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Crate and Barrel vs. Ikea

post #1 of 38
11/4/08 at 10:55pm
Thread Starter 
The first Crate and Barrel just opened in Toronto. The last time I was in one in the states was long before I ever cared or knew anything about furniture. I'm wondering how their stuff compares to Ikea. Is it all flatpack stuff or something else? What is there market?
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post #2 of 38
11/4/08 at 11:07pm
lot of crate andbarrel stuff is overpriced but still miles better in quality than ikea. crate andbarrel also has very good customer service from where i am at. ikea just sucks.
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post #3 of 38
11/4/08 at 11:27pm
Someone posted the philosophy earlier of either buy very expensive or buy the cheapest possible. I think this holds true here, I bought skillets from IKEA for $1 a piece they have lasted over 4 years. That's a hell of a buy and I think you can buy little pieces of shit that will probably surprise you as to how much use you get out of them.
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post #4 of 38
11/4/08 at 11:41pm
I only buy get expensive furniture at huge discounts(craigslist!). Can't imagine buying cheap furniture just to fill a spot.

Then if I turn around and sell anything I bought I get all my money back or more.
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post #5 of 38
11/5/08 at 12:34am
Forgiveness if this sounds retarded... is there any relationship between crate jeans and crate and barrel?
I saw the C&B in Yorkdale mall and without going in and not knowing what the store's all about, I had figured they were a clothing store, and that their jeans were just called crate by some...
I assume I was mistaken?
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post #6 of 38
11/5/08 at 12:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Master-Classter View Post
Forgiveness if this sounds retarded... is there any relationship between crate jeans and crate and barrel?
No. I generally prefer glassware and silverware from C&B (and some of the kitchen appliances you just can't buy from Ikea). But for many things Ikea, including some furniture, Ikea just can't be beat.
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post #7 of 38
11/5/08 at 12:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by turboman808 View Post
I only buy get expensive furniture at huge discounts(craigslist!). Can't imagine buying cheap furniture just to fill a spot.

Then if I turn around and sell anything I bought I get all my money back or more.

The great thing about this is that you don't have to worry if you spill something on the couch, since you know it's already been urinated on.
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post #8 of 38
11/5/08 at 6:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sho'nuff View Post
lot of crate andbarrel stuff is overpriced but still miles better in quality than ikea. crate andbarrel also has very good customer service from where i am at. ikea just sucks.

What he said, except Ikea is my second choice for kitcheny-type things. That is, if my local restaurant supply doesn't have them. Also, Crate & Barrel is too far for me to drive, while Ikea isn't terribly far from the office.
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post #9 of 38
11/5/08 at 6:54pm
I think C&B has more interesting design than Ikea--and better durability--and offers pretty good value on a wide variety of items. We have some odds and ends from there, like lamps, every day dishes and serving pieces, etc.

They have two levels of quality in most stores, the first floor, which is more like flat pack, and the second, which is more substantial and better made goods. It's not really high-end, but it doesn't cost what high-end furniture costs.

CB2, their cheaper spin-off, is closer to IKEA.
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post #10 of 38
11/5/08 at 7:44pm
I haven't seen the furniture in person, but CB2 (young/hip C&B, basically) always has some nice stuff in their catalogue. C&B can be stodgy, but their smaller items (glasses, dishes, etc.) are nice.

Ikea is hit or miss. I've got a wonderful drafting table from them that's made up of two pine sawhorses and a top - the materials are an improvement on a lot of their furniture that comes with a veneer. For the most part if I'm going to have plywood (or worse, in some cases), I'd rather DIY it.

In this category, the absolute worst price/quality ratio is West Elm. Everything they've got that's supposed to be wood has the worst veneers for way too much cash.
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post #11 of 38
11/5/08 at 8:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomas View Post
What he said, except Ikea is my second choice for kitcheny-type things. That is, if my local restaurant supply doesn't have them. Also, Crate & Barrel is too far for me to drive, while Ikea isn't terribly far from the office.

ikea is always good for the fill-in piece or small kitchen or bath piece. yes.

something like buying a desk or a wall unit piece at IKEA is not worth it,
the wood is all warped in a slight way that when you assemble the whole darn thing, the last pieces dont align. you cant get that last screw in because the alignment is all shot from the warpedness of the wood.
then you have to lug the whole thing back again to IKEA and they give you hell for trying to exchange or return the dam thing.


better to just get the simple can opener, or side table, or reading lamp , etc from IKEA that you dont care less about the quality just something that will do its job for the moment.
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post #12 of 38
11/5/08 at 8:44pm
C&B is miles above Ikea (what isn't?) in terms of quality. Design is another story and a question of taste.
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post #13 of 38
11/5/08 at 8:47pm
does anyone have a website?
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post #14 of 38
11/5/08 at 8:48pm
Immoral.
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post #15 of 38
11/5/08 at 9:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by LVoer View Post
The first Crate and Barrel just opened in Toronto. The last time I was in one in the states was long before I ever cared or knew anything about furniture. I'm wondering how their stuff compares to Ikea. Is it all flatpack stuff or something else? What is there market?

I just bought a bed frame from IKEA and am thinking of returning it. Cheaper is usually more expensive in the long run.
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