mad_machine wrote:
for some bizarre reason.. I enjoy going to Ikea in my saab.. it just seems right
Used to go in my 900 classic two-door hatch. The rear space with the fold-down seats was exactly the right length for knocked down bookshelf boxes.
My wife is a home stager and interior designer. We move Ikea stuff like the big LACK bookshelves from house to house all the time. However, anything that costs less than it should (like a $75 desk) will not last long in that environment.
A couple of months ago, my wife needed another desk because we had four houses worth of furniture out at the same time. She chose a $75 MICKE desk because it looked right and was cheap. I built it on site and told her we should sell it when she's done with it because it wouldn't survive multiple moves without looking like hell. After that house sold, we put the desk up on craigslist and sold really fast it to a nice couple for $55.
We had some stuff on ikeahack as well because my wife likes to mess around with the look of things.
Here in the LA area, people sell used IKEA furniture all the time at a fraction of its original price. Bought an extinct TYLOSAND sofa used in order to stage a very '60s house. After that house sold, we sold the TYLOSAND for a profit.
To add to what everyone else mentioned, think of IKEA furniture as raw materials and make something more out of it. Also, assemble it with your driver drill with the clutch turned way down. You'll knock a piece out in 20 minutes.