#flat pack assembly Sydney

[flatpackassembler]

How to Safely Assemble Flat Pack Furniture

Flat pack furniture, or ready-to-assemble furniture is a popular choice with consumers. It is usually cheaper than solid piece furniture and provides a more diverse selection of styles.

However, the assembly process can be a bit difficult. It is important to read the instructions thoroughly, have all the parts and get help if needed.

Read the Instructions

Flat-pack furniture is more affordable than solid-piece pieces, and comes in a huge variety of sizes, shapes, and colours. However, it can be difficult to assemble and often suffers from poor quality. The instructions can be confusing and unclear, leading to mistakes such as joining pieces together in the wrong order, or left over screws.

Before you begin, read the instructions carefully to familiarise yourself with the flow of the work. Also, make sure you’ve got all the tools you need lined up in a convenient place before you start. This will save time and frustration.

It’s best to count all the small parts before beginning to avoid missing anything crucial. There is nothing worse than getting to the end of a job and discovering you’ve misplaced a vital screw. Assembling furniture is like solving a giant puzzle, so take your time and don’t rush it. If it gets too much, try to step away for a while and return with fresh eyes.

Make Sure You Have All the Parts

If you do not have all the parts you need, your assembly of flat pack furniture will be very difficult and frustrating. There is nothing worse than being half way through a piece of flat pack furniture and finding that you have a crucial part missing.

Before you start to assemble your furniture, lay out all the parts and fixings on the floor. This will prevent similar looking items from getting mixed up and allows you to check that you have everything that you need before you begin.

Ensure you have the correct tools for the job, a hammer (or rubber mallet), an electric screw driver, some screws and glue. Some pieces of flat pack furniture may require reinforcements like wood glue or construction adhesives. Having these in advance will make the job much easier. You can also hire a professional to assemble your furniture for you. Their experience will help to ensure that your piece of flat pack furniture is completed correctly and professionally.

Get Some Help

If you’re not used to assembling flat pack furniture it can take longer than expected. Often there’s a time guide at the front of the instructions which will give you an idea of how long it should take to build the item but if you have a friend or family member who does it regularly they can help you cut your build time by holding awkward bits together whilst you screw them in.

You should also make sure you have the right tools on hand to build your flat pack furniture before you start. Having a good quality power screwdriver with several different size bits in a variety of heads as well as a hammer and hex keys will help you get the job done quicker and easier.

Alternatively, if you find that building flat pack furniture fills you with dread or it’s the cause of many arguments in your household you can always pay for an experienced furniture assembly specialist to do it for you. They can save you a lot of time and stress and ensure that your furniture is built properly so that it looks good and functions as it should.

Don’t Overdo It

It can be tempting to just wing it with DIY projects, but flat pack furniture assembly is different. Manufacturers design their furnishings to be easy to assemble and predrill holes to save consumers time and money. They then package them with all the necessary parts and instructions.

It is vital to read the instructions and not skim them. If you do not take your time you could end up mixing up similar looking pieces or placing incorrect length screws in the wrong holes.

If you find yourself getting frazzled, consider asking a friend or family member to help you out. They will likely have the same goal of getting the job done as you and can provide a helping hand if needed. If things really get too much to handle, it is worth considering a flat pack furniture assembly professional. They have the right tools and know-how to get the job done quickly and efficiently.

[justforbooks]

Not all social housing in the 1960s was about tower blocks. High-rise buildings were unpopular with tenants, lifts were costly and broke down, and the surrounding lawns were hard to maintain. Moreover, on the slopes around Hampstead Heath in London, towers would have blocked views towards St Paul’s Cathedral. This area became part of the newly created borough of Camden in 1965 and a visionary new chief architect, Sydney Cook, assembled a bright team of assistants to find an alternative form of housing. One of these young architects was Peter Tábori, who has died aged 83. The Whittington estate which he designed, originally known as Highgate New Town, exemplified a solution that was both innovative and successful.

Camden had identified an area of semi-derelict Victorian housing for redevelopment next to Highgate’s east cemetery, where Karl Marx is buried. Tábori realised that, on such a steep hillside, lines of flats and maisonettes could be stacked one above the other and entered from a common entrance at mid-level on the uphill side. Car parking could be set into the hill between these terraces and decked over with pedestrian walkways and children’s playgrounds.

He was inspired by medieval Italian hill towns and an internationally regarded scheme near Berne by the Swiss architects Atelier 5, but the greatest impression is of generous, humane spaces. The scheme was designed in 1968-70 but not completed until 1979 after the original contractors went bust.

The concept fitted perfectly with Cook’s own ideas and Tábori was a natural addition to the team. Other assistants working on similar solutions went on to greater recognition: Neave Brown’s complex terraces at Fleet Road (now Dunboyne Road) and Alexandra Road are listed, as are Gordon Benson and Alan Forsyth’s mainly two-storey houses on a steep slope at Branch Hill, Hampstead.

