ikea

While we were living overseas we bought an IKEA sofa because it was the only furniture we could get immediately. It moved with us from Prague to Hong Kong, held up nicely, and when we returned to the US we gave it to a security guard at our apartment complex and he is still enjoying it. I would give it good marks in the price/value relationship.

thanks! Im glad to hear it. with budget being a little tight i am hoping to hear some good reviews here.

movinnup1- yes the brooklyn ikea is the one you can get to by ferry.
i had some ikea pieces and while not a sofa i was very happy with the items i purchased. i would highly recommend the store and their products, excellent value all around. and i think everyone has SOMETHING from ikea at one point in their life!!
good luck!!

RE2009--is there also a shuttle that goes to the brooklyn Ikea from bpc?? I thought I saw a shuttle with a placard reading IKEA--or maybe the shuttle takes one to the ferry?? Do you know?

I have never bought a couch. However, we own various wall units, a loft bed, bookshelves, kithen cabinets, etc.

Many years ago i would agree that some of their things were not great, but over the years they have improved on all that. whether they are sourcing elsewhere who knows.

I am about to move and redo a kitchen and will be using the cabinets again from ikea which are much better then 7 years ago the last time i did this. Also buying a refrigerator from there because they are made by whirlpool and guaranteed for 5 years.

Also had a contractor tell me he buys a lot of ikea things for the hardware in the packages as where they source them from had you bought the actually brand it would be 3-4 times as much.

And while i do not own a sofa, i do now people who do and they have no complaints.

My apartment is filled with IKEA stuff...couch, loveseat, bookcases, dresser, etc. and I am happy with all of it. We have the EKTORP sofas which are surprisingly compforatble and the slip covers are easy to machine wash.

I'm a big fan of the Swedish Maze of Death and its products, and don't consider them shoddy. I think that reputation comes either from the cognitive dissonance that its prices inspire, or the fact that everyone looking at pieces -- especially tables -- in the showroom feel the need to give them a shake to see how sturdy they are. This loosens up the bolts, and Ikea management is too stupid to re-tighten them nightly.

All that said, some of their lower-end sofas seem a bit "bony", meaning you can feel the frame through the armrest padding ... and that's called "bad".

One word of warning about the water taxi to Ikea in Red Hook... I have never gotten sea sick in my life, but when I was on that water taxi to the Brooklyn Ikea, I came close. I thought it was going to be a leisurely, calm boat ride, but the boat was bobbing up and down very dramatically. I could not wait to be off it. Maybe it depends on which boat you get, but I was on a small water taxi and it was very, very rough. Would not ride it again.

"Maybe it depends on which boat you get, but I was on a small water taxi and it was very, very rough. Would not ride it again."

Maybe it also depends on what you ate that day, how much sleep you got the night before, what shape your immune system was that day, etc.
Actually anyone can get sea sick at anytime and on any level of "stimulation" to do so.

Come to think of it, the water might have been especially choppy due to the fact there was an air show by the British Red Arrows over the river while I was on the boat. The planes were flying very low over the river and doing all sorts of flips and maneuvers. It was beautiful to watch. There are some videos of it on YouTube. Here is one of them - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbGO1BBWt_A

wow thanks guys, i am very pleased to hear such good reviews. i do have a couple of things, (nightstands, & a couple of tables, what a PITA to put together, but they sure do look nice!

Look into Cerrito sofas - various dealers in tristate area. A little more $ than Ikea, but not much more. We've had our washable slipcovered sectional for 12 years. U.S. made (CT).

also do they have installers? some of their shelving units look just as nice as bo concepts, at a fraction of the price! can i go there with a measurement of a wall that i'd like to create a wall unit for and they would be able to help me + recommend an installer? i looked at their online planner, looks like it's pretty decent tool

There planner works fine. I designed a new kitchen and some things in the bedroom.

I believe they have installers they recommend, but you can find people on your own also if you are not inclined to build yourself.

All their stuff is easy to build it just takes time. I normally call in favors and have a few people help out and put everything together.

I have a white bookshelf from Ikea (about $60) that looks fine, after 3 years. One shelf fell, and Ikea sent me replacement shelf pins immediately. Good customer service.

Also have a white unit from West Elm ($400) and it's the worst garbage I've ever gotten. Using a damp cloth leaves black fingerprint marks. Called them, they said, sorry, nothing we can do.....you're only supposed to use a dry cloth. The piece is so shabby it can't be touched with a wet cloth without the paint coming off?!!

Next time I'll get Ikea!!

ok so i'm going! where do i catch the ferry?

The ferry is near the tourist area of South Street Seaport. If you go to the Seaport and walk west on the path towards the Stated Island Ferry terminal, you'll see it. There is a sign that says Ikea Water Taxi. Conversely, go to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal and walk east and you'll get to it that way too. On your way back to Manhattan, something that is fun to do is to take the free bus shuttle to the Brooklyn Bridge stop, and then walk over the Bridge back to Manhattan. There are LOTS of amazing community gardens in Red Hook with great names (I think one might actually even be called "The Amazing Garden"), so if you have time, you can also walk around and explore. ENJOY!

You can also catch a free bus at the PA Bus Terminal that will take you to Ikea in Elizabeth.

thanks! i have been to the one in Elizabeth many times, wanted to try a different ikea. does the ferry stop at south street seaport AND south ferry closer to battery park city at southferry/whitehall subway stop?

Pier 11: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Pier+11%2Fwall+street+pier&sll=40.706799,-74.004121&sspn=0.014347,0.038581&ie=UTF8&hq=Pier+11%2Fwall+street+pier&hnear=&ll=40.705124,-74.007254&spn=0.007174,0.01929&t=h&z=16

ok so i go to ikea and i am blown away by their wall units, custom closets. Has anyone have experience with their wall units Besta/Framsta and installaton?

The closets are really awesome. One of the few things I miss from the house in the 'burbs, my custom-walk-in-ikea-closet that I put together myself. Our oldest pair of Billys are about to turn 8 years old, have been moved 4 times including one out-of-state move, and are still holding up very well with tons of books on them.

thanks beam!

I didn't wind up buying anything so I can't comment on quality, but I found the store maddening to navigate and the staff of little help.

But if you make the trip out there, save some time to enjoy the park they built, it's gorgeous. Also, walk over to the ballfields where the vendors are and try some papusas and fresh juice. They're delicious.

I never buy new when used will do and I have a second-hand leather couch from Ikea that is just dreamy.

Regarding the water taxi to Red Hook - how bad is it really? I need to go and am wondering if I should go alone or could i make this a fun adventure for the family (3 & 1.5 y.o.)? Definitely don't want sick children.

If your worried about the boat, then take the free bus to Ikea in Elizabeth.

UWS: Ikea is fun for kids, but Paramus seems to be better set up than Red Hook. I usually Zipcar there.

We made the trip last night. Girls loved the "boat" ride, seeing the statue of liberty, and the ice cream. I got what I needed. Success!