Replies

1. 
   diesel | Oct 18, 2005 04:39am | #1

   We are currently building and are thinking of IKEA cabinets as well.  The main problems I see with them so far are having to assemble and limited dimensions available.  Other than that you sure can't beat the price and some of the options are very appealing in this price range.   Hope someone out there replies with experience.

   Good luck

   Brad

    

    

     

1. 
   aimless | Oct 18, 2005 07:25pm | #2

   There have been many, many discussions of Ikea cabinets on Breaktime. Just click on over there and do a search and you will get more info than you want.

    

   Good luck.

2. 
   MikiY | Oct 25, 2005 11:10pm | #3

   Hi

   We just bought IKEA kitchen cabinets last week for our new house.  I like IKEA and the price was great.  We thought we can install by ourself but we decided to install by IKEA kitchen installer.  We didn't buy counter tops and drawer knob, hundles, and fauset.  I already bought hundles and if I will put them  on IKEA kitchen, maybe nobody realize that's from IKEA.( Some people think IKEA cabinet is not good )

   Anyway I'm looking forward to see my new kitchen!!

1. 
   GeorgeR | Oct 26, 2005 12:11am | #4

   Thanks for the post!  I'm still gathering my courage, since I need to correct a slight sag in one corner of the kitchen, lay ceramic tile (I've done that before) and THEN do the cabinets!  Seems like we'll be cooking in the microwave and on the Weber gas grill a lot.  Good thing Georgia has a mild climate.

3. 
   spinnm | Oct 29, 2005 05:57am | #5

   Few years ago Consumer Reports did cabinets.  IKEA was rated 3.  1 and 2 were over twice the price.  I'm going to test them myself on a small house I'm building.

   The discussions that you'll see over at BreakTime will not be favorable.  They tend to look down on most mfg'd cabinets except the top of the line ones. 

   I'm hoping that assembly is not too daunting.  IKEA has many products that require some assembly.  If it were not doable by the average Joe, they wouldn't be so successful, would they?

   ShelleyinNM

1. 
   diesel | Oct 29, 2005 10:48am | #6

   Ikea is still on my list.  I have read the other opinions and looked for myself and I believe Ikea is an alright bang for your buck. 

   We are building in Northern British Columbia a 1850 sq' home with a  12' x 14' Kitchen.  We plan on using Ikea main cabinets and a custom island.   I did price a local shop to build the cabinetry, it was double.  Granted there are differences, Ikea you have to assemble(don't underestimate this benefit) & deal with the restricted sizes.    But if you want to save allot of dollars, put in some sweat equity & get a well designed cabinet, with a decent door Ikea appears to be a good choice.  

   We just poured the foundation tonight so we still have a few months until cabinets.

   Brad

    

4. 
   sonny | Oct 31, 2005 03:54am | #7

   Ikea:  I gutted my kitchen last January and installed a full set of upper and lower Ikea kitchen cupboards.  I especially like the fact that everyone of  the 18 units were perfectly square.  I had no essembly problems that wer'nt of my own making.  The package quality  was good with only one or two units mared.  I wish they made bathroom cabinets.  Oh! I especially liked their rail hanger system. Frank (sonnyd)

5. 
   Yogesh | Nov 04, 2005 01:42pm | #8

   We installed IKEA kitchen cabinets in our 1st home in 2000. Enjoyed them.

   Bought another house this year. Researched all esle in the Chicago area and then bought IKEA again for this 2nd house.

   They are easy to install and very versatile in functionality.

   I would use them again a 3rd time.  We also have other iKEA stuff like master bed, built in cabinets etc etc.

   Hope this helps.

   Yogesh

    

    

1. 
   GeorgeR | Nov 04, 2005 03:53pm | #9

   Thanks for the post.  If we could afford to we'd have custom cabinets, but its nice to have some cash left over for other things, like food!

1. 
   salnmax | Apr 06, 2006 08:41am | #10

   Hi George,

   We installed IKEA cabinets last fall in our small 1906 Craftsman kitchen.  Our main goal was to make the kitchen more functional while trying to maintain the old look.  We wanted to keep our upper cabinets, as they have so much character (inset glass doors).  We didn't love what IKEA had to offer in white (to match the uppers), so we bought their inset panel oak (chunky, solid) ---"Tidaholm" i believe.  Oddly an almost-perfect match .  Anyway, I sanded the light clear varnish off and primed & painted them white to match the uppers.  Wow.  Am SO PLEASED I took the time to do so!  They look beautiful and are very appropriate to the 1906 ones above them. 