Together the group established a distinctive style for Camden’s best social housing using crisp white concrete, densely packed but relatively low-rise. Tábori’s Highgate New Town had the benefit of simplicity, in the design of the terraces and in his determination that public and private spaces should be clearly separated. This last avoided the problems faced by estates where indeterminate space led to vandalism. Mark Swenarton’s book Cook’s Camden (2017), to which Tábori generously contributed, records the inspiring story.

Highgate New Town was finely finished, the external concrete contrasting with handsome internal joinery. Cook claimed that “the quality of [Tábori’s] work isn’t just double site capacity at low rise, or all the higher standards, but that he did it all below yardstick”, the restrictive budget code imposed by governments at the time. In fact, Camden’s fine housing was made possible by its high domestic rates income and other London boroughs could not match its quality. Many of Tábori’s maisonettes remain tenanted, but those sold under “right-to-buy” legislation now fetch eye-watering prices.

Tábori went on to design a second scheme in 1971, Oakshott Court, Polygon Road, with three L-shaped terraces, but he was disappointed by a decision made in 1974 to use brick, apparently in deference to its location near St Pancras Station. A smaller scheme of 15 flats on the corner of Mill Lane and Solent Road followed in 1973 after Cook’s retirement, including four wheelchair-accessible units and five for elderly people. He also worked on a visionary programme with the architects/engineers Arup Associates for building over the main railway tracks that run through Camden, an attempt to gain space in the overcrowded borough.

He was born Peter Stroh in Budapest, the son of Istvan Stroh, a professor of mathematics, and his wife Erzsebét (nee Szanto), a former opera singer. She subsequently married Michael Tábori, an economist whose father had died at Auschwitz. Both men had been imprisoned by the communist government and following the 1956 uprising in Budapest, Peter too was arrested. On his release in December 1956 he, Erzsebét and Michael emigrated to London via Vienna, along with other members of Michael’s family. Thenceforth Tábori used his stepfather’s surname and adopted it formally on becoming a British citizen in 1966.

Tábori learned English and technical drawing with an architect, Cecil Epril, and in 1958 entered Regent Street Polytechnic (now the University of Westminster). His tutors included Richard Rogers, who inspired his interest in mass housing, and who himself designed an (unbuilt) hillside scheme in Croydon inspired by Atelier 5. Tábori assisted on Rogers’s first built house, Creekvean, with Su Rogers and Norman Foster.

Tábori also spent two years working for Ernö Goldfinger, the Hungarian-born architect immortalised by Ian Fleming, before completing his qualifications. The final external examiner was Denys Lasdun, who gave him a job assisting on the University of East Anglia, another hillside building with a stepped section where he learned about concrete techniques. However, when in 1967 the chance came to work for Cook and develop his own housing interests, Tábori seized the opportunity.

He left the borough in 1984 and formed a private practice with John Green and Bob Winning, working mainly in Hamburg, Toulouse and Soweto.

Tábori married Angelika Schiel, a model, in 1962. They had three sons, Kris, Michael and Gabor, but divorced in about 1980, and Angelika, who became an upholsterer, died in 2016. Peter had a fourth son, Tom, in 1984, with Anne Saville, a welfare adviser at the charity Gingerbread, but the couple later separated. He is survived by his sons.

🔔 Peter Tábori (Peter Stroh), architect, born 15 January 1940; died 23 February 2023

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at http://justforbooks.tumblr.com

[mykitchencabinetsaustralia]

My Kitchen Cabinets: Flat Pack Kitchen in Sydney

Transform your space with My Kitchen Cabinets' flat pack kitchens in Sydney. Easy to assemble, stylish, and affordable, our designs cater to all tastes and budgets. Enjoy hassle-free installation and superior quality. Make your dream kitchen a reality today! Visit us for the best deals.

[kitchenssydneys1]

Affordable Flat Pack Kitchens Sydney - Customizable & Quick Assembly

Upgrade your home with Flat Pack Kitchens Sydney. Explore a range of stylish, easy-to-assemble options. Create your dream kitchen affordably with our top-quality flat pack kitchen solutions in Sydney.

[stylekitchens]

Simplify Your Renovation: Flat Pack Kitchens Sydney

Explore our range of flat pack kitchens Sydney at Sydney Style Kitchens. Discover the perfect solution for DIY enthusiasts and budget-conscious homeowners looking for a convenient, cost-effective way to revamp their kitchen spaces. With easy assembly and high-quality materials, our flat pack kitchens bring style and functionality to your home renovation project.

[sanem969]

How To Find The Right Flat Pack Kitchen Of Your Dream?

When it comes to buying a flat pack kitchen, people tend to think a lot. Well, this is reasonable. You cannot decide at the drop of a hat! After all, your home is your heaven, and everyone has their unique taste in designing it. There are plenty of options available to purchase custom-made kitchen for your home needs but choosing the right place that is tailored to match your palate and see the convenience of any kitchen would be your first motto.

