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Fitting out a spare bedroom

487

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 09 November 2011 - 13:33

Any ideas where we can do this? Hubby and I keep arguing about it and we're going to kill eachother soon. Time is of the essence as we have family arriving in 5 weeks....

He thinks everything is either too badly made or too expensive (errr hello this IS Qatar) and I think everything he is ok with is gross!

Is there anywhere we're missing apart from Homes R Us, Home Center and Apollo? We need a bed and furniture. All the beds we've tried so far are so hard as well :(

I am on the verge of getting visas organised for an IKEA run after another morning's arguing, I mean shopping. Raaaaarrrrrgh!
<em>edited by amy77 on 09/11/2011</em>

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197

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 01 December 2011 - 08:43

You could try Origins it's a company mainly selling European style sofas and beds/ mattresses they are based in a villa in the lagoon area, they have a website if you want to check it out at origins sofas.com

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EW GURU

Latest post on 30 November 2011 - 16:25

I would also double check that your apartment isn't fully furnished already. Many in West Bay are, and it can be a pain to find storage...

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EW GURU

Latest post on 30 November 2011 - 16:14

Hi PinotG, this thread lists the stores to look at, although once you've looked at those, and depending on your budget, you may well be doing an Ikea run too! Good luck. http://www.expatwoman.com/qatar/forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=162662

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 30 November 2011 - 15:16

sorry for the hijack, hope no-one minds me butting in, but am hoping to be in Doha on Sunday to arrange furniture etc for our new apartment in west bay. Any tips on where to head to look for modern stuff? Don't want the apartment to end up looking like a bachelor pad.

487

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 29 November 2011 - 22:02

No worries, DD. Hubby has bought ratchet straps today; something about 'tying the mattress to the roof of the car'...... Have visions of National Lampoons-style Nissan Pathfinder delicately picking its way across the desert back towards Qatar on Saturday.... Look out for us on the Salwa Road around 4pm (probably minus our mattress). Sorry to hear about your delayed move, hope it all goes OK eventually :) edited by amy77 on 29/11/2011 <em>edited by amy77 on 29/11/2011</em>

desertdiva18420

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 29 November 2011 - 11:55

Hi Amy- I am sooo sorry for the late reply!! I've been travelling and not paying much attention to EW. The bed is not a divan- it's a metal frame with a box spring and pillowtop mattress (queen size). Unfortunately, my DH is now hesitant to sell our spare bedroom furnishings as our (company sponsored) move isn't progressing as quickly as we expected. I hope you find something fab at Ikea and then a mattress which suits your needs in Qatar. Apologies! xxx DD

487

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 23 November 2011 - 12:22

Desertdiva, is your bed a divan? If so, I think we may be interested in it (without the headboard and nightstand) as I have just measured the car up and we won't get an IKEA mattress and double bed in it. So now I think we are going to have to buy a plain divan bed in this country and get the rest of the bedroom furniture in IKEA. So annoying, as our Nissan Pathfinder is only about 6cm too short - if only we had the Nissan Armada! Doha4Now, I don't suppose you have a car which is bigger than a Pathfinder do you?! If so, I would be happy to go in convoy if you could put our bed and mattress in your car, and we will carry all of your purchases in our car! By the way, just to update, getting the Saudi transit visas was easy - we used Al Kanz near Landmark.

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 20 November 2011 - 18:48

We bought my daughter a mattress from IKEA and it came rolled and sealed in plastic. So super easy to get back from Abu Dhabi in the family truckster. You might be able to see online or call the store and ask how the mattresses you are considering are packaged. DD's bed is a single/twin size.

487

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 20 November 2011 - 18:25

Hi Desertdiva, sorry for not replying sooner. I am keeping your offer in mind - I have been without my car for a week, so I've not been able to measure it up to see what we will be able to fit in from IKEA but I am keeping your offer in mind. We should get the car back tonight, so I will make a decision tomorrow.

desertdiva18420

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 15 November 2011 - 17:28

Hey Amy, If you are interested, we're looking to sell our spare bedroom furnishings as we're soon downsizing from a villa to an apartment. We have a high-quality, queen size pillow-top mattress (American brand) with a frame and cherry wood headboard, a nightstand, plus all of the bedding (sheets, comforter, pillows, etc.). Feel free to email me if you wish and I can send photos.. (removed email). PS: you should still go to IKEA for the adventure!! <em>edited by desertdiva on 19/11/2011</em>

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 14 November 2011 - 16:23

PS I've also checked out IKEA's UAE prices and compared them to the UK prices - they are almost exactly the same. Some things are cheaper, others are a bit more expensive. So all these people who go on about IKEA prices being 'marked up' or '20% more expensive' in the Middle East should be ignored!

