Ikea is Good....

I was in Ikea the other day, had to pick up bedding and a couple of plastic boxes, Ikea is good... for bedding and plastic boxes. I don't hate Ikea, I think it gives people the opportunity to have nicely designed stuff, eventually they'll maybe like it so much that they're ready to get something real built, something that'll last. It's happened before.

I saw this chair on the way out...

A hundred and seventy quid, man. And it's got a ten year guarantee. There's a high probability that people with throw this out before the ten years because Ikea shoppers see it as a trend piece. A piece of furniture that goes with a 'look' then they'll redecorate in two years and find another chair for the corner. Fair enough. Land fill filler

It caught my eye, maybe because it's displayed at head height but I think it was because if I was to make a chair it'd be near enough just like this. Built better and slightly different though. I've had a chair drawn out and templated for over a year now. I want to make it. I should have made it. I've been busy and I procrastinate too much. 

Here's how mine started, this is probably after about 20 or so scribbles to get a shape I like...

Then I scaled it up to the real sizes...

I'll change a few bits on this. Like the front leg and maybe the very front of the chair where it angles down, maybe not though, I quite like it. Getting ahead of myself I was thinking on using walnut with an aged leather, possibly doing one upholstered with Pendelton material, like The Big Lebowski's cardigan, know what I mean. This chair will be big and laid back, it's for relaxing, I like to relax. 

I don't like the way this is joined together, too many pieces and bolted at the joints. There's none of these to test out, I'd take a guess that it's because after time of 'ups n doons' it'd be loose and maybe a bit wobbly/shaky (I'm not sure if those two are real words). It looks nice but I don't think it's a piece to hand down to your kids or even sell if the chips are low. Handmade furniture can be sold, it doesn't really loose money either. 

So...Ikea's good for plastic boxes and bedding, and cutlery n' plates and a few other things. I like the design of some stuff but it's the purpose behind the furniture that I think is stupid - buy it, use it, throw it in the bin and buy something else. You won't be passing this stuff on, I think furniture should be passed on. Nothing in Ikea will ever be an antique. Just my thoughts, I've been wrong before though.

If anyone's interested in the chair that I'm going to build you can give me a message and we can sort something out. I'm probably looking at about £700ish, that's in walnut and upholstered too. Half up front and the rest when it's done :) 

Share to whoever you think might like this, it'd be appreciated.