I have tragic news.
We took a trip to West Elm over the weekend. The Parsons desk, in real life, was as disappointing as the movie we saw afterward. While I realize we're not going to get solid wood at our price point, when we're willing to go above our price point for something, we'd like it to feel like it's worth it. I think floor models are very telling in how pieces of furniture will fare in the future. These puppies hadn't fared well. On one model, the drawers looked off kilter, on another, they didn't seem to be on their rollers at all.
It didn't seem like a "forever" desk to us, even though it was at a "forever" price.
And while I could spend a considerable amount less on something from Overstock, I think we're over the West Elm Parsons desk and its knockoffs.
Thankfully, my recent trips to Ikea.com have given me great insight into their categorization. It turns out we don't want an office desk. At Ikea, these are approximately 19" deep--aka: not deep enough to provide the expansive work space we desire and have the space for. We want a work table instead.
With Ikea, we know what we're getting. We, like many twentysomethings, have had many liasons with an allen wrench and variously-labeled MDF pieces. And instructions written in the language of a stick figure with a question mark over his head.
Honestly, if all we're going to get at any price point is MDF with veneer, I'd rather pay the MDF price. Ikea may not be forever. But Ikea never pretends to be anything it's not.
Now please excuse me as I put my feet up on my solid wood, vintage 1970s coffee table that I got for free because my parents had good taste when particle board was just a glint in everyone's eye.
2 comments:
I was also shocked at poor desk design and the lack of adequate depth. Since I am still living in places temporarily, I took a solid 10ft piece of finished wood at a dreaded box store, painted it and placed it on top of two modular shelf units. Unfortunately the desk sits a bit high for me but it works in a pinch. Recommend making your own to suit your needs if possible.
Chris and I also saw J.Edgar and were horribly disappointed. We walked out of the theater, turned to each other, and both said, "Huh, definitely expected a lot more out of that."
We thought we were alone, but I glad to know we're not.
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