My IKEA Experience

I broke the keyboard drawer on my computer desk two days ago. I've moved the keyboard and mouse up to the top of the desk, but my cats normally sleep there, so they aren't very happy about this arrangement. This desk is also relatively old and showing signs of wear, so I was thinking about getting another one. I had a few things I'm pretty sure I need: the main one, and really the only deal-killer, was a keyboard drawer, or possibly just a very spacious desk in lieu so the cats have room to sprawl out.

Having heard wonderful and awesome things about IKEA, I drove up to Round Rock to go there to look for what would hopefully be my awesome new computer desk and general work and play spare for the next five years. What I found was...less than impressive.

First of all, an aside: IKEA has the worst and most exasperating and annoying store layout of any store I have ever seen. Long story short, you're forced to weave your way linearly through this entire display area showcasing everything that they have in the store. This is somewhat useful as I do want to see assembled furniture to get an idea of what I want...especially since IKEA sells the pieces a la carte (which is awesome). But I only want to look at home office furniture, and to do that, I had to walk through the dining and living areas first, and, once I was done there, I had to walk through kitchen, bed, the restaurant, and at least one other section I can no longer remember because you have to weave through the entire thing in order to leave. Once you finish your grand tour, you get to this enormous warehouse area where you match-the-numbers to get what you want (which in my case was nothing), and then you walk through checkout and out the door.

So, why did IKEA not have anything I wanted? Well, despite the fact that all the IKEA furniture pieces are sold a la carte and assembled (an idea I absolutely love; I know better than some designer in Sweden what I need), IKEA only bothered to make one keyboard drawer, and it's a piece of shit metal unit that will completely and totally not do. So, their lack of quality keyboard drawers literally made their entire selection completely irrelevant.

Not wanting to give up, I (with great navigational effort) left IKEA and went to OfficeMax hoping they would have something; they also had underwhelming keyboard drawers. I think I've realized that what I actually need to find isn't a new desk (although I'd still consider that; I'd kind of like one) but really a decent-quality bolt-on keyboard drawer.

The hunt continues...