There are several flat pack kitchens in Sydney that offer you various sophisticated products, which is why selecting the right place needs some hard work. Therefore, it is always recommended that you hit as many places as you can to have an overview of what is trendy and pocket friendly. Before you look over the suitable flat pack kitchen around Sydney to purchase ready-to-assemble (RTA) kitchen furniture and products, here are some basics you need to work on.

Why being so selective?

At first, it becomes a little confusing to find out the right place as several shops sell low-quality products at an exorbitant price. So, do some research on the quality of the products before purchasing. Keeping the right amount of trust for the shopkeepers can be okay but having some knowledge and feedback about the shop always helps you avoid any kind of chicanery.

As you are going to purchase flat pack kitchens in Sydney, you are aware of the dimensions of your kitchen place. In this case, you can send for a designer who measures your place and then you select your kitchen option accordingly.

First, you go through the leaflet. There are many types of kitchen models. Shadow line kitchens have modern looks with no handle interruption. You can have a shadow line kitchen for your home with beautiful colour combinations of polyurethane, laminate, and veneer. Shaker and laminate designs are also desirable. So, pick the right shop and the right kitchen model to give your kitchen a different attractive look.

What to look upon in a shop?

As we know that looking forward to the right flat pack kitchen in Sydney and around has not been easy for you, so once you find it, you need to consider what a wonderful shop possesses. Below mentioned are a few points that you consider for a quick solution for quality kitchen production.

Designer kitchens at affordable prices.

The longevity of the product. Manufactural warranty and material used.

The material used in assembling the cabinets, drawers, hinges, doors, etc.

All parts must have a sticker listing the part name and cabinet numbers.

Accessibility of the kitchen products in your locality.

Seals and packaging of the materials.

Last, but not the least food and kitchen bring people together. So, as to buy the best flat pack kitchens in Sydney, go through every point in detail and move ahead to purchase.

[rawk-chikk]

Got myself a display cabinet for my Lego.

Not all of it obvs, my 3 London pieces and the Capitol Building are staying under my tv, and the biiiig New York models are moving to my bedroom. My baseball knickknacks will be moving next to my London stuff in order to make room.

Top shelf: Arc de Triomphe, Paris, and space for the Louvre, which is coming soon.

Second shelf: New York, Guggenheim Museum.

3rd shelf: Las Vegas, San Francisco, Chicago.

Bottom shelf: Shanghai, Sydney.

There's a bit of room left for future builds, and there's a bonus infinity mirror effect from my spot on the couch when the light is switched on.

This is the first flat pack I actually needed help with. I've put bigger things together by myself no problem -- I usually respond to 'requires 2 people to assemble' in much the same way you'd react to 'feeds 4' on a pie box 😝-- but this thing weighed a fucking ton and is also like 75% glass.

[hubpostblr]

How To Find The Right Flat Pack Kitchen Of Your Dream?

When it comes to buying a flat pack kitchen, people tend to think a lot. Well, this is reasonable. You cannot decide at the drop of a hat! After all, your home is your heaven, and everyone has their unique taste in designing it. There are plenty of options available to purchase custom-made kitchen for your home needs but choosing the right place that is tailored to match your palate and see the convenience of any kitchen would be your first motto.

There are several flat pack kitchens in Sydney that offer you various sophisticated products, which is why selecting the right place needs some hard work. Therefore, it is always recommended that you hit as many places as you can to have an overview of what is trendy and pocket friendly. Before you look over the suitable flat pack kitchen around Sydney to purchase ready-to-assemble (RTA) kitchen furniture and products, here are some basics you need to work on.

Why being so selective?

At first, it becomes a little confusing to find out the right place as several shops sell low-quality products at an exorbitant price. So, do some research on the quality of the products before purchasing. Keeping the right amount of trust for the shopkeepers can be okay but having some knowledge and feedback about the shop always helps you avoid any kind of chicanery.

As you are going to purchase flat pack kitchens in Sydney, you are aware of the dimensions of your kitchen place. In this case, you can send for a designer who measures your place and then you select your kitchen option accordingly.

First, you go through the leaflet. There are many types of kitchen models. Shadow line kitchens have modern looks with no handle interruption. You can have a shadow line kitchen for your home with beautiful colour combinations of polyurethane, laminate, and veneer. Shaker and laminate designs are also desirable. So, pick the right shop and the right kitchen model to give your kitchen a different attractive look.

What to look upon in a shop?

As we know that looking forward to the right flat pack kitchen in Sydney and around has not been easy for you, so once you find it, you need to consider what a wonderful shop possesses. Below mentioned are a few points that you consider for a quick solution for quality kitchen production.

Designer kitchens at affordable prices.

The longevity of the product. Manufactural warranty and material used.

The material used in assembling the cabinets, drawers, hinges, doors, etc.

All parts must have a sticker listing the part name and cabinet numbers.

