food such as their (veggie) hot-dogs that have been in such close proximity to their meat hot-dogs.
Do ILVA sell bacon? I'll have to boycott their store in Lakeside, Thurrock.
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