I just bought my dd (college apartment) a dresser from Ikea. Like someone else said, it was a pain to put together. One thing I didn't like was that the instructions are all pictures, and some of the pictures were so vague we couldn't tell which way some were supposed to be placed. After it was completely finished, including nailing the cardboardish type thing on the back, we saw that we had put one of the little boards facing the wrong direction. One major problem I have with Ikea (and this wasn't with the dresser) was their customer help. When we were putting a chair together, we noticed that a part was broken. We had just started on the chair so I called the number, told her what chair, what part, etc. and the woman told me there would be no problem getting a replacement part sent out. By then we were at dd's apt, almost 100 miles from the store. So we finished putting the chair together, hauled the boxes to the trash, and put the little wrench thingy where dd could find it when the part came in. Two days later I got a phone call that they couldn't send out that particular part, and did I want to return the chair (uh, no, plus we already threw the box away) or have a partial refund. I actually wanted to return the chair, but I would have to drive our truck to dd's apt, then haul the chair down a flight of stairs, then make the trip to the store, and then come home again, almost 300 miles total. So we took the refund and dh will try to figure out how to repair it. My advice would be to buy your furniture & then dig out the instructions, and if there are any parts that are of significant value or size (i.e. too expensive for them to ship to you) dig them out & examine them before you drive home. As for me, I will never, never, never, never, never buy furniture I have to put together again.

I didn't use doors at all - it's a walk in closet. When we were designing the layout of the bedroom, it was a choice between putting the closet "in" the room (and therefore needing doors and having to be neat) or putting in a narrow but walk-in closet. We opted for the latter, so we could hang stuff on the walls. Besides the PAX units on one long wall, we have bars with hooks (also IKEA) on one of the short walls - we hang backpacks and hats on the hooks) On the other long wall, we have shoe shelves, two little IKEA stools (to sit on to put your socks on), laundry basket, jewelry storage (a necklace thing and one of those pocket contraptions from the Container Store), and trash basket. The other short end is the entrance. I'll send pix along tonight.

As hubby, tongue-in-cheek, likes to say about me, "there's nothing too good or too cheap for her". It really depends on the WHAT! Before we spend on a product, service or an experience, we like to consider what will we gain by making the spending decision. We like to be well-informed consumers (especially when something is a large amount of money) and will choose from both categories - old and new. I wonder if this is a right-brain / left-brain question ;?) I'm more of a logical thinker than emotional, so that accounts for many of my choices. I couldn't care less if someone sees me in a $2 (on sale) white T-shirt from Wal-Mart worn for working out (I even have some I bought for $1 at Wal-Mart). A $300 work-out outfit doesn't make me sweat any less or perform any better. While I'll spend a LOT for SmartWool athletic socks which feel better and out-wear cheap cotton socks any day, and I buy quality shoes for working out, and for everyday use. We had a lovely antique bedroom suite, but we got tired of the upkeep, drawers that stick, and the size of it, so we donated it to a Hospice auction. Replaced it with minimalist furniture we purchased from Aldi at a fraction of the price they were selling the same stuff for at the expensive furniture store down the street. -Grainlady

I've been planning it since the moment we bought the house...okay the truth...I've been planning parts of what I wanted my kitchen to look like before we even bought a house. :) We've had some set backs. But finally it's happening! A little less than 3 years from purchase. Cabinets coming, Bodbyns, range hood already here and hardware ordered. Pretty much set on a sink, undermount, zero radius SS. Struggling with faucet style though. Main counters will be carrara and putting a bit of butcher block for the coffee station counter. The 4' work table from Ikea will be my "island", so we'll be picking that up this weekend in the black. Flooring is at Lowes waiting for pick up. Pergo Engineered hard wood in Cresent Walnut. We will be putting it everywhere but bathrooms and bedrooms. The last few days I've been thinking about paint color. Need to sort out lighting. I'll have my brother add some can's to the ceiling. But other than getting rid of the '79 box...not sure what I want. Backsplash probably 3x6 white subway with either matching grout or very light grey.