What furniture did you choose for your grade schooler?

[kozachka]

As some of you know we are moving back to US and have signed lease for an apartment. DS will start 1st grade (or kindergarten, if I can talk the school into 'redshirting' him by 5 days) so would need a new bed, desk and other furniture.

Where did you get furniture for your grade schooler? I have seen a lot of posts here regarding Young America by Stanley but am not sure if I like the style (and price). It seems to be too traditional and for lack of better word... fussy to me, at least for a boy. I prefer clean, simple lines of the Scandinavian furniture, which is why I've checked out Ikea and this wooden bed seems like a good choice http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S39847516 Also, per friend's recommendation, we've stopped by one of the local unfinished furniture stores. Beds without frame start at $199 there. That's where our friends (who are at least upper middle class, if not better off) got a bed for their 5.5 year old. And the rest of their DS' furniture is from WalMart. It looked more than appropriate and functional in person. I also remember Cosctco and Pottery Barn kids carrying furniture for this age group.

There seems to be quite of a difference between Ikea and YA, not sure why. Are there any other brands that we should consider? What things should we watch for? We would not be using this furniture forever so want it to be functional and contemporary to match the rest of the apartment. Please kindly share your knowledge.

[DebbieJ]

There seems to be quite of a difference between Ikea and YA, not sure why.

The YA stuff is likely solid HARDwood. Most IKEA furniture is usually MDF/particle board with wood veneer, or solid pine the one you linked. Pine is a much softer, and therefore, cheaper wood.

I say just buy what you like. Who cares where other people buy their furniture. You have your taste and they have theirs.

[jhamman]

We bought the L.L.Bean "Painted Cottage Work Desk"
(in "Ladybug Red") for our DS who is starting
kindergarten this year.

It's a good size desk (but not too big) for this age,
and seems sturdy, so far;
DS loves the fact that it is bright red!

http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=44718&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&from=SR&feat=sr

[kozachka]

The YA stuff is likely solid HARDwood. Most IKEA furniture is usually MDF/particle board with wood veneer, or solid pine the one you linked. Pine is a much softer, and therefore, cheaper wood.

I say just buy what you like. Who cares where other people buy their furniture. You have your taste and they have theirs.

Thank you for your explanation. I've had good experience with pine wood. The pine bedroom set (manufactured in Estonia) that we've had in Ukraine has lasted for 12 years and survived multiple moves.

I'll have to see Ikea bed and matching furniture in person to decide whether I like it or not. And I'll keep an eye on Craigslist for better brands furniture.

[kozachka]

I went to Ikea store to buy the bed that I liked online and was not impressed. I did not like any of their beds. Call me picky but I think I can get something better for the price or just a bit more. I thank went to a scandinavian design store and was similarly unimpressed. Same story with a mattress store that also caries beds. I than ended up in a local furniture store where I saw Young America kids furniture. And looked at Bolton Furniture catalog, their furniture is supposedly the next step down from YA. Finally, I checked Costco's site and now I am as confused as ever. With DH out of the country, and frankly speaking not interested in spending too much time on the issue, I am as confused as ever. Please help me choose a bed for DS who's only request is to have either a loft or bunk style bed but it's not going to happen since he keeps rolling off the mattress and is too much of monkey.

Essex A5 Twin Bed in natural finish without storage by Bolton - $314
http://www.lullabylane.com/buy/9/324/1425/Bennington-Twin-Bed--Special-Order-/9851-X00-10170.aspx

Cooley Twin Bed by Bolton - $297
http://www.lullabylane.com/buy/9/324/3133/Cooley-Full-Bed--Special-Order-/9912-X00-10170.aspx

2nd nature Twin Panel Bed by Young America - $558
http://www.youngamerica.com/product/202904/3531400035/_/2nd%26%23160%3Bnature%3Cbr%3E_twin_panel_bed/Collection/2nd_nature

gen america Twin Spindle Bed by Young America - $579
http://www.youngamerica.com/product/202908/7826400035/_/gen%26%23160%3Bamerica%3Cbr%3E_twin_spindle_bed/Collection/gen_america

basecamp Twin Low Post Panel Bed by Young America - $607
http://www.youngamerica.com/product/202904/8901400036/_/basecamp%26%23160%3B%3Cbr%3E_twin_low_post_panel_b ed/Collection/basecamp

Young America furniture can be delivered in 4 weeks and price includes delivery and setup. Bolton's can be delivered in 6 weeks, not sure about delivery. I don't mind paying extra for quality furniture but am concerned about price of other YA 'accessories'.

[WatchingThemGrow]

I LOVE our YA stuff and have been thoroughly impressed with their warranty service. They've sent me parts for a used crib, markers, and installed a new siderail when I told them the paint looked funny.

We just ordered this twin over full (http://www.youngamerica.com/product/202906/8251400762/_/4%26%23160%3Bseasons%3Cbr%3Etranquility_honey%3Cbr %3E_twin_over__double_bunk_bed/Collection/4_seasons) from them b/c it matches the rest of our "four seasons" set. We've had DD's white four seasons stuff since she was born and I'm truly happy with it.

As far as the accessory pieces go, do you mean the case pieces - dresser, nightstand, etc or trundle, etc? We order from furniturelandsouth in NC, so you should send them an email and see if you can get a salesperson to give you a quote. They will deliver in CA. They've been like 40% off retail IME.

I know nothing about the other company you're looking at, and I liked all the YA ones you selected. They are getting ready to release some new products at the furniture market next month, and they are discontinuing some (like our twin/full bunk) to make room for full over full bunks in their line up. We don't have the room for that, so we ordered this one before we need it.

[jhamman]

Did you see anything you liked at Pottery Barn Kids ?

Over the years we had both a PBK crib and a PBK toddler bed,
and they both held up well.

Some of their styles take up a lot of floor-space, though.

[saleenl]

We have a Bolton bunkbed (marketed under the Vermont Precision name) that I can no longer find on the website; we only use half the bed for now as a twin bed. It is solid maple and we purchased it from Costco. It shipped directly from China and the first one we received was partly damaged but Costco had them ship out replacement parts right away and were great about it. The bed has held up well for a year and a half to lots of jumping. I would pick it again. We ended up getting furniture pieces made to match by an Amish craftsman so I can't comment on the quality of their case goods.

[kozachka]

After going back and forth on this and driving DH crazy, I have ordered basecamp Twin Low Post Panel Bed by Young America. It was a bit less than original quote of $607, I think closer to $580.
http://www.youngamerica.com/product/...ction/basecamp

We have also ordered a matching night stand http://www.youngamerica.com/product/176226/8901400082/_/basecamp%26%23160%3B%3Cbr%3Enight_stand, which was around $370.

Total with tax, delivery and setup - just over $1K. And to think of it, I was *this* close to ordering Bolton bed and nightstand but just was not 100% satisfied with color and nightstand options in cherry (as in one).