It worked out perfectly because we chose units that would fit on two different walls just in case we didn't like the result: it turns out that because of the bench height the unit can extend under the window and fit along the wall with his dresser, to maximize floor space.
The bench units make perfect window seats, and are the same height as my dining chairs which could make them pretty useful in a kitchen. Although IKEA shows children standing on them as a stage in the catalog, they did show a little give when this big pregnant lady tried to sit on one, so I would reinforce it to use it for adults.
As far as quality is concerned, they are built well and easy to clean. Unlike Henry's last IKEA wardrobe that could barely withstand a move and waved in the wind;
the sturdy, thick frames of the stuva look like they will last (the height helps. too). The finish makes it nice and wipeable for grubby little hands. Our only complaint is that the door slams, but my husband was quick to point out that you could use a quiet close kitchen hinge that they provide with IKEA kitchens to omit this problem.
The stuva is nice and kid friendly, as my kids played with it last night like a jungle gym. You can see the drawers are HUGE:
Yes, you can fit a Holly (or three!) in there. They tried. The height of the wardrobe is at perfect eye level with my tall almost-seven year old, and reachable height for my two year old.
What do you think? I am so tempted to sew a nice seat cushion for the bench part to make it cozy but one of the benefits of this unit is that the benches are at a height that they make a nice play surface. So far, the stuva gets my (and four other little) thumbs up!
Cushion, stat! I think a nice piece of upholstery weight Echino is in order...
ReplyDeleteGreat review, very helpful as am considering the Stuva range for my 7 yr old son's bedroom. He is starting junior school and will be wearing shirt and tie for first time so suddenly needs a wardrobe to hang shirts! Your pictures give more of a sense of size than the ikea site.
ReplyDeleteI did purchase the Stuva 5 drawer- 3 large and 2 small drawer configuration. It was horrible to assemble. The thin backing as a hint, is easiest to slide in when the frame is standing, not on its back as shown in the picture. Mine did not slide in well at all ever. Then the directions for the drawers on how to assemble them were incorrect for this configuration! The bottom drawer needs to be assembled with the base of the drawer slid in to the top slat, and the rest of the drawers need to be assembled with the base of the drawer slid into the bottom slat. This is counterintuitive but it works as I had to call Ikea and have them figure it out. Again, the directions are incorrect. The spacing between the drawers are as follows when counting holes from the bottom of the unit to attach the slider mechanism: First slider into the bottom hole, then go 8 holes between the next slider, then 10 holes between the next slider, then 9 holes between the next slider, then 4 holes between the last slider. I HOPE THIS HELPS EVERYONE IN THE WORLD who purchased this product!!!
ReplyDeleteI have the same problem...I have a 4 drawer...you wouldn't happen to have the spacing for that?!? I cannot get it right
DeleteHi, I have the same combination and can't get it right either! Did you manage to figure it out?
DeleteThank you so much for this comment! What an absolute nightmare!
DeleteI'm in the middle of assembling the Stuva wardrobe frame and CANNOT get the backing into the slots. It's like the slots are too small for the backing to fit. I think it might be defective. We are SO frustrated and we've tried sliding the backing in with it on it's back, on it's side, AND upside down! Grrrrr! I guess we'll try exchanging it and if that doesn't work it's a no go. :/ Thanks though for posting (above).
ReplyDeleteHi, this is interesting as we had exactly l the same problem with the Stuva wardrobe. We are thinking of exchanging it incase it was a faulty batch. Did you do that? Was the replacement one okay. Thanks in advance for your help
DeleteI was frustrated with the stuva malady doors. They provide 4 shelf brackets that offset the mounting of a shelf so a shelf is closer to the front so the doors have something to hit against. But it doesn't mount properly. I called ikea and they said they only supply a 17.5 inch deep drawer but the depth of the cupboard is almost 18.5 inches. So they told me to leave a one inch gap at the back! Say what!!!! I thought the store would have figured it out so stopped by and guess what I found. They screwed the brackets into the dresser but not the shelf. It's a safety hazard in the store that they tell you in the directions not to allow. I am back at the store tomorrow to talk to the store manager.