   Although it would be lovely to open the drawers and see cherry wood or some other uniform wood construction, the trade off was far and away worth it to us. Also, there was no doubt that we were going to install white cabinets, as we were commited to matching the old, heavily painted ones.  Can't imagine spending a sm fortune on wood cabinets--only to paint  them.   I do love the functionality of IKEA too. I especially love the large (36" ) drawers... wonderful storage space!  We installed 2 12" pull-outs (cause we needed 12" in 2 places)... they are okay but not great, don't esp like the 2-step process of opening the drawers. That would be my only quasi gripe.  I surprised myself in really liking the "lazy susan" corner cabinet. Excellent use of space and more accessible than I had imagined.  We fashioned a garbage pull out, too,which works GREAT!  They didn't offer one, but we figured out with the IKEA sales person how to create one.   Well, I am just really pleased with the cabinets, as you can see! They were also very easy to put together, by the way.  

   BTW, we wanted wood countertops, so went with IKEA also, and have been very happy with them, and LOVE the look.  We cut the hole for the undermount sink, and cut smaller pieces for the island.  We don't use them as a cutting board , rather put a thin plastic (flexible) cutting mat over top and it works beautifully!

   IKEA is also known for using sustainably harvested wood, and adheres to European environ. standards of chemical useage (what's the name of that awful flame retardent that one finds in most US products (not to mention breastmilk and fatty tissues??))... IKEA doesn't use it. :)

   Ok. I 'll stop! :}

   Good luck!

   Edited 4/6/2006 1:44 am ET by salnmax

1. 
   GeorgeR | Apr 07, 2006 05:38pm | #11

   Many thanks for your post.  We're still gnawing our nails over the project, since it would entail a little floor jacking, laying a ceramic tile floor, etc.  All before the cabinets could go in, since I'd like to have the tile under the cabinets. 

   Additionally we have installed a down-draft dual fuel convection stove and have found that the exhaust power is barely adequate, so we are thinking of installing a vented hood.

   A lot of my worry is just coordinating everything so we don't end up kitchenless for a long time.  Here in Georgia we could use the gas grill much of the time, and we have a Coleman camp stove, but I'd rather camp in the mountains, not my back yard.

   I've done ceramic tile work before and assembling the cabinets is no worry.  Finding the time for all is a worry.  Finances dictate that we'll do the majority of the work ourselves.

   Looking at the cabinets in the local IKEA we were impressed at the apparent thought in their design.  I wish they used plywood for the carcasses, but to get that with any brand you pay big bucks.  Were you happy with the range of sizes available?  I am a little concerned with being forced to use a lot of fill strips, etc.

   Again, thanks for the post.

    

    

1. 
   salnmax | Apr 07, 2006 06:17pm | #12

   Ahh yes, I remember it now... putting the cabinets in was the cherry-on-top.  Or, well, for that  moment in time.  It has all been worth it to us (we too did the work ourselves...on nights and weekends--- from the rewiring, new beadboard ceiling,  installing the downdraft venting system...to trim, countertops, etc etc.  It's amazing how you don't remember the hassles once you have a beautiful new space!!

   Your Q abt the cabinets, yes--you are somewhat limited in your choices, however I can say that it worked very well for us.  (I was so grateful to be able to get a highly functional, beautiful kitchen for SO CHEAP, that the limitations of certain widths of cabinets was nothing).  My husband (who's an engineer, and quite detail oriented!) did the cabinet layout in Autocad, however there is an IKEA program that allows you to design the space.  Our friends are using it currently; the only drawback that I've heard abt the program is that it;s not MAC compatible.   

   Back to the cabinets... there is one space that we determined would be "extra" so we will be constructing a slender storage area to hold cookie sheets, trays , etc there.   On the whole, you can say we used the IKEA system for it's function (and the doors/faces because they matched so well).. but have embellished the look by doing some other basic carpentry (facade on the island, tray storage area, casing the refidge...).

