Hi dear community,
My girlfriend and I will soon be moving into a new apartment. Our current kitchen will stay in the apartment or alternatively be sold on eBay.
Since the prices for kitchens we like at various kitchen studios or furniture stores are simply too expensive, we will definitely buy the new kitchen from IKEA. We just can’t justify paying over €10,000 (about $11,000) just for the cabinets.
We have set a budget of around €7,000 (about $7,700), including appliances.
We have already purchased a Siemens oven with pyrolysis cleaning, a built-in Neff induction cooktop, and a freestanding Siemens stainless steel refrigerator. We will also get a dishwasher and a range hood, both from Siemens. Altogether, this brings us to about €3,100–3,300 (around $3,400–3,600). This leaves us with approximately €3,500 (about $3,850) for the cabinets. Initial planning suggests this should work.
First, I would like some advice about the cabinet fronts.
We generally like the country style but want to keep it somewhat modern, for example with the handles (Örrnas or VÄRDE). We like Bodbyn, Kroktorp, GRYTNÄS, and Laxarby.
Are there any general pros and cons of the mentioned fronts? Laxarby, for example, is significantly more expensive than GRYTNÄS. My girlfriend especially likes Bodbyn in gray, but I would prefer something lighter.
For the countertop, we want the 2.8cm (1.1 inch) oak wood slab, which matches our dining table perfectly.
Secondly, about the installation.
There are no stupid questions, but… is the assembly difficult? I would consider myself and my dad fairly handy.
The kitchen will basically be a single line along a wall about 4.00–4.50m (13–15 feet) long; I still need to measure exactly. I would like a small L-shape, but on the back wall this is hardly possible because the radiator starts after about 1.00m (3.3 feet). Since the kitchen is also open on the other side, I wanted to create a subtle L there. However, the online planner complains because this L-piece is not attached to the wall. Does it have to be placed against a wall… or how does it work?
For the fully integrated dishwasher, you definitely need that rail — the name escapes me!
The oven will go in a tall cabinet; is there anything specific to keep in mind here?
For the backsplash, I would like to use aluminum panels with printed images. These are available on various websites in 2mm (0.08 inch) thickness and should fit into the IKEA rails, right?
Any general advice and tips are very welcome.
To give a better idea, I can also post the floor plan or design as a picture.
My girlfriend and I will soon be moving into a new apartment. Our current kitchen will stay in the apartment or alternatively be sold on eBay.
Since the prices for kitchens we like at various kitchen studios or furniture stores are simply too expensive, we will definitely buy the new kitchen from IKEA. We just can’t justify paying over €10,000 (about $11,000) just for the cabinets.
We have set a budget of around €7,000 (about $7,700), including appliances.
We have already purchased a Siemens oven with pyrolysis cleaning, a built-in Neff induction cooktop, and a freestanding Siemens stainless steel refrigerator. We will also get a dishwasher and a range hood, both from Siemens. Altogether, this brings us to about €3,100–3,300 (around $3,400–3,600). This leaves us with approximately €3,500 (about $3,850) for the cabinets. Initial planning suggests this should work.
First, I would like some advice about the cabinet fronts.
We generally like the country style but want to keep it somewhat modern, for example with the handles (Örrnas or VÄRDE). We like Bodbyn, Kroktorp, GRYTNÄS, and Laxarby.
Are there any general pros and cons of the mentioned fronts? Laxarby, for example, is significantly more expensive than GRYTNÄS. My girlfriend especially likes Bodbyn in gray, but I would prefer something lighter.
For the countertop, we want the 2.8cm (1.1 inch) oak wood slab, which matches our dining table perfectly.
Secondly, about the installation.
There are no stupid questions, but… is the assembly difficult? I would consider myself and my dad fairly handy.
The kitchen will basically be a single line along a wall about 4.00–4.50m (13–15 feet) long; I still need to measure exactly. I would like a small L-shape, but on the back wall this is hardly possible because the radiator starts after about 1.00m (3.3 feet). Since the kitchen is also open on the other side, I wanted to create a subtle L there. However, the online planner complains because this L-piece is not attached to the wall. Does it have to be placed against a wall… or how does it work?
For the fully integrated dishwasher, you definitely need that rail — the name escapes me!
The oven will go in a tall cabinet; is there anything specific to keep in mind here?
For the backsplash, I would like to use aluminum panels with printed images. These are available on various websites in 2mm (0.08 inch) thickness and should fit into the IKEA rails, right?
Any general advice and tips are very welcome.
To give a better idea, I can also post the floor plan or design as a picture.
C
Coletrickle_780820 Jun 2015 00:30I would like to share with you (if you’re interested) the construction stages of my kitchen.
What we really liked or still like.
The suspension rail. A great feature. If it is perfectly level, the cabinets automatically end up almost perfectly level as well and only require minimal adjustments to be truly identical. However, it also has a major weakness. Our wall is slightly bowed outward at the bottom, as shown by a spirit level. You can see this in the end. Our tall cabinet is mounted on the upper rail, and the first cabinet on the lower rail. The tall cabinet extends 1.5cm (0.6 inches) beyond the end panel, while the first cabinet only extends 1.2cm (0.5 inches). Not a big deal, but I doubt that walls in apartments are ever perfectly level in every case.
The drawers are top-notch to assemble and very easy to adjust. Nothing to complain about here.
The quality of the cabinets. Again, can’t complain. Very good quality and easy to install.
All in all, we paid €2138 (including delivery) at IKEA. For this price, we would have been laughed at in a kitchen showroom. In addition, we spent about €3600 on appliances and nearly €500 on two solid oak countertops (4cm (1.6 inches) thick). So in total, a bit over €6000. For that, we have our current dream kitchen.
