welcome to the Ikea club! :-)

welcome aboard the biggest design secret ;)

It took me a while to get used to the metal drawers but now I prefer them. I even priced some other cabinet lines with the same exact ones, which were an upgrade from wood, just to be able to use IkeaÂs inexpensive dividers instead of paying a premium to the manufacturer.

Another secret is the Ikea as-is dept. I started by picking up doors and drawer fronts so I could see them in my own light and live with the style for a while before making a final decision. Now IÂm grabbing undamaged pieces to use for the kitchen and future laundry room, some as low as 49 cents.

I fell out of love with Ikea 'as-is '...as the discounts in the store where I shop are not the bargains I used to find there.

Those blum manufactured drawer units are a fantastic bargain.

I actually prefer the metal drawers. Just think how easy they will be to clean and no chipping, peeling, scratching. While I'm not planning on using IKEA, they're always there in the back of my mind.

Don't be put off by the metal drawer boxes. Many high-end European cabinet lines use them. Once you get past the initial impression that they look like a file cabinet from the side view you will love them, too.

Be sure to get a sample door to take home - you can buy a small door the regular way but will probably have luck finding one in As-Is. You want to be sure that it'll work for you at home. I was pretty committed to Adel Birch from seeing it in the showroom and photos. Once I got it home, however, it looked totally different and I ended up using a different style.

Have fun! Nicole

You know there is a whole website devoted to fans of IKEA...

Here is a link that might be useful: IKEA Fans Website

funny how every time someone mentions ikea someone else seems to post the link to ikea fans site

lot of interesting things there, i find it hard to navigate and the privacy policy makes me wonder just how "not affiliated with IKEA" they are

stretchad: I find the best time to go is on a Monday or Tuesday night. The weekends are usually crazy, especially if you're near a university and it's the start of a new semester.

I like to take the fam on Friday nights. DH and the kids head over to the kids' department and then go over to the cafeteria for a snack and to play with the playground toys they have there while I wander around the kitchen and office sections.

I love their kitchens and definitely want to use them. Wish I could love their office built ins as much. It would make life so much easier. I can't help wondering why so many contractors and designers in my area are always so negative about them -- except that they all keep recommending that I consider going "custom" with their cabinet guys.

funny how every time someone mentions ikea someone else seems to post the link to ikea fans site

lot of interesting things there, i find it hard to navigate and the privacy policy makes me wonder just how "not affiliated with IKEA" they are

Funny how every time someone mentions IKEA there's a fair amount of negativity from this forum, too. That's exactly the reason that IKEAFans came into being...to give people who appreciate IKEA kitchens and other furnishings a place to go for information, help and respect. And that's exactly why I, and others, post the link here.

IKEAFans is not affiliated with, supported by, monitored by, overseen or is in any other way even influenced by IKEA. It's purely a labor of love which costs the owners of the site a pretty penny every month to keep going. It subsists solely on the kindness and generosity of its members for both financial and technical support and advice. It's one of the nicest places on the web, and I am happy to be able to tell other people who are wanting to learn more about IKEA about it.

There is a definite attitude on this forum about IKEA, and little help or advice is ever offered. IKEAFans offers real help, support and guidance for people who seek it. Simple as that. No need to insinuate otherwise.

"Funny how every time someone mentions IKEA there's a fair amount of negativity from this forum, too."

Actually, I think the opposite is true. It was this site that convinced me to go with Ikea by showing me other options but I donÂt recall anyone being negative towards it. In fact, the tone was similar to this thread, which I think is very positive.

"There is a definite attitude on this forum about IKEA, and little help or advice is ever offered."

Are you wanting people who have no experience with it to chime in and say what? Funny that I never see links there directing people to this site when they have a question about counter or sink choices, where they might get some valuable info that works with Ikea cabinets.

IÂm a member of both places and rely each one for different reasons. ItÂs great that you let people know where they can find out more about Ikea but, I have to say, it is a turn off to see the links pop up here with no other helpful comments other than "go to ikeafans.com".

I'm with Eva on this one. THough I haven't purchased yet, I've posted questions on IKEAFans and gotten quick and helpful responses.

