IKIA Furniture Catalog

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18
Jan 09

Home Furnishings Furniture

sectional furniture Interest in furniture and design has grown incredibly in Sweden recently and today are just as important as the clothes we wear in terms of how we express our personality. Similar to clothing fashion, Stockholm is at the leading edge of furniture and interior design.

In Sweden there has been a great increase in interest in furniture and design, to the point that it is just as important to expressing personality as the clothing one wears. Similar to fashion in clothing, Stockholm is a leading area for furniture and interior design and since it is one of the most modern cities in the world there is certainly something to be found here for everyone, regardless of budget or style.

Furniturebox.se is a web-based company, which sells expensive furniture (mbler) pieces at lower prices. In central Stockholm they have a 500 sq meter store that offers high quality furniture and a real shopping experience. Bolia, with their New Scandinavian Design concept and handmade furniture is a must-see for anyone interested in design and handicraft. Bolia have a renowned design team and give young designers the chance to join them through the Bolia Design Award.

Ekero Furniture, Stalands Furniture, and DUX beds are big players in the Stockholm furniture (mbler Stockholm) business. Some furniture companies, such as POM (Piece of Mind) ask why certain products that should exist do not, and then answer that question by creating those products.

The Lanna Furniture company has come up with a new line since it participated in the furnishings fair recently where it collected views and requests from its clients. The Bromma Furniture firm sells sturdy furnishings crafted in nations throughout the globe, while Carlssons Furniture company brings you well made merchandise from a family enterprise which has three generations worth of experience. GAD, which is headquartered on Gotland, also maintains offices and studios in Stockholm and builds furniture to order.

Any furniture lover visiting Stockholm must goto the SoFo area. Here you will find an assortment of secondhand stores and galleries selling a wide array of furniture. This could include demo pieces, classic furniture from the 50s and 60s, or even Feng-Shui inspired furniture as well. The giant furniture stores, such as IKEA, Mio and EM are represented also.

The last, but certainly not least, thing to mention in any discussion of Stockholm furniture (mbler Stockholm) is the Stockholm Furniture Fair, or the largest gathering of Scandinavian furniture lovers. Particularly notable at the fair is the Greenhouse section, which gathers new designers and international design schools, giving them an opportunity to showcase their work. Another fair that runs at the same time as the furniture fair is the Northern Light Fair, which is the Scandinavian lighting exhibition.

By David E. Williams
Published: 4/16/2008

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16
Jan 09

Hot Tips for Buying Furniture from Auctions

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Purchase of furniture items from auctions could land you very good items at an extremely reasonable cost. But you need to know the tricks of the trade to enjoy a good deal. Read on to learn more.

Buying furniture from auction houses can both be fun as well as some intelligent shopping. But you always have to remain on your toes to avoid getting burned at the hands of dishonest auctioneers. The cheap furniture often available at hundreds of auction houses across America can be enticing. However, before getting involved in auction purchases, educate yourself about the pros and cons of buying furniture from bidding spots. This article aims at providing some useful tips that can make your auction-purchase experience a happy one. Read on if you are an auction purchaser or a potential candidate.

The most important step on your part before going ahead with making bids is to inspect the furniture items on sale. While inspecting, you need to check three things: (a) suitability of the furniture as to the dimensions required; (b) physical inspection by going through the article carefully and thoroughly to detect any kind of crack or fracture in the body, protruding elements, dents, working condition of add-ons like drawers and normal wear and tear; & (c) inspecting about peculiar features of the furniture. For instance, if Amish furniture item is on sale, you must know the typical characteristics of Amish made furniture. Amish furniture is generally heavier than it appears. And the most vital distinguishing feature about Amish oak furniture is that the entire item is constituted of not more than 3-4 pieces. Similarly, if it’s branded furniture, look out for the signature or label for authenticity.

The second tip to remember is “when in doubt, leave out!” In other words, if you are not sure about the quality and authenticity of the item being sold, don’t bid for it.

Don’t get carried away by the reserve price being too low or too high. Always make a thorough market research to acquaint yourself with the price range of that particular piece of furniture. If you come across an expert on that particular furniture item in the auction house, nothing like it! Ask probing questions about the quality and suitability of the item on sale. No one evades from a friendly talk at a public place.

