PANYL's Profile

Toastercat - great idea! You can absolutely PANYL the SKAR. Give us a shout via the PANYL contact form and we'll explain the options...

Kelleyk and Cowgirl -

Dan from PANYL here. Jukesgrrl is right. In my home, I have a hand-made farmhouse table and hutch, from Branch Hill Joinery in rural Michigan (Amish guys, no power tools). These are heirloom quality and will be with us forever. But as such, they were investments.

We also have a lot of IKEA, because in some situations the price and practical factors win out. And, as with any brand, there are winners and losers in the catalog, so we do our research (Apple Newton, anyone?). The kitchens are the star example (and a major corporate priority for IKEA). For a comparable level of quality and design control in any other scenario you will pay most likely double, and easily more. But you'll sacrifice very little (i.e. IKEA cabinet boxes will outlast either your ownership of the property, or your life, if you let them).

Now of course, many of us prefer not to settle when it comes to design, regardless of price. When we buy IKEA, we want it to fit the aesthetic in our homes. All of the companies mentioned in this article offer different tools to allow people to feel good about using IKEA in their interior designs. And to finally respond to your original question, my guess is that in virtually all cases, any of the solutions in this article will still cost you significantly less than what "quality" brands charge.