Accessibility of the kitchen products in your locality.

Seals and packaging of the materials.

Last, but not the least food and kitchen bring people together. So, as to buy the best flat pack kitchens in Sydney, go through every point in detail and move ahead to purchase.

[flatpackassembler]

Why Hire a Flat Pack Assembly Service Near Me?

Flat pack furniture is convenient, but putting it together can be difficult. The instructions often contain ambiguous diagrams that make it hard to understand.

Hiring a professional to assemble your new furniture can save you time and frustration. However, it is important to choose the right furniture assembly service near me.

Cost

Assembling flat-pack furniture can be a daunting task. It’s usually inexpensive to hire a professional furniture assembly service to do it for you, though you should be aware of the costs before hiring one. Many companies charge by the hour, and prices vary depending on the type of furniture you need. For example, a bunk bed is more complex to assemble than a simple media stand.

Many retailers that sell flat-pack furniture offer assembly services. These include Ikea, Wayfair, and Amazon. The cost of a professional furniture assembly service ranges from $50 to $450.

A professional assembler will have liability insurance in case any damage occurs during the assembly process. Some also provide a labor guarantee. They may even offer free repairs if they make any mistakes during the assembly process. However, you should check a company’s cancellation policy to avoid any surprises. You can also ask for a discount if you order multiple pieces.

Time

It may take an average of four hours to assemble furniture yourself, but with the help of a flat pack assembly service near me, it can be completed much faster. This will save you time that you can spend doing other things, such as going out for coffee with friends.

While there are no specific qualifications or certifications needed for someone to construct flat-pack furniture, it’s important to choose a firm or tradesperson with plenty of experience. You can usually find information about their level of expertise in the online listings, but if you’re unsure, ask for references from previous clients.

It’s also essential to learn about the company’s pricing structure. Do they charge per hour, a set fee per item or a day/half day rate? Knowing the different options will help you avoid any surprises when reading your final bill. In addition, you should always check whether VAT is included in the total cost. If it is not, make sure to mention this to the tasker.

Safety

Assembling flat pack furniture is often time-consuming, difficult and stressful. It requires attention to detail and the ability to follow instructions. A skilled Tasker can do the job efficiently and safely, saving you time and stress. They’re familiar with all kinds of flat-pack products from all the major brands.

As the flat pack revolution progresses, we will likely see more products packaged in this way. This allows for rational distribution and lower prices for the consumer. It also reduces the need for storage space, reducing environmental impact.

Flat pack assembly Sydney experts can assemble all kinds of indoor and outdoor furniture for you, including sheds, gazebos, BBQs, pool tables, basketball hoops, and home gyms. They can also install electrical items like treadmills and exercise bikes. They’re even able to assemble children’s toys, such as toy kitchens and kids’ bikes. They can also help you clear away packaging after assembling your furniture. This is a great service for people who are busy or don’t want to deal with the hassle of DIY furniture assembly.

Convenience

If you are not good at DIY furniture assembly, have a busy schedule or simply hate putting flat-pack items together, a San Francisco furniture assembly service can make your life easier. These services offer flexible appointment times that work around your schedule. They also provide insurance coverage in case of any accidents or damage during assembly.

Many of these companies offer additional services, such as junk removal. This can be a useful service if your home is overflowing with cardboard boxes from new flatpack pieces. Some also offer labor guarantees, ensuring that your new furniture is correctly assembled.

It’s no secret that assembling flat-pack furniture is often difficult. In fact, over five out of ten Australians have admitted to fighting with their partners while trying to build flat-pack products. The best way to avoid this hassle is to hire a flat pack assembly service in Oldham. These professionals are available seven days a week and can assemble almost any type of furniture for you.

[sydneyparramattaremovals]

Moving Calculator - Removalists Sydney - Moving Company

Using Removalists/moving In Sydney: How Much Did It Cost You ...

Some cut price removalists will use the wrong sort of equipment to cut down costs. Trucks with outdated container loading and unloading mechanisms will cause the contents of your container to be moved a lot more than is necessary. These trucks are also rough when placing the container on the ground causing unnecessary damage to your driveway surface.

Packaging materials are essential for an interstate move with a shipping container. We provide these free of charge for most locations throughout Australia - including a heavy-duty furniture trolley, removalist spec furniture blankets and rope. We also regularly have special offers with free tea chest boxes available. In addition to the cost for your removalists to move the contents of your home, there are other costs that you need to budget for when moving interstate.

Insurance - cost: Up to $1,000 if you want to ensure your home contents from incidental damage. Relocation - cost: $500 to $4000 for flights or transport costs to relocate you and your family and pets. Storage - cost: Up to $400 per month to store your household contents between homes.

Moving Interstate Costs - What You Need To Know - Bspc ...

Utility Transfer - cost: Up to $500 to transfer all of your utilities/post redirection/car registration to your new home/stateVehicle Moving - cost: Up to $1500 to move a vehicle interstate on a car carrying serviceWherever you are moving to or from, we can give you an instant quote over the phone.

