OUR NEW STOLMEN FOR AMSTERDAM : LEARN HOW TO GET IT FOR LESS THAN FROM IKEA

Original photo by Mikel Ortega. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikelo/379294065/

We have been looking at shelving units which can double up as room dividers for one of us who is relocating to Amsterdam. We recently decided it is going to be the Stolmen system from Ikea. To set up this shelving unit, it is would probably cost us approximate 250Euros to set up if we were to buy it from Ikea.

Since her moving date has not been set, we have been spending some time looking for secondhanders on Marktplaats.nl. Marktplaats.nl is a site, the likes of ebay and craigslist. Only that it is based in the Netherlands. There are many things to offer, some furnitures to plants to clothings and collectibles. One can usually call the seller and bargain down an offer price. The item would also sometimes be up for bidding. Buying from secondhanders is nothing to frown upon especially when the items are in mint condition and for a fraction of the retail price. Moreover, this is going to be her transition home. She can always choose to sell the unit, bring it along, upsize or downsize it. We have been seeing the Stolmen series in Ikea for years and do not think it is going obsolete anytime soon.

This is what we found on Marktplaats.nl last week. One seller was offering 2 shelving units for sale.

This 3-pole Stolmen holds 10 different shelves of 55cm in width.

This 2-pole Stolmen holds 6 shelves of 110cm width which suits our apartment in Amsterdam. We got this for 55Euros. which is an absolute bargain. It is in mint condition and seller is giving it up due to the relocation of his office.

This Stolmen series with a chest of drawers, 2 shelves, a clothes rack and 2 hooks retails for 204Euros in Ikea. We are still deciding if we should reduce our 6 shelver to a 4 shelver and fit in a chest of drawer or cabinet which we would probably get from Ikea, unless we have any more luck stumbling upon what we want on Marktplaats again.

This 2 door cabinet fits on the Stolmen for 59Euros.

This chest of drawers fits for 79Euros.

Either way, we are loving the design of the Stolmen and our Marktplaats bargain. The Stolmen is sustainable and versatile whether we are upsizing or downsizing.