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 14 November 2011 - 16:21

If you want more info, check out http://www.qnhg.org/files/wpro_shared/docs/How%20to%20travel%20to%20UAE%20and%20Oman%20by%20road.pdf (old but still up to date) and http://wahyuinqatar.wordpress.com/2009/07/27/uae-oman-trip-preparation-immigration-documentation-car/ We've got the No Objection letter already and we're using Al Kanz to get the transit visa - takes about 3 days to arrange.

487

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 14 November 2011 - 16:12

My friends took 8 hours to get to Dubai, but the husband is the world's slowest driver and they reckon they could have done it in 6. Most of that was waiting to get through at the borders. IKEA stuff is easy once you get into it - I was a bit useless as well, but when we moved here I had 20+ items to put together, and I just had to get on with it because my husband was at work, and it took me about 5 days to do all of them. As long as you have an electric screwdriver, it's very easy. <em>edited by amy77 on 14/11/2011</em>

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 14 November 2011 - 15:44

Ladies, i've never done the Doha-Dubai-Doha run... how long would you say it takes? Maybe we can organize a mass IKEA trip... Also, who can you use here to put stuff together...When i lived in Dubai you could pay extra and have them come out and assemble everything..(neither I or my hubbie are very handy like that!)

Safiya Dafiya43781

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 14 November 2011 - 09:00

We were in Dubai over Eid...ah IKEA and ACE, how I love you :-) We loaded up with all the stuff we can't get here, no ag rules so we bought plants from Dubai and cuttings from Oman and I even found cans of artichoke hearts LOL. The drive to/from was easy, border crossings took 20-30 minutes each, piece of cake.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 13 November 2011 - 20:44

so my mom sends me a text from the US yesterday saying that they got to IKEA for breakfast, had a wonder around the store and then before they knew it was noon and they were at the restaurant again so they ate lunch...meatballs :-)

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 13 November 2011 - 17:26

So, anyway, which IKEA is better out of Dubai and Abu Dhabi? And which serves the best meatballs? Been to both and I like both. The one in Dubai has more to offer in terms of other stores that are around it. The Yas Island one is in the middle of nowhere. (Or at least what seemed like the middle of nowhere although eventually there will be a mall nearby.) The only thing near it was Ferrari World (which I guess is an indoor amusement park.) As for meatballs -- no idea. We never eat at IKEA.

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 13 November 2011 - 02:02

No arguments of that sort actually because DH is happy to see me make "purchases" in Ikea than make a hundred trips here and come back empty handed. Fitting things into the car is purely his responsibility so I do not get into that as long as my stuff gets here undamaged. I have only been to the Dubai Ikea so can't comment on the Abu Dhabi one.

487

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 13 November 2011 - 01:11

Did you have one of the classic IKEA car park arguments that me and DH always seem to have? Him being utterly pessimistic about getting everything into the car and threatening to take stuff back upstairs, and me saying 'There is a way, there MUST be a way' and rearranging the entire car's contents just to try and squeeze in that last extra lampshade. Usually involving the front seat being pushed right forward and then me having to act like that's perfectly fine and comfortable for the whole 30 mile journey home whilst DH and I are sat resolutely in silence recovering from our IKEA row(s). So, anyway, which IKEA is better out of Dubai and Abu Dhabi? And which serves the best meatballs?

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 13 November 2011 - 00:24

Have fun amy77. Just returned with a car full (and I mean filled in every nook and corner) of Ikea stuff.

697

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EW GURU

Latest post on 10 November 2011 - 18:48

Well DH and I have moved internationally 5 times in 11 years so I guess I've just come to terms with shipping stuff!! Yes the Dubai run sounds adventurous but I'm just getting too old! :) I'll live vicariously through you this time :)

487

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 10 November 2011 - 18:38

Haha no, I can't wait! Don't forget that hubby and I met on a long distance banger rally, this is right up our street. We've got 2 sets of friends who've done it and had a great time too. To be honest the IKEA bit is really just an excuse to do it anyway....