$55PER 1/2 HR + GSTFOR 2 MEN & TRUCK!*MIN 2 HOURSTruck capacity: 17 - 20 m3$55PER 1/2 HR + GSTFOR 2 MEN & TRUCK!*MIN 3 HOURS Truck capacity: 23 - 30 m3$60PER 1/2 HR + GSTFOR 2 MEN & TRUCK!*MIN 3 HOURSTruck capacity: 36 - 40 m3$60PER 1/2 HR + GSTFOR 2 MEN & TRUCK!*MIN 3 HOURSTruck capacity: 45 - 50 m3$60PER 1/2 HR + GSTFOR 2 MEN & TRUCK!*MIN 4 HOURSTruck capacity: 55- 60 m3The cost of removal services throughout the country can vary, however, at Local & Interstate Removals we offer transparent prices without hidden costs.

How Much Does A Removalist Cost?

Our team are also incredibly reliable and happy to help with whatever questions you may have. So why choose us for your next move?Our prices are reasonable and we are always clear about our prices. We guarantee that you will never face hidden costs throughout our service. At Local & Interstate Removals, we believe that transparency is key.

Removalists Sydney - Your Local And Interstate Removalists

Prices - Gc Removals

You will only pay for what you’ve been quoted while you’re in our care. Although our prices are competitive, we will never compromise our service quality. Not only are our prices affordable, each of our services are also customisable. We understand that each of our customers will have different needs, so you can alter our plan to suit exactly what you need.

Please contact us for a quote or more information about our removalist services on 1300 705 705 or via email at info@localandinterstateremovals. com.au. We look forward to helping you with your move!.

If you are moving, you are probably wondering about removal costs. Removalists’ prices are complex and depend on numerous factors. To make the most of your removal company, you should have an idea about their costs. In this overview, you will find their prices along with price determinants. The removal costs can vary greatly depending on your moving situation.

Prices Sydney Removalists - Alongshore Removals

This includes packing services of $250 and assistance with disassembly for $125. For a smaller 1 or 2 bedroom house or flat, the cost will be around $1,295. The actual price will change according to the factors that affect moving costs. Removal Company- Loading, transport, and unloading of your belongings$800 Packing- Expert packing of items and furniture$250 Packing Materials- Boxes, wrapping, tape, papers, and covers$100 Disassembly and Reassembly- Taking down furniture to prepare for packing$125 Storage- Use of storage facility for 1 month$120 Cleaning- Full house professional cleaning services$285 1$425$175 2$538$225 3$800$275 4$925$350 Disassembly and Reassembly- Help with assembly / disassembly of furniture$125 Storage- Space if you cannot move immediately$30 per week Cleaning- Cleaning of old and new house$15 per hour Parking Permit- Ability to park in front of property- Price depends on area and trade association membership$30 - $75 Piano Removal- Proper care and specialist equipment for safe removal- Remove and replace doors or windows for access$120 - $480 Moving quotes from different companies will vary greatly due to a high number of variables.

Submit our non-binding to compare 6 removalists at a time, and find one that matches your needs. There are various factors that affect moving costs that you need to be aware of when researching about possible removal companies. Variables include: The volume of items you will move, measured in m³.

How easy it is to enter your old home and destination property. If your house is not easily accessible, a smaller vehicle or special lift might be needed. The distance between your point of origin and the destination helps determine the costs of transport. The timing of your moving greatly affects the prices you pay.

How Much Does Moving Houses Cost In Melbourne

Packing, dismantling of any furniture, temporary storage, and cleaning are additions to your bill. The type of services offered will greatly affect the cost of moving. This includes items that require special protection. Antique, fragile, or sentimental belongings need extra packing and wrapping materials. Additionally, items that are overweight or bulky might require special equipment to transport.

Removalists Sydney - Your Local And Interstate Removalists

Estimates only over the phone or email are not accurate and you will pay for services that do not match your needs. : Communicate clearly to establish a clear rundown of the services and charges that will be billed to you. Visit our removal services page for more information. Unexpected problems and emergencies drive up moving costs, especially for local moves that charge by the hour.

[stylekitchens]

Flat Pack Kitchens Sydney - Affordable and Stylish Kitchen Solutions!

Upgrade your kitchen effortlessly with our flat pack kitchens Sydney! Discover a seamless blend of convenience and style. Our range offers high-quality, ready-to-assemble cabinets and units. Renovate with ease - choose flat pack kitchens!

[sanem969]

Best Kitchen Cupboard Designs In Sydney.

We have a wide selection of kitchen items, including pre-assembled kitchen cupboards in Sydney, flat-pack kitchen cabinets, and a wide choice of kitchen accessories to match any kitchen style and price range.

[tinytyphoonstudent]

Impala Kitchens is a family-owned company that has supplied custom built kitchens. We deliver a wide range of services from state-of-the-art kitchen design right through to installation. You can supply all the kitchens with a flat pack ready to use, assemble or we can use for you.

