ᐅ Experiences with IKEA Kitchens – Quality, Installation, Service?

I have had good experiences with Metod. This is now my third kitchen. This time with fronts from an external manufacturer.
I don’t find it very cheap anymore, but still affordable enough to happily experiment with DIY and customize the kitchen so that it fits.

The selection of fronts is a bit monotonous and colorless. Hopefully, that will change over time.

The good thing about IKEA is that you can simply return anything you don’t need or have bought too much of.

I had about 6 meters (20 feet) of kitchen for 9,000 euros, with more than enough drawers and pull-outs.

You can find an external installer and various expert discussions on Facebook under “Ikea Kitchens.”

The only thing that really bothers me about IKEA kitchens is that IKEA is by no means an innocent company. It causes significant environmental problems and happily makes use of various tax loopholes. Not exactly a company making the world a better place. But I would have the same concerns with any manufacturer.

I had a Nolte kitchen in my condominium. It was 4.80 m (15 ft 9 in) long with only two 60 cm (24 in) pull-out cabinets and cost only 300 EUR per linear meter (about 91 USD per linear foot) more, even though it was 5-6 years earlier and with much less and simpler electrical work. I don’t notice a big difference. So yes, there is a difference, but I wouldn’t consider it worth the extra cost (which is probably even higher today).

I would argue that a professional can install a METOD kitchen perfectly straight, just like a novice can install a Nolte, Becker, or whatever kitchen crookedly.

I find it strange that you always have to readjust it. I have been using mine intensively for a little over two years now and haven’t had to make any adjustments. But I admit, I’m not very sensitive about this. The gaps aren’t perfectly even everywhere, but they haven’t changed, and that’s what matters.

ypg schrieb:

@nordanney thanks. That’s what I meant about Ikea: the left side of the tall cabinet is warped. Or at least, it looks warped.

Fortunately, this is just an optical effect caused by the photo being taken at an angle.

The good thing is that I also have comparisons to a "brand kitchen." In our last house together, we spent $30,000 on one. Yes, it was better. No, it wasn’t worth the extra cost. There were more options, detailed solutions, etc. But

P.S. Just a quick note about the electrical appliances from Ikea. They are "just" relabeled devices from other manufacturers. As far as I know, Ikea does not have its own appliances.
The hinges in my Metod kitchen are standard brand hinges from Blum throughout. The drawer slides with soft close are also regular Blum versions. So everything is the same as in other kitchens.
That’s all for now. I have to go to bed...

Tolentino schrieb:

I find it strange that you always have to keep making adjustments.

I have explained that here.

ypg schrieb:

Unfortunately, the Ikea front was not suitable as a drawer cabinet, but it was sold that way, so the door is unfortunately unstable.

It is the VOXTORP, made of two 40cm (16 inch) high panels, which have to be held together from the back with two hinges. Much too heavy for a drawer.
That’s why I say: stick to the standard, and you can be satisfied.

Maybe it can also be compared to Town & Country houses: affordable, sticking to the standard, and being satisfied with the value for money.

Yes, for refrigeration appliances it is mainly Bauknecht (refrigerators and freezers) and Electrolux (AEG, etc.) for stoves and ovens, but they also like to switch brands occasionally.