This is an amazing cultural reference point for modern western thinking. I mean, no longer do you actually build something out of real materials like wood: rather, you take the notwood chipboard+plastic laminate available in an over-marketed unit shipped half way around the world in volume, modify it, then post to the internet about how to do it. Finally, people respond with anecdotes like the comment here ... http://www.ikeahackers.net/2014/06/balcony-bar.html ... this is going to be some hardcore retro content in another twenty years.
To be fair, Ikea can be the cheapest source of some raw-ish materials like mirrors, glass tabletops, metal poles, even some forms of solid wood. Why not take advantage of their economy of scale - do you know the alternatives haven't travelled just as far?