[solidsmack]

SkillCoach is a new series where Product Dev. Professional, Vince Haley, provides a virtual design critique of a new design or submission we’ve received. Give us your feedback in the comments! Connect with Vince on Linkedin here. Have a design you would like to submit for a review and critique? Contact us here.

Welcome to the SkillCoach series! I’m Vince Haley and, though you’ve seen my writing here on SolidSmack, I’ve been in the consumer product industry for years in roles such as Principal Industrial Designer, Lead Product Designer, and Lead Design Engineer to name a few. I’ve also taught ID at multiple universities. It’s an honor to use this experience to help others grow their skills in order to make their ideas come to life!

Todays Virtual Design Critique (VDC) will focus on IKEA’s INGOLF bar stool and how the DNA of the product has shifted in these latter stages of its product lifecycle. This VDC will be a Then & Now design assessment. I’ll seek to root out some of the factors that have caused the INGOLF product to take a hit in the eyes of consumers from a perceived quality perspective. My hunch is, the economic pressures associated with logistics, cost of goods (COGs), and new product styles entering the mix are the culprits.

Part of my aim in this VDC is to raise awareness and ready young designers to embrace the portions of the project brief that may seem inconsequential or mundane in the early phases of the design process. Truth be told, failing to consider these three can be the demise of the greatest of ideas right out of the gate.

Before diving into the crit,  here’s a big ol’ shout-out to Carina Bengs the creative force behind the design of the massively successful INGOLF Seating Collection for IKEA. As furniture and styles go, the longevity of this product offering is truly amazing. As best I can tell the product launched sometime in 2006 and is still available in IKEA retail outlets around the globe! Since securing a student internship with IKEA over 30 years ago, Carina has designed a wide range of product for the home decor giant. Owing to her, many of our homes have been graced with furnishings that are both functional and timeless in style.  As for the INGOLF chair and barstool, without a doubt a whole lot of bottoms have been “sitting pretty” for quite some time!

Designer’s Vision

How do you think when you design and how would you describe your design style? – I work according to a need. I have done a lot of traditional furniture and work hard in wood because I have a great deal of knowledge about the material. I am sometimes inspired by old objects, but I am very much about creating something new and giving the traditional a more modern expression and thoughtful details. Timeless forms create security and recognition, I like it. I strive to make products that can live long in the home. Almost daily, I get feedback from customers who live with and love their furniture. That’s what drives me and encourages to make really good products.” –

Source: 2013 IKEA Designer Portrait Interview

  Early generation INGOLF consumer assembly experience

IKEA INGOLF ’17 Product Description

The INGOLF series looks just as nice in the kitchen and dining room as in the bedroom or hallway. The solid wood construction holds up well.

You sit comfortably thanks to the high back.

Solid wood is a durable natural material.

Chair – Solid pine, Stain, Clear acrylic lacquer

Seat – Solid pine

Footrest – Steel, Powder coating

Size – 24 3/4 ” & 29 1/8 ” high

Assembly & Documentation

Only the latest version of the documents is available for download. This means that there maybe a difference in this version and the printed version.

402.485.13 – 2017 Assembly Manual (PDF)

2007 Original Design Assembly Manual (PDF)

 Good to know

For maximum quality, re-tighten the screws about two weeks after assembly.

May be completed with FIXA self-adhesive floor protectors to protect the underlying surface against wear.

This chair has been tested for home use and meets the requirements for durability and safety, set forth in the following standards: EN 12520 and EN 1022.

Care instructions

Wipe clean using a damp cloth and a mild cleaner.

Wipe dry with a clean cloth.

Design Discoveries & Observations

The product life-cycle changes associated with the IKEA INGOLF chair came to my attention by way of a recent Gumtree purchase. BTW, here in Australia Gumtree is the equivalent to Craigslist. My wife had been keeping an eye out for a set of lightly used IKEA bar stools. When two INGOLF stools came available we gobbled them up believing that an additional two would list in short order. We were right, in less than a month a friend was making his way through the bustling Sydney traffic to pick up three of our awaited prizes!

Upon arrival, we immediately noticed one glaring difference. The new stools were a good 4 inch taller! This  was a purchasing oversight on our part. Nonetheless, what to do? Well being somewhat savvy at woodworking myself, I said “No problem, I can take care of that in short order!”

When I moved closer to size up the task several other design differences became readily apparent. For example, although the new stools were taller they felt much lighter in weight when I picked one up. I also noticed fasteners where the first set had none. In addition, the inferior fit between components quite noticeable.  Finally, the finish lacked the rich luster of the first two stools. Emphatically I declared “COST REDUCTION!” My designers mind was set into motion surmising the sales and distribution pressures that have come to bare on this classic IKEA product offering.

