Tag: #IkeaHackers

  • Algot Saga; Conclusion

    Our struggles with our living room wall, and the Algot modular storage system came to a conclusion this Sunday. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that it was a resounding success, but we got the shelves up on the wall.

    As some of you may know, IKEA discontinued the Algot line of products, just at the moment that the wife and I needed it most. Also, for those of you in the Tri-State area, we are the people that bought up all the remaining Algot products from the Paramus, Elizabeth, Brooklyn, Long Island and New Haven Ikeas. (Are we committed and loyal to this product? Yes. Does it border on the illogical and obsessive? Also, yes.) With the supplies assembled, we were ready to finish out project.

    It was not anything special, but we took our hodge-podge of rails, brackets and shelves, and screwed them into the wall, and hung up all the Algots. Some the anchors didn’t sink into the drywall correctly, and I swear there is no rhyme or reason on the placement of studs in the wall, which just reminded us that the “renovated apartment” we moved into was constructed by incompetent workers. It took three and a half months, but we can cross this one off the list.

    In the end, I still don’t understand why Ikea canceled the Algot system. Nor do I understand why they didn’t make an Algot compatible with some new system. Either way, I do have to say Ikea needs to do a better job of at least putting the information out there when a product line is discontented.

  • The Algot Saga Continues

    To recap what is going on in my life; our daughter will be doing remote learning, and as such, we have made a corner in the living room to be her “school” area. We were planning on using the Algot series of shelves to complete this area, as that was what we had been using in our living room.

    But no, Ikea thought it best to stop making these shelves and not tell anyone.

    In the NYC area, we bought up what we could and have been trying to make something usable out of it. What we are left with is a mix match/mish-mash of braces, brackets and shelves that just can’t work together to give us a desk for the kid, storage for school supplies, and a place for books. We have been trying for months now, and nothing works.

    We gave up, and bought a wood wall mounted flip down desk, which looks awesome and the kid loves. We are hanging art in the corner, with the hopes that one day we will come up with something to do there.

    But we have all of this Algot stuff. There is nothing wrong with it, and could work in another space, if we ever get another space. It’s just here, mocking us in our futility to add pieces to make something else.

    Modular solution, my ass.

  • More Ikea Shopping

    We are gearing up for the school year, which for us means that our daughter will be learning from home, and using virtual lessons. We are trying to make the most of it, and the kid seems to be excited about going “back to school.” One of the things we need to do is to create for her a dedicated school/learning space.

    That means IKEA!

    We do have a bit of an Ikea obsession in our house. As some of you know from a previous post, Ikea stopped making Algot, which has still left a bad taste in our mouth when it comes to the company.

    But not so bad that we have given up on Ikea.

    As I flip through the catalogue, and scroll through their website, I remember that line from Fight Club, which asks us “What kind of dining set defines me as a person?” I don’t believe that I have become a creature of consumerism, as I think that part of the book/movie was making the point that if we feel a void of purpose or meaning, that our society tells us to fill it with shopping to create the appearance of completeness; of stability. I just want to be able to have a desk for my kid that can contain all of her school stuff, and fold up.

    Can I have that without selling my soul?