Of course, the layout and design are always subject to discussion—it’s a matter of personal taste. In the end, though, you always have to adapt somewhat to the conditions of an apartment. When building a house, you can plan the room dimensions to fit the kitchen.
Our goal was to create and maintain a country-style kitchen that still conveys a modern feel.
The only thing I would wish for from IKEA is a bit more customization. You always have to have the end panels cut to size; there are no panel options matched exactly to the cabinets. For example, for the tall cabinet, why are there only 2.20m (7.2 feet) options and not 2.00m (6.6 feet)? A bit more flexibility here would make the work much easier and would not drastically affect prices.
Corner cabinet – why does IKEA always require the long side to be on the rail or against the wall? I now have to adjust three end panels for the back wall. A continuous end panel would be nice and simpler.
Some creativity and resourcefulness are definitely necessary with IKEA.
We have spent about five days so far, but we worked very carefully. On Sunday, we will tackle the dishwasher and the crown and base moldings. Soon after, the backsplash for the corner cabinet.
What we are still really considering is the backsplash. Ideally, we would like printed aluminum composite panels. There is a supplier with 2mm (0.08 inches) thick panels. We could probably use IKEA’s rails for wall panels here. The second advantage is the price: for the entire wall, we would pay just under €400. The downside is the patterns—we want a stone wall look. There is a nice one, but it doesn’t exactly match our color preferences.
Another supplier offers the perfect stone wall composite panel. The downside is that it is 3mm (0.12 inches) thick, which is too thick for the rails, so we would have to use magnets or something similar. Even worse is the price—we would have to pay over €600.
So my question: Should we cover the entire wall, from the left tall cabinet to the right tall cabinet, or just above the cooktop?
Best regards,
Coletrickle_7808
What we really liked or still like.
The suspension rail. A great feature. If it is perfectly level, the cabinets automatically end up almost perfectly level as well and only require minimal adjustments to be truly identical. However, it also has a major weakness. Our wall is slightly bowed outward at the bottom, as shown by a spirit level. You can see this in the end. Our tall cabinet is mounted on the upper rail, and the first cabinet on the lower rail. The tall cabinet extends 1.5cm (0.6 inches) beyond the end panel, while the first cabinet only extends 1.2cm (0.5 inches). Not a big deal, but I doubt that walls in apartments are ever perfectly level in every case.
The drawers are top-notch to assemble and very easy to adjust. Nothing to complain about here.
The quality of the cabinets. Again, can’t complain. Very good quality and easy to install.
All in all, we paid €2138 (including delivery) at IKEA. For this price, we would have been laughed at in a kitchen showroom. In addition, we spent about €3600 on appliances and nearly €500 on two solid oak countertops (4cm (1.6 inches) thick). So in total, a bit over €6000. For that, we have our current dream kitchen.
Of course, the layout and design are always subject to discussion—it’s a matter of personal taste. In the end, though, you always have to adapt somewhat to the conditions of an apartment. When building a house, you can plan the room dimensions to fit the kitchen.
Our goal was to create and maintain a country-style kitchen that still conveys a modern feel.
The only thing I would wish for from IKEA is a bit more customization. You always have to have the end panels cut to size; there are no panel options matched exactly to the cabinets. For example, for the tall cabinet, why are there only 2.20m (7.2 feet) options and not 2.00m (6.6 feet)? A bit more flexibility here would make the work much easier and would not drastically affect prices.
Corner cabinet – why does IKEA always require the long side to be on the rail or against the wall? I now have to adjust three end panels for the back wall. A continuous end panel would be nice and simpler.
Some creativity and resourcefulness are definitely necessary with IKEA.
We have spent about five days so far, but we worked very carefully. On Sunday, we will tackle the dishwasher and the crown and base moldings. Soon after, the backsplash for the corner cabinet.
What we are still really considering is the backsplash. Ideally, we would like printed aluminum composite panels. There is a supplier with 2mm (0.08 inches) thick panels. We could probably use IKEA’s rails for wall panels here. The second advantage is the price: for the entire wall, we would pay just under €400. The downside is the patterns—we want a stone wall look. There is a nice one, but it doesn’t exactly match our color preferences.
Another supplier offers the perfect stone wall composite panel. The downside is that it is 3mm (0.12 inches) thick, which is too thick for the rails, so we would have to use magnets or something similar. Even worse is the price—we would have to pay over €600.
So my question: Should we cover the entire wall, from the left tall cabinet to the right tall cabinet, or just above the cooktop?
Best regards,
Coletrickle_7808
I
IKEA-Experte20 Jun 2015 16:01Thanks for the pictures. It already looks good.
I wouldn’t find the stone wall effect appealing if it’s only behind the cooktop. Stainless steel, like the range hood, would be better.
What kind of stone wall composite panel would that be? Is there a link?
I wouldn’t find the stone wall effect appealing if it’s only behind the cooktop. Stainless steel, like the range hood, would be better.
What kind of stone wall composite panel would that be? Is there a link?
C
Coletrickle_780821 Jun 2015 12:09It is an aluminum composite panel, but I would prefer a stone look.
I
IKEA-Experte21 Jun 2015 12:31I meant the
On another page, there is the perfect stone wall composite panel.to help visualize what the perfect stone wall is.
C
Coletrickle_780821 Jun 2015 16:36The beige stones...when natural
I
IKEA-Experte21 Jun 2015 20:41This wall does not exist, but you can upload your own image. Maybe you will find a suitable wall in another image database.
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