[thewoodies]

What would you buy in Ikea before you move to put in your container?

[Jo Jo]

I bought three double wardrobes, and a couple of big bookshelves. There are a couple of other pieces I wish I'd bought. I have found freestanding wardrobes quite hard to find here in NZ, so I'm really glad I bought mine. A lot of people on here will tell you you don't need free-standing wardrobes because so many houses have fitted wardrobes, and while this is true, I haven't regretted buying my wardrobes for a moment, even though our house does have fitted wardrobes -it just doesn't have enough. Ikea stuff sells really well on trademe, so even if you bought things like wardrobes and then found you didn't need them, I think you'd be able to sell them really easily.

My recommendation would be that if there is any furniture you've always wanted, then buy it before you get here, as once you're here you might kick yourself for not buying it when you could. There is lots of great furniture available here in NZ, but it does take time to find out what sort of shops sell the sort of things you like.

[YouMeAndThree]

I'm going to get an extending wooden toddler bed for our youngest. The older 2 have them, so I'd like to get the same again. I'm also going to buy new mattress' for them, to replace the original foam ones - and because they will more than likely be an 'odd' size to buy in NZ. I'll probably pick up some new duvets and bedding whilst I'm at it. I love the Trofast storage items and Billy bookcases - money will dictate whether I'm tempted to get them or not (just hope willpower doesn't leave me :p)

Biggest regret about IKEA - the new Southampton store won't be open in time :wah

Lx

[CJ22]

Leksvig book shelves to match the 7 I already have. Once they're full I'm stuffed. In fact, now that you mention it, I might pop down to Wednesbury and grab a couple!

[neilw71]

Nothing! While we loved IKEA stuff when we were in the UK, we've not missed it at all really. If you look, there are plenty of options here in NZ - after all, 2 million people survive without an IKEA nearby :)

Neil

[CJ22]

after all, 2 million people survive without an IKEA nearby

Sure, well 3 billion people survive without running water too. On second thoughts, maybe a visit to Ikea might be fatal :)

[Carol]

after all, 2 million people survive without an IKEA nearby :)

Neil

OR Marks and Spencers....
OR Sainsburys and Tescos
OR B and Q
OR Mothercare and Early Learning Centre....





And how do we do it?

THE WAREHOUSE!
lol




:laugh:wah

[James 1077]

I wouldn't get anything from IKEA. Target is similar in price to IKEA furniture and is actually made from proper wood rather than laminated chipboard!

I thought that we would miss IKEA when we came over here but, to be honest, the only thing that I miss about it are the hotdogs and lingenberry drink (oh, and maybe meatballs)!

[Georgebulldog]

[QUOTE=Carol;234843]OR Marks and Spencers....
OR Sainsburys and Tescos
OR B and Q
OR Mothercare and Early Learning Centre....





And how do we do it?

THE WAREHOUSE!
lol

:laugh Even oh says he could spend hours in there, it's great :raebanana

[BkyMonster]

The thing I think I would be most interested in having from IKEA would be cabinet doors to refurbish the look of any cabinets should we buy a house. That and I like the odds and ends. Dishes, flatware and little things.

[Moorf]

Dime bars and meatballs is all that place was good for for us. Not even sure Ikea furniture would burn usefully in an open fire... looks better though... :laugh

[Markku & Kate]

I wish I'd had the time to stock up at Ikea. Markku's Swedish, so maybe we're partial to the semi-disposable Swedish furniture, but I really miss it. You can get similar shelving here at Warehouse Stationary at similar prices when its on sale, so I'd say skip shelves. But I slept on my mother's new mattress before we left and it was wonderful - turns out it was from Ikea! And their lamps, you'll need to use a simple plug converter but they're much cheaper there and better quality, even though Ikea isn't known for high quality. They have something that looks like the Poang chair here at Farmers, but it's not nearly as comfortable, so I'm glad we shipped a few of those (they take up very little space in the container). I could go on and on, so PM me if you want my in-depth list which I dwell upon as I lie awake at night.

[Familyofmonkeys]

Early Learning Centre....




There is an ELC in Auckland :clap

[chrisbrittan]

OR Marks and Spencers....
OR Sainsburys and Tescos
OR B and Q
OR Mothercare and Early Learning Centre....





And how do we do it?

THE WAREHOUSE!
lol
:laugh:wah

"The Warehouse.... where everything falls apart!" (can't quite make that fit with the irritating "The Warehouse....where everyone gets a bargain!" jingle)

Seriosuly though NZ does lack a good mid-range furniture store, I have generally found the warehouse to be cheap, but you really get what you pay for.

Im not mad on IKEA either but an MFI...thats what i'd like! M&S, mmmm M&S food mmmmmm

If tesco ever comes to NZ i'll be packing my bags, they are the devil of supermarket chains, i've lived in several countries that have had their entire retail market change nearly overnight to become dominated by Tesco, the ones who suffered where the consumer, low prices, but low quality, and no choice!

B&Q... yes please...might be able to buy some insulation and do some home improvements (very un-kiwi)

Anyways, enough of my complaining...i'll start to get a reputation for being the miserable "victor meldrew" type.

I Don't Believe It!

[thewoodies]

Biggest regret about IKEA - the new Southampton store won't be open in time :wah

Lx

I Know! Thats what im thinking is a trip to Croyden worth it?:wah

Thanks everyone matress and duvet covers i will get - have alot of ikea furniture already. :cheers

[sirmamac]

Rugs and carpets. The ones on sale her are ugly and expensive-very ugly and very expensive.

[Pookeko]

I could go on and on, so PM me if you want my in-depth list which I dwell upon as I lie awake at night.

:D aw


I thought I'd miss Ikea more than I do though we did buy our kitchen at Ikea in UK, which I thought was very good, though not super-easy to install. I see Mitre10 do self-install kitchens now so maybe they will be similar...? (in general I don't like NZ kitchens, so if I could have shipped my kitchen with me I would have :laugh ).

Anyway from Ikea I brought with me my floor standing lamp which I really like and have not seen the equivalent here for the same or similar price (only junk for the same price); some duvet covers; our two fold-out beds with foam mattresses - they are easily the most comfortable fold-out beds I have ever slept on, so I am pleased I brought them and happy for guests to sleep on them!! :)

[PeteS]

B&Q... yes please...might be able to buy some insulation and do some home improvements (very un-kiwi)

With that kind of talk they'll never let you have citizenship....

And do you really drive slowly in the very fast lane?

[Pookeko]

And do you really drive slowly in the very fast lane?

I think the idea here is: there's two lanes, one for me and one for you :laugh
But seriously, what "very fast lane"?? ;)