We visited my sister-in-law in Brooklyn. An entire day of our 5 day trip was devoted to Ikea! We shopped for hours. Even brought my 12 year old and 9 year old. They have become savvy Ikea shoppers now.

One of the best parts of our day was dinner! We had a yummy dinner while looking at our fabulous view of the Statue of Liberty.

Of course THE BEST part was buying all the things I can’t get shipped to my house. I now own my very own RIBBA frames, white ceramic plant pots, etc. My daughter Emily used some of her spending money to buy a succulent plant & white pot. She even had fun and gave her plant a name (Joyce.) Where she got that name I have no idea! Just wanted to say thanks for all the Ikea posts. We really had a great shopping day.

Great score! We have the real West Elm one and have heard about some pretty good replicas being made by overstock.com. The main difference (or so we’ve heard) is that the replicas aren’t super shiny and they come in more of a matte finish. The real West Elm babies have a super shiny lacquered finish, so if yours feels smooth like a credit card (as opposed to a little gritty like painted wood) then it’s probably the real thing. As for the color, ours appears to be bright white, but not blindingly so (perhaps a bit of an off-white tint is a correct description). Oh and if the legs look a bit less chunky then the one on westelm.com that’s another tip off that it’s a replica. Hope it helps!

xo,
s

it looke just like the one of the website, same measurements and all. however it is not super super bright white. but instead has a bit of an off white tint to it if that makes sense?

Darn, we were going to suggest the Overstock.com one. We do know from experience that things can appear to be out of stock for months but they actually come and go, so checking more frequently might help you score that desk after all. As for Ikea, we don’t have a specific link, but they offer desks where you can pick the top and combine it with any legs. So selecting a glossy white top with simple white legs (they offer metal ones that you could paint white) could help you achieve the look on a budget. Hope that helps!

xo,
s

i have a small question – i’m looking for a west elm parsons look-a-like desk for my new (first!) apartment. i love the west elm desk, but i’m fresh out of school and can’t afford to spend $300 on one piece of furniture. i checked my local craigslist, but no luck. the student desk on overstock was my second option, but they’ve been out of stock for a while now.

do you have any suggestions for a parsons look-a-like desk for about $150 or under? i was thinking ikea — any clue on which one would look best?

i was looking for a white color. no longer than 48″.

Hey Danielle,

So glad you found us! So many colors will mix well with the green geometric duvet color so try layering tans and chocolates and creams for a look that’s sophisticated and elegant or even bringing in pops of orange or lavender for a bit of vibrancy and fun. Hope it helps!

xo,
s