If there are lots of items on sale, insist on a catalogue if it’s available. Jot down the winning bid price for each item for future review. A catalogue will also assist you in arriving at a quick decision about the furniture item to purchase.

Make yourself aware of all the rules, regulations, terms and conditions regarding the auction sale. Payment options, reserve price, buyer’s premium, sales tax etc. are some of the important considerations before bidding.

Ideally, never be the first one to bid! It might just be possible that no one is actually interested in the item. So, you can expect a below reserve price cost for the item if the terms and conditions of the bid allow for such an arrangement.

If a person is repeatedly making counter-bids just to jack up the prices, beware and observe his movements and eye contact with the auctioneer to verify. He may be hands-in-glove with the auctioneer planted just to do exactly this kind of a job.

Auctions could be a great place to strike a good bargain, but remember! Here also, the rule is “Caveat Emptor!”

By Sarika Kabra
Published: 3/18/2007

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16
Jan 09

Children’s Bedroom Furniture

Here is a basic ‘how to select’ guide for your children’s bedroom furniture.

A good parent nowadays is one who gives his or her children space. Not just mentally, but also physically. Children look forward to their own bedrooms just like a teenager would look forward to getting a new set of wheels. So, you have to make this occasion special.

The first time you are selecting your children’s bedroom furniture, and every time thereafter, you have to make sure you have selected right. Here are some tips and pointer for you to make your selections so that you do not go awfully wrong.

# 1: Make your children part of the shopping.

Contrary to what you might feel, children do grow up very quickly to pick up things for themselves. If your child can walk, then it is time enough to take him or her to the furniture store. Or go online shopping, for that matter. Show your child all the options there are, and ask his or her opinion on it; so that if things go wrong later on, you will not be hard pressed to ask for a replacement. When your cutesy-pie says that he or she doesn’t like the furniture in the bedroom, you can always say, ‘But dear, it was you who selected the furniture, wasn’t it?’ And it is only fair that your children make the choices. For, after all, it is they who are going to spend time in that room.

# 2: Select a blend of beauty and durability.

With children’s bedroom furniture, it is not just the beauty that matters. Children’s bedroom furniture looks very beautiful in the store display, but let it live for a week in your children’s bedroom and you will know what I mean. Hence, your primary focus should be on the strength of the furniture. You must literally probe under the covers and check for the strength of the nuts and bolts and the knobs. Remember that your children are going to do all that anyways!

# 3: Do not buy all your children’s bedroom furniture at once.

This is a very valuable tip, do not ignore it. Parents in their zeal of getting everything for their adorable darlings go all out and buy every bit of furniture they can stuff into their children’s bedroom. But, it won’t work that day, I tell you. It would be wiser to get the most important bits of furniture first, and then buy the remaining pieces in small installments. Like, get only a bed and a wardrobe first. When your child gets tired of them, get a study table. When that becomes stale too, get a chaise. That way, you are stretching out the bedroom’s novelty value for a longer time. And it is good on the wallet too.

# 4: Pay attention to basic safety.

It goes without saying that children’s bedroom furniture has to be as safe as it can be, but you will be amazed to see how many of them actually can harm the baby. Many of them have sharp corners, jutting ends, steep edges and such other perils. Check and check again whether the furniture you are selecting has any such thing. Even if you actually have to turn the furniture over to check for its safety, do it.

# 5: Plan for the future.

The cute little toddler beds do look very appealing in the stores and you might be so very tempted to spend the obscene prices on their labels and get them for your kid. But, it does not pay to be so emotional when you are buying children’s bedroom furniture. We all know how time flies, and soon enough your kid’s limbs will be poking out of the toddler bed you purchased no more than three months ago. When that happens, what would you do, except dump the bed and get a bigger one? At another obscene amount? However, if you are a careful planner, you will think for the future. Get a size that will be suitable till your child grows. Let the furniture become a part of the child’s growing up. You can also select customizable furniture that you can keep adding to as your child grows up.

It is difficult to get the right kind of children’s bedroom furniture. Adults will make do with whatever they get, but children are brutal. We all know of kids who will simply refuse to go to bed because they do not like the print of the bed sheet. Try to avoid that possibility. Get the kind of furniture that your child likes, and which is suitable for him or her. You will have a healthier (and a less grumpier) child that way.