ReplyDeleteBottom line the MAL in stuva MALad is the Spanish translation for bad ! Doesn't really matter what the rest stands for. .......
3rd February 2017 9.45am
ReplyDeleteLike the purchaser, Anonymous November 2013, we also found the Stuva five draw unit difficult to assemble. These units are very sturdy but could do with clearer instructions. We found the back of the main unit was easier to fit if you glued a piece of thick cardboard down the centre on the back (we used part of the original packaging) making it firmer. Anonymous’s guidelines for spacing drawers helped although ours worked out slightly differently. Our spacing of the drawers was 1st hole 1st runner, 9 clear holes, 2nd runner into 10th hole, 9 clear holes, 3rd runner into 10th hole, 8 clear holes, 4th runner into 9th hole, 4 clear holes, and 5th runner into 5th hole, leaving 2 clear holes at top. We also found that the face panel of the top two smaller drawers needed to go into the bottom groove. Hope this information is helpful to anyone else trying to assemble this unit.
Had exactly the problems you spoke about. Your advice saved my sanity and possibly putting a foot through the drawers in frustration! Am so grateful for your tips. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteFor info I had huge problems with the Stuva Mallad drawers - the corssheads on the screws to fix the hinges on were far too small and every screwdriver I used slipped - if you buy these doors I'd recommend using different screws
ReplyDeleteI've also had terrible problems with the STUVA wardrobe the back panel is absolutely ridiculous the sides panels of it bowed out.But because I'd already damaged the back panel trying to fit it I couldn't take it back. Also the lead time is about 3 weeks to get stuff delivered so I've got no chance of getting it back. What I found I'm going to have to do is to use the internal shelving as braces countersink holes in the sides and screw the middle of the wardrobe together onto the shelving so that that draws in the sides panels . At present the drawers do not slide into place properly because the runners are too far apart. This means cosmetically the sides will have screw caps in them which won't look terrible but this was definitely the worst item I've ever bought from IKEA and the worst thing they've ever made! I've been making and using their kit for many years. I just wouldn't buy again this or recommend it to anyone unless you're going to do a bit of DIY to fix the back panel.
ReplyDeleteHi I also just bought the stuva set. I got two frames but found that when I move the frame parts(bottom sides and top) I can hear a rattling noise inside it.What can that be? Did you have the same or is my just faulty batch?
ReplyDeleteI have the rattle too, not sure what that is. I don't get me started on that bloody backboard. I thought I was going mad when it wouldn't go in. I'm in the middle of putting it together now, but I made need to stop for alcohol to make it more bearable.
ReplyDeleteI purchased the 75” tall stuva frame and assembled it yesterday and today. Initially I really struggled attaching the backboard to the side panels. It was nice to see that others struggled too! I found a super easy solution and through I’d share.
ReplyDeleteFirst, I laid one side on the ground and inserted the back from above (like others here mentioned).
I couldn’t use the same method for the second side. So, I tilted it back over so the back of the backboard was on the ground and ripped the packaging apart. I slid the top flat part of the box under the backboard so it created a flat surface above the carpet (it seemed like the carpet was getting caught in between the backboard and side panel) then I used masking tape to tape the rest of the box to the side panel. (I did this so the sides of the box were still intact and facing away from the panel and helped prop the side panel up from the other direction)
I got a hammer and very carefully whacked at the bolts from the outer side of the side panel (now covered in cardboard). I started at the top and once the top bolt was in, I temporarily installed the top panel (to keep the top of the side board from piping out as I moved down the line). Then I whacked the bottom into place and moved to the middle bolts. I used extra layers of cardboard for the middle bolts as they seemed tougher than the top and bottom.
Using this method I installed the side panel in a matter of minutes. When I removed the cardboard, I checked for hammer damage and saw none. It went from being super hard and frustrating to being super easy. I was able to assemble the entire thing myself without any help from anyone. Which I am pretty proud of :)
This is my first ikea project, but not my first assemble it yourself piece of furniture. The store was sold out, so I’m waiting for the doors and drawers to arrive in the mail.