However, I respectfully disagree that I've noticed negativity on this forum regarding IKEA or just about anything. I've found forum members on this site to go above and beyond repeatedly to be helpful, informative, and truthful with their opinions. From my perspective; this forum exceeds any expectations I had about help that is available on the internet. I'm sure as I get closer to the cabinet portion of my remodel journey; I'll find IKEAFans to be equally as specific and helpful with whatever needs arise. I'm very grateful that I've found both these sites. FYI... I found out about IKEAFans from this forum and glad I did.

I have IKEA cabinets and doors in my kitchen and pantry My post was me expressing my opinion

Never considered it anything else nor was I thinking I was going to re ignite a P#%sing match between supporters of the two sites

As to why I question there "not affiliated with IKEA" status is the whole section of their Privacy Policy

part of which

CONTROLLING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
We will not sell, trade, give away, distribute, lease or share your personally identifiable information to or with third parties unless we have your express permission or are required to by law. We may use certain statistical data in order to provide you with pertinent information regarding IKEAFANS and/or offers, products, services or other information from IKEA. We may use your personal information to send you information about the site and its products and services which we think you may find interesting and if so, you will always have an option to opt-out.

Makes me ask

Why is a website using data collected about me to provide me pertinent information about anything other then their own website? the section I find odd is the "and/or offers, products, services or other information from IKEA."

Getting back on point here -- stretchad -- what is jungle jim's?

is jungle jim's that massive market in ohio i read about?

I love trips to IKEA too, but we never seem to get it right. We go there looking for a particular item or two, then our heads begin to spin as we consider a million other possibilities presented by the displays/products. Of course we're never in position to make a decision on the spot, so we just pile up a thousand "what ifs", get the one or two things we'd planned on plus about 12 other things that jump in the cart. Back home we promise ourselves to plan it better next time. Repeat!

- D

sarschlos_remodeler and twoyur - Jungle Jim's is an oddity of a grocery store/market in OH. It is seriously one of the weirdest grocery experiences. But, the selection is AMAZING. It's like a bunch of ethnic grocery stores under one roof. Stuff from Hungary, Norway, Japan, China, India, the list goes on and on. It's even got rare fresh produce that I have never seen in some of the best grocery stores. It also has some random displays - example: the exterior of the bathrooms look like port-o-lets, there is an 8 foot bear (I think) that is animated and dressed up and sings elvis songs. There's a giant swinging Campbells Soup can with arms, legs, eyes, etc. Weird but neat.

That's sounds fun -- a lot like Pike's Place Market in Seattle. If we ever find ourselves in OH, we'll have to check it out.

man, i LOVE pike place. I would say its kinda like that, but more spacious, more 'packaged' things, and less crowded...BUT, unfortunately, no Beecher's mac and cheese like @ Pike Place. YUM YUM YUM!!!

I'm glad to hear that the IKEA store wasn't a let down. Can IKEA and Jungle Jim's be done in one day? Having been to neither, the prospect seems a little overwhelming, but my in-laws rave about Jungle Jims.

i've been wanting to go there to take a look for cabs for the laundry room for our new build but i'm terrified... i can never seem to find my way out of there without hyperventilating. it's a mad house in nj. i HATE going!

kate, go on a weekday between about 4 and 7. It's a completely different experience, at least out here. The employees say it's the best time to go.

Funny, I was at the same IKEA store on Friday night, too. I actually went through pretty quickly because it was just too crowded for me to enjoy it. The abundance of police officers and traffic directors in the parking lot should have been my first clue! I went for the first time last Tuesday evening and it was MUCH more enjoyable. Since the store here in OH is brand new (like 3 or 4 weeks?) I assumed that was the reason for the crowds, but sounds like from others that it is always going to be crazy, at least on the weekends?

This metal drawers hold TONS more stuff than the wood ones.

I took out an Ikea kitchen, and I really, really miss the extra height I got in my drawers because they weren't wood. Ãnd bcs they had side-mount slides.

Yes, Jungle Jims and Ikea could definitely be done in the same day. They are not too far apart from each other. Ikea is in West Chester and Jungle Jims is in Fairfield, at the most a 15-mile trip. Jungle Jims is a once in a lifetime experience and I highly recommend it.