In the life span of a product there are numerous factors that necessitate reducing cost. The remainder of this VDC will highlight the “Then & Now” changes and the ultimate impact they have on the consumer experience.

Factor One – Logistic

A quick glance at the product code on the underside of the seats told me that the Carina Beng original and my favored stool were mfg. ’15 week 21 out of Thailand, while the cost reduced model was mfg. ’16 week 26 out of Bulgaria. From this we learn that IKEA was able to manage the cost of goods for roughly nine years before needing deviate from the original design intent. Apparently the Bulgarian mfg. site is able to manufacture and distribute the revised INGOLF stools in a more cost effective manner than the Thailand facility.

Factor Two – Design

The original design and detailing of the INGOLF nicely balanced the needs and aspiration of the end consumer and most certainly was the right value proposition for IKEA. While the flatpack requirement may not have been optimized, The component breakout made assembly the most simple and straight forward from a consumer perspective. Enough mfg. wiggle room apparently was planned in order to optimize the flat-packing of the product down the road. The fit and finish of all components were stellar at product launch and onward making the INGOLF stools highly desirable.

Yet over time as new products came online and cost of good increased the need for cost reductions obviously became inevitable perhaps signaling the INGOLf chair is at the latter stages of it life-cycle. For me the differences of the actual and perceived quality shift was like night and day. Also judging by the dip in product review ratings on IKEA’s site other consumers have discerned the shift and are experience the pains.

Cheap Quality – Maddie2003

“I bought (2) INGOLF bar stools about a year ago and wanted to add a third to our house. The new models lack a back leg support, have smaller backs, and are so much lighter (read: they feel flimsy) that none of us adults felt comfortable sitting in it. These new ones are a FAR CRY from the sturdy, solidly built ones of just a year ago. I’m VERY disappointed and will be returning this.”

✘ No, I do not recommend this product – (7 months ago)

  Reduce quality – Poornima J

“I bought the exact same model 3 years ago. Few weeks back we decided we want to get an additional one but were very disappointed with the quality. They’ve downsized on the quality, We are even scared to sit on it for fear of breaking.”

✘ No, I do not recommend this product. – (7 months ago)

Obviously from these recent rating the INGOLF product offering has taken big hit with regard to customer confidence and satisfaction. Have a look at the collection of images I snapped and see how readily you can pick out the shift in fit, function, and aesthetic appeal.

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THEN & NOW – leg detailing

NOW – Edge detailing varies in quality.

NOW – Soft Pine used throughout product

NOW – X brace assembled by consumer thus mounting sockets are larger and have gaps.

THEN – Backrest curvature conforms to body nicely.

THEN – X brace precise in fit and finish

THEN & NOW – Note difference in edge finish of seatpans

THEN – Topcoat finish smooth and consistant.

NOW – Shift to plastic hardware

THEN – Metal hardware more robust

NOW – Visible Screws

NOW – Addition tolerance has been built in owing to more parts needing to be assembled by consumer. The result, undesirable gaps

SkillCoach Custom modification!

THEN – Precise crisp edge detailing.

THEN – Precision Fit of components

NOW – Wood soaks in finish and woodgrain very apparent

NOW – Curvature of backrest reduced to save space in packing

NOW – Low reflectivity as coarse grain shows through finish

THEN – Note sheen and reflection as light moves across surface.

THEN & NOW – back lower stretch removed on ’16 onward builds.

My take-away is on the whole, IKEA does a great job of minimizing the adverse DNA altering effects of their products over the course of its given life-cycle.  Without a doubt, IKEA is a company that has mastered the remixing of design, manufacturing, cost of goods, and customer service to generate fresh, compeling home decor solutions.

I trust this Virtual Design Critique of the IKEA INGOLF bar stool collection has given us all as consumers fresh insight into the hows and whys that products shift in quality, aesthetic appeal, and availability over time. If you are a designer, I hope you’ve been inspired to approach designing with these multi-faceted product life-cycle requirements at the onset of your projects. – Until next time, SkillCoach!

SkillCoach | IKEA INGOLF Bar Stool – Virtual Design Critique SkillCoach is a new series where Product Dev. Professional, Vince Haley, provides a virtual design critique of a new design or submission we've received.

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Protect All Goods by Using Packaging Boxes in Melbourne

Keeping good or raw material safely in warehouses is the outlook of every industry or business owner. Get carefree about fragile and lightweight stuff by storing them in customized and durable packaging boxes in Melbourne. There are many shops that produce and supply wholesale boxes keeping in mind the varied demands of business that need packaging solution. They have many kinds of box options suitable for items of various shapes and sizes ensuring that they are properly protected and secured during transit. 

Selection of wholesale boxes at these packaging service provider shops stock heavy duty cartons and all shipping cartons through to pallet bulks boxes and more. Types of boxes supplied by these shops are as follows : 

Die cut boxes: Such types of boxes are apt for keeping documents and files. They are easy to assemble and supplied flat packed for easy storage. It has self-locking features which eliminate the need for tape.   