   Your comment abt not having  plywood boxes... asthetically, I haven't been disappointed with the material they used, esp as our whole look is WHITE.  Had we chosen natural wood doors, or some other color, I think I would be more sensitive to the white inners.  Functionally, only time will tell, I guess! They seem very sturdy.

   Wishing you well in your project!

2. 
   GeorgeR | Apr 07, 2006 07:12pm | #13

   Thanks for the post!

   My plywood comment was in regard to durability.  Exterior or marine plywood will stand water exposure; particle board - which IKEA and other comparably priced cabinets use - swells and disintegrates.  Course you shouldn't have water exposure!

   IKEA covers exposed particle board surfaces with either wood veneer or a melamine sheeting; this is the same treatment that other makers use.  Sadly, the thickness of veneer, on plywood or particle or fiber boards, has been decreasing in recent years. Refinishing is difficult; very easy to sand through the veneer.  Thus the advantage of solid wood doors and drawer fronts.

   As far as the interior color, who cares!  White would be okay, might make peering in easier.  I was glad to hear your comments about the corner cabinet with a lazy susan.  In the early 60's my father and I replaced the cheap cabinets in our house with some edge-grain fir knockdowns from Sears.  Lovely things, I wish I could get such now.  They had lazy susans, which worked okay unless something small fell down in. 

   That installation showed the value of drawers for base cabinets, rather than doors.  When I had a kitchen remodeled  some years ago (semi-custom) all bases save the sink and one 18" were drawers on 125 lb full extension slides.  Really convenient.

   Thanks again for the posts.

   George

    

3. 
   Cammy | May 12, 2006 03:50am | #23

   About ten years ago the former owner of the home we bought installed Ikea cabinets. They are still perfect.

4. 
   GeorgeR | May 12, 2006 07:26pm | #24

   A good thing to hear!

2. 
   maura | Apr 23, 2006 09:30pm | #16

   Hi,

   I just read with great interest your post about combining Ikea cabinets with your vintage upper cabinets. I have been obsessing about doing something similiar and have been daunted by the process (as well as being dismissed by others as being somewhat of a lunatic!!)

   Anyway, I have a kitchen that is original to my house built in 1925. The dimensions are similiar to your own kitchen. The bottom cabinets are useless and impractical. The uppers, like yours are fine with the exception of needing a professional to sand and repaint them white. I have imagined replacing them with identically styled cabinets---and that seems wasteful. With a limited budget, I started to investigate Ikea cabinets and really think that the price/quality ratio is excellent. I have only looked online at the white Ikea cabinets, specifically "Adel White" and thought somehow that that would work in combination with my upper cabinets. After reading your post, I am interested in why the white cabinets were not your choice. Was it that Tiderholm matched the style of your original uppers? Was it because the white cabinets are foil and not wood? Was it difficult to strip and paint the Tiderholm cabinets white? Did you put glass inserts in your old upper cabinets or were they there originally? Cost of project? Lastly, do you have any photos that you would care to post?

   I am sorry to ask so many questions. I am a newly single 53 year old woman who is very intimidated by the brave new world of homeownership and remodeling.

   Thanks in advance for any assistance you can lend me.

   Maura

    

1. 
   salnmax | Apr 24, 2006 08:26am | #17

   Hi Maura,

   I am happy to share info with you.. it has been a great process for us. We love how our kitchen has turned out (still in-process, actually).  Answering your Q's:  Yes, we didn't think any of the white offerings they had really matched.  We also liked the feel of the wood (oak actually-- so very heavy/substantial).  It wasn't very hard to sand off the clear thin lacquer on the Tidaholm cabinets, however it is time consuming!  Imagine all the surface area!  I set up sawhorses in the back yard and sanded, then primed, then 2 coats of paint.  Nice thing was I wasn't super careful with my brushstrokes... didn't want them to stand out too much from the 100yr old uppers.  I don't regret it ONE BIT though.  I am so happy with the choices that we made...  am SO glad that we didn't cut corners (like saving $500 by not installing a beadboard ceiling... we LOVE our new ceiling!  --that kind of thing.)

