About a year ago, we bought O her big girl desk from JCPenney.com. I gave rave reviews for their Linden Street Create Your Own Desk and I have to say that a year later, the desk and storage units have definitely held up. We are now in the market for making her bedroom into an even bigger-girl bedroom (bunk bed? Lower bed with trundle for sleepovers? Not sure yet…), and will definitely look at JCPenney.com for options. So, just wanted to reiterate the value in this desk set and also that the Linden Street desk set is again on SALE. So, here’s the review, in its entirety.
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When our eldest daughter turned 7 earlier this summer, we decided that it was time to change her room into a Big Birl Room. I searched online for an affordable kids desk – one that wouldn’t fall apart next year, but wasn’t so expensive that it cost more than the furniture in my bedroom. I searched on Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, Ikea, Target, and finally, JCPenney.
JCPenney has an extensive kids/teens furniture selection – at great prices – they’re about $1000-$1500 less than the Pottery Barn Kids versions. After a long time of searching, I settled on the Linden Street Create Your Own Desk from JCPenney.com. It came in a white color, and the modular system can be used in various ways. Since I am a one-stop simple shopper – what they had shown is exactly what I bought – except in white. At the time, the items were on sale (they still are, so hurry!!) the total came to a little over $700 (!!) and I was able to save over $1100! Something similar at PBTeen would have cost me $1600 + shipping.
JCPenney's Linden Street Create Your Own Desk and Storage. Photo courtesy of www.jcpenney.com
So, I ordered the desk from JCPenney.com on 6/27/10 and it came right before the July 4th weekend which, too me, was extremely fast considering that it came in 8 large boxes. The Hubby took about two afternoons putting it all together. Instructions were clear (relatively speaking – especially in comparison to those Ikea ones) and the only thing we had to do is purchase furniture glue and dig out our electric screwdriver (tip: an electric screwdriver is a must-have or assembly will cost you several days – and your sanity).
The only complaint I do have is the paint odor that took about a month to disappear. I did worry that my daughter was breathing in fumes, so we made sure to clean off the desk as soon as it was assembled and kept her room well ventilated. I do wish that they would make “green” furniture affordable!! Other than that, we are definitely happy with our purchase from JCPenney.com. And now, our little girl isn’t such a little girl anymore, but that’s a whole other post….
- O enjoying her Big Girl Desk.
xo
Triple Threat Mommy
{I was not compensated for this post. All opinions and recommendations expressed herein are my own.}
Thanks for your helpful review and pic. I live in a city that doesn’t have a furniture dept inside Penney’s. I want to purchase but am concerned with the quality. Is this particle board like they sell at IKEA with rough edges/corners and general cheapness? Also, how does the hutch attach to the desk? How do the drawers feel when you pull them out – are they solid?? Thanks for any info.
Hi! Thank you for writing in your question! I’d be happy to help. I actually bought this online – we live in NYC – without seeing it in a JCP store. The quality, for the price, is top notch. It has been over a year now, and it goes through wear and tear. It is MDF, I believe, but it is not cheap-looking or cheaply made. I researched items similar at PotteryBarn.com and I just couldn’t spend that much money! I believe that you get the same quality at half off the price! The hutch attaches to a desk by screws. The drawers are on sliders – and we use them every day (my daughter’s art supplies are in them). They have held up! My only hang-up, which I wrote in my post, was that for about a month after we bought it, the smell from the paint was pretty strong. I made sure I wiped it all down with non-toxic cleaners and kept our apartment, especially her room, well-ventilated. The smell went away though! Let me know if you have any other questions! Thanks for writing!