By Neil Valentine D’Silva

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16
Jan 09

Buying Furniture Online Can Be Safer Than Offline - free article …

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Furniture sales have historically been a major area of consumer complaints. Luckily, there are a number of reasons why buying furniture online may be safer than offline.

No Fast-Talking Salesmen

Many complaints say the furniture salesperson made promises that were not kept. In reality, furniture salespeople don’t always know what they’re talking about. The actual fulfillment of furniture orders is often handled by a different department, or even a different company.

Not having salespeople hanging around makes online furniture shopping lower-pressure.

It’s All in Writing

By their very nature, online furniture stores have to put a lot of information in writing. The written policies regarding shipping, warranties (if any), and customer service will almost always be easy to access. (Hint: look for links to written policies at the bottom of each web page.) The fact that everything is written down gives the online furniture store much less wiggle room to change the terms of the deal.

Tips:

* Save or print out the web pages that describe the furniture you have ordered and the web pages for important policies and guarantees (which may change after you order), along with any confirmation pages or emails. That way, if you ever have a dispute, you have a firm basis to make your case.

* If the web page describing the product does not have a model name or product number, make sure you get those at checkout or at some other point before paying. Make absolutely sure you are ordering the furniture you want to order. As with an offline furniture store, you will have to pay to return any merchandise you ordered by mistake.

* If you do speak with a salesperson on the phone, don’t undermine the paper trail by accepting promises over the phone. Ask the web address for the written policy, or for a follow-up email outlining any promises made.

Photographic Evidence

Almost as good as online furniture stores’ paper trail is their photograph trail. A common consumer furniture complaint against offline stores is that the furniture that was delivered did not look like the model in the showroom. With online furniture stores, you are buying based on a photograph. You can save the picture onto your computer in case the delivered furniture does not meet expectations. If you make sure the model name or number is included on the order form at checkout, you can also double-check what the model looks like by going to the manufacturer’s website.

Less Delivery Wiggle Room

Late shipments are another common complaint against offline furniture stores. Furniture frequently arrives as much as one to two months later than salespeople indicated.

Online furniture stores will generally ship directly from the warehouse within a few days to a week of your order. Once again, you can easily check the written shipping policy for more exact information.

Another great thing about online furniture stores is that they are generally using third-party delivery companies. If you get the name of the delivery company while ordering, you may at least be able to check with the delivery company itself in the event of a late order. A third-party delivery company makes it a little more difficult for the store to claim the furniture is in transit when it never shipped.

Credit and Finance: Fewer Traps

According to the website consumeraffairs.com, furniture stores’ financing deals are notorious for breaking laws regulating credit and loans. That 0% interest deal might not be as great as you thought if it comes packed with expensive penalty charges. Or you might find that the qualification requirements are too high for most people to get the low rate. Worst, since it’s the furniture store that’s making you the loan, you’ve essentially already paid them before taking delivery of the furniture. If you later find out your furniture is going to be delivered unacceptably late, you may have a hard time canceling your order. The situation is no better for cash.

Online furniture stores generally do not offer financing. Instead, they accept credit cards. If a furniture store does not deliver the merchandise as promised and will not resolve your complaint, your credit card issuer may be able to help you in your dispute. In an extreme case where the furniture does not arrive or arrives in bad shape, your credit card provider may be able to force a refund.

Better Business Bureau’s Convenient BBBOnline

Many consumers who have complaints with a furniture store turn to the Better Business Bureau. But if the store is not a member of the Better Business Bureau, the Bureau can do little to help. Contrary to common belief, the Better Business Bureau is not a government agency and cannot enforce judgments. The Bureau primarily works to resolve disputes between consumers and its member businesses.

With online furniture stores, it’s easy to check for Better Business Bureau membership. The store should have the BBBOnline logo displayed prominently on the order page. Click on the logo to be taken to the BBB.org web page for that store. The web page should say that the store is a member in good standing.

With the BBBOnline, the Bureau’s ecommerce program, you can dispute a sale without having to go to the local Bureau where the store is headquartered, anywhere in the US.

Of course, if you’re too trusting and don’t look for written policies, Better Business Bureau membership, or save receipts, you can still be snookered by online furniture stores. But you could also be taken in by offline furniture stores. For a careful shopper, online furniture stores make it much easier to dot all the I’s than it would be offline. The experience is straightforward, low-pressure, and mostly in writing.