697

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EW GURU

Latest post on 10 November 2011 - 18:20

hmmm I hate to sound boring but I think driving from Dubai for an IKEA run is absolutely crazy Amy!!!!! Just saying.. :) When I told DH, he said, "the drive from Gatwick to Croydon was bad enough" LOL ;) I can't wait to read about your experiences!!!

487

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 10 November 2011 - 16:54

It is so bad, you're right. It's no better than the stuff they sell in Argos in England I.e real budget stuff and I refuse to pay close to £1000 for it. I know it's "only" a spare bedroom, but when people are coming to stay for 2-3 weeks (and sacrificing other holidays so they can come and see us) I want them to be comfortable. I honestly don't even know how people sleep on the mattresses they sell over here, I've never felt anything like it! We have a £200 mattress from IKEA in the other spare room and that is SO much better than anything you can buy here. It is well made, supportive and comfortable. I refuse to pay £500+ for something of lesser quality. <em>edited by amy77 on 10/11/2011</em>

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 10 November 2011 - 16:11

It seems to me that the stuff in Home Centre just gets worse and worse.......I bought a few things a number of years ago and they were fine but when I looked recently it wal all awful. The quality has got worse (if that is possible) as well. The One has some ok bits of furniture at times but even that is over-priced. What about ID design? Not been in there for a while though. I hope IKEA does come as it would solve all our problems! So many times I have bought furniture here which is ok but I don't really like it and have had to pay a fortune for the privilege!!

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 10 November 2011 - 09:56

The Yas Island IKEA (close to Abu Dhabi) one would be a little closer if there weren't other places that you wanted to go in Dubai.

487

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 10 November 2011 - 08:56

Well, it is just partly an excuse to drive to Dubai as we've been wanting to do it for ages! Also I can get a whole bedroom set for a lot less than we would spend here. Plus I can top up with a few extra purchases for the rest of the house :) So all in all it's a no-brainer really - I just need to measure the inside of the car now and look up the packaging sizes online to work out what we can/can't fit in :)

453

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 10 November 2011 - 08:31

Not sure if you can fit it inside, but with lots of rope and bungee cords I am sure you could fit it on the roof. Haha! When I had first moved here, we had been given the name/location of a shop that made us a mattress to go on top of our mattress. You went in and chose the type of foam, the thickness, etc and they made it up to look like a store bought mattress. Unfortunately I can't even pass that information on to you because the shop was in a bank of shops that were torn down earlier this year and I have no idea where they all moved to! I know that you want your guests to be comfortable, but the reality of it is that they won't be here longterm so I would really be asking myself how much I wanted to spend on a mattress that might only get used a couple of weeks out of every year. Might be better off asking your guests to buy a memory foam topper to bring with them that you can pay them back for. That being said, I'm pretty sure there will be more than a mattress that makes the return trip. ;) We are continuing to kick ourselves for a few things we looked at IKEA and didn't bring back. We may have to take a flight to Dubai for a weekend early next year and go with just carry on luggage so that we can bring back some treasures. :) (Of course I will have to present the idea of a trip to Dubai in some other way to my husband as IKEA might not be a selling point for him.) I do have to say though... I'm jealous of the bbq! We keep looking at those and then decide we don't want to spend that kind of money... but I miss grilling! <em>edited by DebK on 10/11/2011</em>

487

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 09 November 2011 - 22:53

For all those following this riveting saga, I am sure you will be delighted to know that hubby 'only' bought a BBQ. Phew. He knows better than to make important home decorating decisions without me, clearly. So, we're going to make a run to IKEA. Anyone know if you can get a double mattress in a Nissan Pathfinder?!

487

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 09 November 2011 - 19:10

Oh god, just had a text to say hubby has spent something in Homes R Us. I am worried. I pretended to agree with him about liking some vile bedroom set in Home Center this morning, just for the sake of avoiding any more arguments. However I threw him the challenge of finding a funny-sized mattress to fit it, as the Home Center ones were hideous. So he went off to Homes R Us ALONE aaargh to see if they sell 155cm mattresses to fit. I thought he would fail and then I would get my own way, but he's just spent QR2000 in there...... I suppose I am going to get another text in a minute saying he's spent QR6000 on the hideous bedroom set in Home Center. Aaaargh <bangs head on desk> Never ever let your husband out in a homewares shop without an accompanying responsible adult.

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