The Unofficial IKEA Web Journal

It’s on all our minds, right? Saving money? Times are tight, and we’re all looking for ways to pinch a penny. Here are some great articles on saving money with IKEA:

From IKEAFANS.com:
Why Choosing IKEA is Smart - “Walking into an IKEA is like walking into a whole new world – it’s a wildly different experience, and it pays to know ahead of time why you should choose IKEA. Forget everything you think you know and read on to find out the top reasons choosing IKEA is the smartest move you’ll make….”

10 Keys to IKEA’s Low Prices “Just how does IKEA manage to offer such consistently low prices? Many people think that it’s because the furniture is made cheaply, which isn’t exactly true. Read on to find out about some of IKEA’s less obvious cost-saving strategies…”

By Kelly Whitaker @IKEAFANS.com:
DIY IKEA – How to MAKE Money in a Soft Housing Market “I spend a lot of time thinking about my finances- it’s true. Regardless if you do or not, I’d like to share my thoughts about why the current housing market makes an IKEA kitchen a better move than ever before. Everyone contemplating a remodel is or should be familiar with the resale value of typical home renovations…”

From Becky at Eco-Modernism:
Advantage: IKEA Kitchen over Custom It gets pummeled into our brains daily now: HOUSING MARKET IN THE CRAPPER! Yes. Yes it is. I just updated the budget calculation page & thought it worth a post, especially highlighting Kelly’s excellent summary on the IKEAFANS site….

So, there you go. Some good reading for you, less writing for me! Thanks for those most excellent articles, ladies!

Opinions @ecomod, budget, Budget REmodel, eco-modernism.com, IKEAFANS, IKEAFANS.com, Kelly Whitaker, Save Money

IKEA Charlotte Virtual Tour (follow to print entry form for $1000 shopping spree!)

IKEA Charlotte Grand Opening is in literally DAYS, 15 days, to be exact – and we have guest bloggers lined up to bring us the news from the front lines!  We’ll have coverage of IKEA’s Friends and Family Event on the 14th and coverage from the line on opening day!

Becky Shankle, aka ecomod at IKEAFANS.com and @ecomod on Twitter, of eco-modernism has secured an invite to the Friends and Family event on the 14th (talk about IKEA LOVE!) and has promised to report back on all she sees and hears. Becky is owner of Eco-Modernism, based in Raleigh, NC, a company which has been providing IKEA furniture love in the form of IKEA furniture delivery to the Raleigh Durham area since early 2008.  Becky’s been blogging about her adventures with designing, assembling and installing IKEA kitchens, bathrooms and other rooms since August of 2007.

Ms. Eva comes to us from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. She’s been anticipating the opening of IKEA Charlotte since the original announcement on January 17th, 2007. Her blog, ikeacarolina.blogspot.com, chronicles her excitement and enthusiam.  Ms. Eva plans to be in line on Opening Day and will be sending us updates via her new Blackberry on the events, prizes and crowd. Here’s hoping for good weather!

Welcome Becky and Eva to the PositiveFanatics team!

Projects, Store Openings @ecomod, eco-modernism.com, IKEA Carolina, IKEA Charlotte, ikea usa, ikeacarolina.blogspot.com, Ms. Eva

Holy Akurum, Batman! That’s a lot of kitchens!  According to the Triangle Business Journal,

Swedish home-furnishings giant Ikeais putting the final touches on its first North Carolina store, which is scheduled to open next month in Charlotte.

The 356,000-square-foot store will be one of the chain’s largest. It will feature three model homes and 49 room vignettes, including 17 kitchens. Shoppers will be able to buy more than 10,000 exclusively designed products — from furniture to art, tableware and even food.

I do wish IKEA would stop selling themselves as a full-service setup though:

Ikea now offers on-site designers to help shoppers create complete rooms, take measurements and recommend contractors to assemble the furniture. The store also can arrange home delivery.

Though IKEA has many supporting businesses that will help with design, ordering, delivery, assembly and installation, anyone who’s been there knows that IKEA itself is not about the service aspect. IKEA is all about the low prices. It’s about doing something for yourself. And that’s ok by me – that’s the deal I have with Ingvar.

If you’re not confident about doing it yourself, seek help – North Carolina is home to Eco-Modernism (See post: IKEA Runs: Need your IKEA Fix? Hire a local delivery service), a few new startups, and Custom Assembly and Install out of Atlanta is contracted with IKEA as a Certified Installer.

You can get in line for the IKEA Charlotte Grand Opening starting at 9am on Monday, February 16th, 2009 in advance of the Wednesday, February 18th Grand Opening Event. And while we’re on the subject, PositiveFanatics.com is seeking Guest Bloggers to document the experience of the Charlotte IKEA Grand Opening. Need your 15 minutes in the sun? Contact us!

[Via Triangle Business Journal]

Store Openings Custom Assembly and Install, eco-modernism.com, IKEA Charlotte, IKEA Grand Opening, IKEA North Carolina, IKEA Store Opening, ikea usa

Don’t live near an IKEA?  Need to make an IKEA run, but you don’t have the time, energy or you don’t want the wear and tear (not to mention the fuel!) on your own vehicle?  Well, if you’re in or near Raleigh, NC, Las Vegas, NV or Nashville, TN, you’re in luck!

Based in Raleigh, NC, Eco-Modernism.com is will not only bring your IKEA goods to you, owner Becky Shankle will design your kitchen or bathroom and assemble and/or install for you as well.  Prices for the IKEA-run service range from flat fees starting at $30 for purchases under $99 to a 22% for purchases over $501. IKEA runs to the Woodbridge, VA store are scheduled monthly (sometimes twice a month!), and the schedule is featured prominently on the site.

Local delivery can also be arranged for an additional fee. Fees for design or assembly/install services are available by contacting eco-modernism directly through email. Catch up with Becky via Twitter @ecomod Read more…

IKEA-related services, People @ecomod, @modernLV, eco-modernism.com, modernash.com, modernLV.com