   Yes, the uppers originally have glass inset panels. Our total project cost us around $20g, however that is with new appliances , and we didn't skimp (for us, anyway!) on those.  The cabinetry from IKEA, including toe kicks and wood countertops came to abt $2000.  Cheeeap in the scheme of things.

   I am happy to share photos with you.  If you would send me your email privately, I will direct you to a photoshare site.  sally@wholespiritnutrition.com

   :)  best wishes

2. 
   maura | Apr 25, 2006 02:53am | #18

   Thanks so much for responding. Now I am truly inspired and you answered a question that haunted me about installing Ikea bottom cabinets and keeping my beloved vintage uppers.( that are really functional) I have been advised that it was impossible and your experience has taught me otherwise.

   I smiled while reading about your splurging on appliances and not cutting corners in those areas that lent charm and authenticity to your project. I bought my home two years ago and although the kitchen needed improvements in cabinetry, I decided to splurge (for me) on a cherry red Northstar 50's Retro dual fuel stove AND refrigerator. Sort of like having a mid-life crisis and buying the red sports car. Now, I am thinking of finishing the kitchen with the right cabinetry and perhaps, a soapstone countertop.

   Again thanks for your help and enthusiasm. Good luck on your kitchen.

   Maura

2. 
   texcandoit | Apr 27, 2006 06:09pm | #19

   WOW - I am also renovating myh 1908 Craftsman --- Please tell me what style of cabinets you used to come in line with the Arts & Crafts style?  In the 1960's, my Grandmother and former owner of my home, removed just about every thing that made up the details of the house like the baseboard, all the cabinets in the kitchen,  completely removed the built in break front, tore off the fireplace surround and cabinets attached to it - like I said, she made the house "modern."  She also removed every window (over 35) in the house and replaced them with aluminum storm windows (those I have on my wish list to remove, but wow, 35 cabinets costs can go a long way on doing a number of things around this house.  Thanks in advance for your assistance.

    

1. 
   salnmax | Apr 29, 2006 09:24am | #20

   Texcandoit,

   We used "Tidaholm" --- look back thru the thread to my posts and you'll get the full story.  Such a shame to see lovely Arts n Crafts houses 'modernized' --- our neighbor's house met the same fate.  Good for  you for trying to honor the original architecture and take it back to what it once was.

   Best wishes <>sally

    

2. 
   dtlyme | May 02, 2006 02:42am | #21

   Here is a great web site with lots of wonderful people to answer all your questions about Ikea kitchen cabinets:
   http://www.ikeafans.com/I am doing Ikea myself. Can't wait to have it all done!-Dana

1. 
   diesel | May 04, 2006 11:30pm | #22

   Back in November we were going to go Ikea Cabinets with a custom Island in our house under construction but have since gone with all semi-custom.  The reason for me was install.  I am doing allot of work myself so I didn't want to take more. 

   We are using Ikeas bathroom cabinets they too are very reasonable priced.  

   If we did use Ikea cabinets in the Kitchen it would have cost around $7k and I would install Semi custom was $12k installed.  http://www.merit-kitchens.com/ This is the company.  They are very well built, dovetailed drawers very nice closing systems etc, but they dont have all the cool add ons that IKEA has.  We are using Ikea handles you can't beat thier price.

   Mixing new with old is a great idea.  We are in British Columbia and many designers are using at least a combination of finish colours,  We are using a black maple island with medium brown maple main cabinets.  Adding contrast is always great when well thought out.   I am a bit of a contrast freek I like to think of our new home as more post modern or contemporary craftsmanish.

   Back to the topic I still think Ikea cabinets are great for the money and they have many neat features not found in others nearly twice the price

6. 
   Katya | Apr 07, 2006 09:07pm | #14

   I'm planning on buying Ikea kithen cabinets once we build our house. I'm pretty sure it will be easy to assemble them, since I did assemble a few things from Ikea myself. We bought Expedit bookcase and Effektiv cabinets and it was easy to put them together. Insructions were pretty clear and there is a number to call if you need help - they do keep you on hold for 30 minutes or so though.

1. 
   GeorgeR | Apr 07, 2006 09:50pm | #15

   Thanks for the post.  I've assembled an IKEA dresser, and it wasn't bad.  Its just the totality of the remodel job which is off-putting.