Walking into the new IKEA store in Stockport’s Merseyway Shopping Centre, I was ready to be greeted by an overwhelming choice of cushion covers, kitchen utensils, and, of course, meatballs.
But I quickly realised that this IKEA store is not like most others. There are no viral donut lamps, no huge brown bear teddies and no self-assembling bits of bathroom furniture on sale.
The Stockport store, like the one in Aintree, is a specific Plan & Order Point for kitchen and bedroom design and a whole other IKEA experience. The premise is simple: You book in for an appointment with IKEA’s interior designers who will help you come up with an interior plan perfect for your needs, lifestyle and budget using 3D design technology.
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Customers can have as many appointments as they need before they go with their ideal design, and you can also pay for everything to be assembled and installed for you too.
For someone like me, who is absolutely pathetic when it comes to DIY, this is already an incredibly tempting offering. Add to the fact that my tiny yet cosy one-bedroom apartment in Old Trafford is limited when it comes to renovation and design, it seems like this could be right up my street - so I booked myself in for one of their kitchen consultations to see what the deal was..
Going into my appointment, I knew space and budget would be key to my new dream kitchen. With the measurements of my kitchen space standing at a puny 3.4m by 1.2m, I knew we’d need to think strategically about how to get all the storage space, appliances and other tidbits in without making it feel too cramped or overwhelming.
Thankfully, Kitchen Planning Specialist Lewis Upton was down for the challenge and reassured me we would be able to make something work. Taking to some Sims-inspired software, he mapped out my kitchen layout whilst identifying doors, water mains and any other unmovable logistics.
I like to think that perhaps one day I will find my true calling as a chef or a baker, so having enough worktop surfaces to be able to prepare food was something I knew I wanted. In reality, I’ve made about five different types of dishes and probably been unsuccessful at more than half of them - but we can all but dream, right?
I’m also a bit of a hoarder, with far too many mugs and utensils than any one person really needs, so I knew I wanted a good amount of storage without it looking like Clutter Central. With that in mind, Lewis whipped up a quick layout of worktops, making sure there was plenty of hidden storage space and surfaces for my needs.
One of the neatest things about the consultation - besides watching Lewis quickly whipping up a functioning kitchen space on screen in mere minutes - was that every single detail can be customised how you like from door knobs and handles to the colours and textures of each surface.
The aim for my dream kitchen was to have something modern that would ultimately stand the test of time, whilst still keeping costs down. Most of us aren’t able to splash the cash on fancy renovations without a deep consideration of whether it’s really worth it at this moment in time, so it needed to be something that could justify the costs.
Therefore overtly snazzy appliances, farmhouse-style window door frames, and marble top surfaces all sadly had to be turned down. That being said, I felt very much inclined to get integrated lighting fitted into my kitchen drawers and cupboards.
Operated from a remote control, I felt the sheer novelty factor alone was worth the extra cost of around £116 - don’t judge me.
Altogether, my dream kitchen came to £3,941.50. That included the worktops, the super neat lights, wall panels, and appliances. Sticking with the same appliances we already had, we could cut £1,441 off the price right away. In some cases, they can do up a basic kitchen space for just over £1,000.
During our consultation, Lewis said demand for these appointments has been sky-high since the shop first opened in March. With money tight as it is, people are wanting to make sure they get the most out of their investment and to get something that lasts.
He said many people also like the fact that it’s a stress-free experience where someone else - with the right level of know-how - gets to figure it all out for you. You can have as little or as much of your kitchen designed during the consultation as you want.
The consultation can include brand new appliances, if you wish, or can integrate already owned items. Best of all, after you’ve agreed on everything you have the choice to either get it all set up yourself or pay extra to get things installed.
Being as badly coordinated as I am, and having a wonky computer desk and bookshelf to show for my DIY efforts, I was always going to get that option. For me, the cost of installation came to just a little over £1,640. It’s not cheap, but it felt justifiable as it would save me the stress of messing up or having to get someone else in for a much bigger cost.
I went into my appointment knowing we had little space to work with but was left impressed at how the Plan & Order Point system was able to keep all of that in mind and still come up with something I probably wouldn’t have been able to do myself.
I do love a trip to IKEA, but I am one of those that finds the usual shopping experience to be a bit of a sensory overload. With this new store, all of that is taken out of the picture. You get to have a nice cup of tea, sit with a specialist and talk about what you want as they essentially play a Sims version of your house.
There’s no inclination to buy there and then, and you get to take away information on everything you’ve discussed and considered. While my 'dream' kitchen may not look too far removed from my current one, it was nice to create something new and modern that I know will stand the test of time and, all things considered, isn't breaking the bank too much.
These styles of appointments have already existed in the usual big IKEA stores for a while, but it’s nice not to have to always venture inside them for a bit of inspiration. Now I want more - and when it comes to ideas for my dream bedroom, I know where I’m going.
You can book an appointment at the IKEA's Plan & Order Point in Stockport here.
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