In short, while you should always be careful, online furniture stores make being careful a lot easier.

About The Author

Joel Walsh is a freelance writer. Check out this website for a Better Business Bureau-member seller of discount bedroom furniture: http://www.bedroomfurnitureusa.com

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16
Jan 09

Find Cool Teen Furniture your Teen will use and Like - free …

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You will find that when it comes to teen furniture there are a number of excellent items available that will not only adequately hold your teens stuff, but also can match the theme or dcor of their room. There are many great teen furniture ideas waiting you online at great internet stores like www.yourkidsdirect.com and www.stacksandstacks.com.

There are some aspects you will need to keep in mind when selecting teen furniture and include:

* Budget: how much you want to spend

* Room size: measure your teen’s room before you purchase anything, as you will not want to cram the room too tightly with objects, making it difficult for your teen to move around.

* Room Theme: Are there any teen furniture items that you can find that go with the dcor in your teens room. For instance, is their dcor modern, trendy, futuristic or Victorian?

To give you an idea of how you can shop for teen furniture to keep with the theme of your kid’s room, as well as preserve space, the following is an example of the type of furniture you can use to go with a teen boy’s room that is based on space, or futuristic dcor:

Beds - To create space and to go with a galaxy themed room, choosing a loft bed with a simple metal frame like the ‘Monster Twin Study Loft Bunk Bed’ at Your Kids Direct really provides the room with a spaceship feel. Best of all, the modern teen boys will love it as there are no extra frills. Loft beds are like a bunk bed in the sense that they have a similar structure but there is only one bed which is on the top, and an empty, open space is left on the bottom where a desk can be placed, freeing up plenty of space in the room.

Storage Furniture - The best teen furniture used for storage is a bookcase. The reason is because bookcases take up little space and hold plenty of objects and books. However, another great storage idea is stackable bins on a moveable cart. In addition, if you visit Stacks and Stacks you’ll even find a steel storage locker which will go great with the futuristic theme.

Chest of Drawers and Nightstand - You will likely be able to find matching teen furniture, or furniture that comes in a set. To keep with the futuristic theme, the best color for furniture would be black or metal.

Desk - When choosing the ideal desk for your teen, the best choice is to always go with a computer desk. This will ensure that your child is provided with the right space and support they need to study comfortably. Try to keep the desk in the same theme and colors as the rest of the teen furniture.

Fun Furniture - Great furniture you can add to your teen’s room include bean bag chairs, pillow chairs, entertainment center for holding a TV and/ or stereo as well as movies and CDs.

Remember, regardless of the teen furniture items you select for your teen’s room, you will want to find furniture that is comfortable, can be easily accessed, and is something that you know they’ll use. With that in mind, know how much space and the budget you have to work with, and make sure you share furniture decisions with your teen based on this knowledge. Lastly, don’t forget to explore your online options and have fun!

About The Author

Michael Holland is the creator of http://www.kids-rooms-and-crafts.com and http://www.home-decorating-made-easy.com. His web sites offers lots of FREE decorating tips and ideas for decorating your home.

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16
Jan 09

Childrens Furniture: Must-haves For Your Kids Bedroom! by Rony …

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The bedroom is a place of sanctuary for most children. It can be a place where they can think freely, explore their creativity, discover hidden talents, read, or listen to music. That’s why, as a parent, it’s important to choose children’s furniture that your child can totally make use of.

Maximizing Space and Imagination

Make use of every bit of space available in the bedroom. Children love to store a lot of stuff, so there should be a place available for all your child’s knick knacks. Setting up a shelf or toy storage while maximizing space will ensure that your child’s bedroom is safe and comfortable.

Imagination is the element that will make your child’s bedroom fun and cheerful. You’ll be amazed at how your child can help if you’re lacking in this area. Let him or her describe the preferred colors, themes, and designs. Once you get the idea, finding the right children’s furniture and other decorations your child prefers should be easy.

More Than Just A Bedroom

Because we’ve established that children do more than just sleep in their rooms, you should consider buying children’s furniture that will fully support your kid’s activities.

Most children enjoy drawing and coloring or playing with dolls or action figures. Set up an activity area where your child can comfortably get into the action. Educational rugs or play mats are ideal for this part of your child’s bedroom.

