I've lined my basement walls with sharp looking bookcases/ drawers from ikea.
I have a contemporary, solid clear cedar Ikea hutch from the early eighties that looks like it was bought yesterday from a high end store.
I know a few tradesmen that wouldn't hesitate putting in an Ikea kitchen, with a few modifications.
Thanks for coming to Ikea's defense - there are problems with life expectancy and durability of some furniture designs, but generally speaking what they offer is value.
Decades ago I was involved in building new cabins for a YMCA camp on Howe Sound. The cabins were built by a wonderful local artisan, who suggested Ikea as a potential source for bunk beds, lighting - all sorts of stuff. We met with this 'new' company, and the experience was quite interesting . Ikea was honest and comfortable in providing insight to the entire product line - it's potential durability, usability, ease (or not) of set up etc. YMCA have not looked back from that - they tend to use Ikea as a 1st source.
Years later (1990's) my wife and I were heavily involved in setting up new youth hostels around Europe. We approached Ikea and they were frankly incredible - going so far to work with local artisans to provide (and redesign) furniture, dinner ware, and bathroom hardware, that fit the design requirements of the locality, and expected clients.
2005 - the family moves from Belgium to Victoria. A large house, some furniture, plenty of stuff coming from the house in Brugge. But we need beds, book shelves, kitchen stuff, tables etc. - Ever gone around Victoria for a one stop shop for all of that? Impossible. An immediate need bed for our son with under roll, pull out storage and decent mattress cost nearly $1000 from Sears.
A trip to Richmond Ikea, loading the Honda Element beyond capacity, for under $1500, and we had decent bookshelves, TV stands, tables etal.