Heavy duty Cartons: As the name suggests it is ideal for heavier or more sensitive items. It features double cushion walls for extra strength.

Stock Shipping Cartons: Such cartons are available in many different sizes and quantities. They are constructed from heavy duty corrugated boxes. They save time and space. 

Tall Shipping Cartons: These cartons are perfect for longer items that are harder to pack such as posters and plastic rolls.

Safeguard or secure your valuable possessions by using top quality plastic bags in Sydney. They have been the packaging choice for maximum people for many years due to their sheer durability and reusable properties. Bags are made of low-density polyethylene and are produced in a variety of types such as mattress covers, poly woven bags, recycling bin bags, Zip lock bags and singlet bags. They offer such poly bags which can withstand the toughest conditions. These packaging service provider firms have options to suit everything. Source

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Behind the Stationery: Fox and Fallow

Today we’re taking you all the way to Australia to meet Janet from Fox and Fallow! Her bright designs and style reflect her surroundings in Brisbane. Janet shares her schedule for creating new product collections, how she brings each new product to life from design through production, and how her team helps to get it all done and shipped out each day. Take it away, Janet! —Megan Soh

From Janet: My background is in graphic design and art direction but after spending 10 years in design studios and advertising I felt like I needed a bit of a change. I really wanted to build my own brand after so many years of building other people’s brands. I fell in love with weddings after designing our own wedding stationery and signs and in 2013 we began creating wedding stationery and signs for couples as a side project. After about a year and a half I really wanted to reach a wider audience and create products of my own. So in 2015 we jumped right into the deep end and we launched our brand at the National Stationery Show in New York in 2015 and haven’t looked back!

We’re located in sunny Brisbane, Australia. It’s a fabulous city, the people are laid back, the food and bars are great and we’ve got more sunshine than we can handle! Our style is bright, fun, intricate and we love foil, so most of our paper goods are offset printed and foil stamped. I like to design in collections, releasing 3-4 collections per year, each with a totally different theme and style. This keeps things fresh and interesting and allows us to keep evolving our style each year.

Our studio is part office, part warehouse. All the design work, invoicing etc. gets done in the office and orders and products are checked, assembled, packaged and shipped out of the warehouse.We make a wide range of paper goods including greeting cards, gift wrap, flat notes, gift tags, prints, journals, notebooks, notepads and calendars.

We also make clipboard packs which are a really fun gift item and we make the clipboards in house, which involves sourcing the wood from a local supplier, laser cutting and engraving them, sanding, riveting and shrink wrapping the whole pack together.

We take care of the design, quality checking, packaging and assembly but leave the printing to our local and offshore printers. We make most of our products locally in Brisbane or Sydney, but a few products we had to get manufactured offshore to make sure the price points work for our customers.

I usually start with a double espresso and an attempt to clean out my inbox (which rarely happens)! We’ll get any orders from the previous day and ones that have come in overnight to the team to pick and pack so they’re shipped out ASAP. We try to wrap this up by 2pm so they’re ready to be collected by our couriers. After the orders are done for the day the team often keeps working on quality checking, assembling and packaging products and anything else that needs doing before finishing up around 5pm. If we’ve got a big order to get out, it’s all hands on deck and we’ll do some pretty big hours to get it out in time, but it’s great we can be flexible and have our team take product home to package – which works great! No one wants to be working late in the office right?

I’ll usually grab another coffee and get started on artwork, product sourcing, bill-paying and general day-to-day business things. Darrell and I are both night owls, so we usually work pretty late. I wish my days were filled with painting and making new products, but as I’m sure all creative business owners know, the creative part is a tiny sliver of the running-a-small-biz pie.

I start each collection with a bunch of random thoughts in a notepad file on the computer and on my phone, then I’ll scour Pinterest, Google or books for snippets to create a mood board. I like having the inspiration and colours for each collection all nutted out on a mood board so I can show Darrell and get his thoughts. Once we’re happy with the direction it’s a matter of more research, sketching, scanning, detailed ink sketches, painting, scanning, colouring and refining and deep-etching each element in Photoshop.

I like painting all artwork as separate components so I can change the colours easily in Photoshop and change the size if needed. If I’m working on custom typography I’ll usually start with sketches and then use a brush pen and ink before I scan each word and vectorize them in Illustrator. I composite all artwork in InDesign and send it off to print for the proofing stage. Once we’ve checked and approved the proofs we wait for the finished goods to arrive.

This is the most fun part of what we do and it’s so rewarding when we see our retailers and customers loving our products. We love doing trade shows and pop up events as you really get to see people’s reactions to your products – it’s super valuable having that face-to-face contact. We love it when we meet people who are discovering us for the first time – it makes all the hard work so worthwhile!

All photos by Fox & Fallow.

Want to be featured in the Behind the Stationery column? Reach out to Megan at megan [at] ohsobeautifulpaper [dot] com for more details.

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