If your child loves books, then setting up a reading nook is the way to go. This area needs to be inviting and comfortable. Provide a cozy chair or a soft rug and overstuffed pillows. Make sure that the lighting in this area is ideal. Keep a book shelf within your child’s reach.

Provide a shelf or cabinet that will serve as a display area. Your child will be able to show-off artwork and favorite pictures. This could also be a place to where trophies, collectibles, and other memorabilia are placed.

Hassle-free Storage Solutions

Keeping children’s bedroom clutter-free is a challenge every parent must face. It’s just a matter of finding a storage solution that is convenient for you and your child. In order to prevent children from just shoving everything under their beds when asked to clean their rooms, the arrangement below could work wonders:

1. Install a corkboard for photographs and artwork.

2. Provide a cabinet for display items. You can opt to have one built-in or you can pick a good one in children’s furniture stores.

3. Place attractive wicker baskets in corners where your child can dump his or her toys, books, and dirty clothes.

4. A roomy closet is recommended for easy storage of your child’s clothes, shoes, and sports gear.

Useful Tips When Out Furniture Shopping

Don’t immediately purchase an item that catches your or your child’s eye. Children’s furniture should be durable and can withstand a child’s constant flow of activity. So make sure you check the credibility of the manufacturer and the kind of material a particular desk or chair is made of.

Don’t give in right away to whatever your child wants. Consider the space of the bedroom as opposed to the gigantic shelf your kid is pointing at. You also need to determine how often your kid will be using a particular piece. When your decision is a no, make your child understand why.

Before going shopping, check out magazines and the Internet for photographs and decoration schemes. This will provide you a clearer view of what you want to get.

Buy at trusted children’s furniture stores. Do your homework and compare prices in advance to get the best deal. After all, you only want nothing but the best for your child.

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16
Jan 09

1974 Ikea Chair, One Careful Owner, Not for Sale

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He is famous for eating in cheap restaurants, flying economy and going on the bus. But yesterday Ingvar Kamprad - the reclusive billionaire founder of the Swedish furniture giant IKEA - took his reputation for thrift a stage further when he revealed that he has been using the same chair for the past 32 years.

Despite being the world’s fourth richest man, Mr Kamprad said he was very fond of his Japanese-designed Pong chair and saw no reason why he should replace it. “I’ve had it for 32 years. My wife thinks I should get another one because in the meantime the material has got dirty,” he said. “But technically it’s as good as new.”

Mr Kamprad told the Swiss magazine Bilanz that all his furniture came from IKEA - apart from an “old chair and a beautiful standing clock” inherited from his mother. Earlier this year Fortune magazine estimated Kamprad’s wealth at $28bn (14bn), behind only Bill Gates, the US investor Warren Buffett and the Mexican industrialist Carlos Slim.

The 80-year-old Swede lives in Epalinges, above Lake Geneva, and is Switzerland’s richest resident, according to Bilanz. Yesterday, however, Mr Kamprad said his personal fortune had been exaggerated. “It doesn’t have anything to do with reality,” he grumbled. IKEA was owned by a charitable trust, he said.

Mr Kamprad started from his garden shed, selling watches, pens and Christmas cards. He stumbled on the flat-pack furniture idea in the 1950s when an employee took the legs off a table to fit it into a customer’s car.

Nowadays, IKEA is the world’s biggest furniture retailer, with 237 stores in some 35 countries and territories and a forecast 2006 turnover of 17.7bn (about 12bn), still basing its business on that inexpensive self-assembly furniture.

But Mr Kamprad does not believe one of his three sons - all of whom work for IKEA and take three-year stints as chair of the executive board - will go on to take charge of the business. “The problem is being head of a business is hard work. You can keep it up for eight to 10 years, at most. That’s why I believe - or I should say, I hope - that none of my sons goes on to be the boss.”

Mr Kamprad visits his stores 25 to 30 times every year, in different parts of the world. He still travels on discount tickets. Recently German security guards refused to let him in to collect an award for entrepreneur of the year after he arrived by bus.

“It’s always fun,” he said of his IKEA visits. “And work should always be fun for all colleagues. We all only have one life. A third of life is work. Without desire and fun, work becomes hell.”

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