Hello dear IKEA kitchen enthusiasts,
I’m new to the forum and already really impressed by all the great tips here. I joined because I’m planning a complete kitchen for the first time and would like to discuss some ideas and get your advice. I’m moving “for real” for the first time due to my first job. My new location is no longer Heidelberg but a newly built rental apartment in Böblingen. The planned kitchen layout is U-shaped and presents some challenges due to the connections for water supply and drainage.
Here is the view of the kitchen unit first:
... and the floor plan with the water connections in front of the windows and the drain pipe in the lower left corner:
The sink and dishwasher are therefore planned for the window side. The drain pipe has to be routed around the corner and then angled downward towards the drain. For this, I would like to pull the cabinets on the left wall about 10-15cm (4-6 inches) forward and run the drain pipe on the surface. The gap to the wall will be covered with a wider countertop from the local carpenter. In the upper left corner, I planned a corner cabinet with shelves so that the walls there can be cut out to accommodate the drain pipe.
Cabinet 7 = drawer cabinet (37cm (15 inches) deep). The open side will be covered by a panel.
Cabinet 8 = small refrigerator with freezer compartment (large one is in the basement)
Cabinet 3 = built-in dishwasher
Cabinet 5 = oven with extractor hood
Cabinet 6 = drawer cabinet
I tried to make the most of the corners by using these special corner cabinets.
The finished setup looks like this. The windows are drawn somewhat imprecisely but they open despite the cabinet doors because they are recessed compared to the walls.
What do you think of my concept? Have I made any major planning mistakes? As I said, this is my very first kitchen planning experience and I have no prior knowledge. The whole setup would cost about €3500.
I also had a similar kitchen designed at Obi (Wellmann kitchen) for €5300 (including installation) and at a small kitchen studio for €5600 (including installation). I’m confident I can assemble it myself since I’ve put together quite a few IKEA products before. But I would seek advice from a professional for the kitchen layout, plumbing connections, and countertop installation, possibly from a local carpenter.
Maybe you could give me some tips regarding my kitchen plan. I’d appreciate it.
Best regards,
Mario
I’m new to the forum and already really impressed by all the great tips here. I joined because I’m planning a complete kitchen for the first time and would like to discuss some ideas and get your advice. I’m moving “for real” for the first time due to my first job. My new location is no longer Heidelberg but a newly built rental apartment in Böblingen. The planned kitchen layout is U-shaped and presents some challenges due to the connections for water supply and drainage.
Here is the view of the kitchen unit first:
... and the floor plan with the water connections in front of the windows and the drain pipe in the lower left corner:
The sink and dishwasher are therefore planned for the window side. The drain pipe has to be routed around the corner and then angled downward towards the drain. For this, I would like to pull the cabinets on the left wall about 10-15cm (4-6 inches) forward and run the drain pipe on the surface. The gap to the wall will be covered with a wider countertop from the local carpenter. In the upper left corner, I planned a corner cabinet with shelves so that the walls there can be cut out to accommodate the drain pipe.
Cabinet 7 = drawer cabinet (37cm (15 inches) deep). The open side will be covered by a panel.
Cabinet 8 = small refrigerator with freezer compartment (large one is in the basement)
Cabinet 3 = built-in dishwasher
Cabinet 5 = oven with extractor hood
Cabinet 6 = drawer cabinet
I tried to make the most of the corners by using these special corner cabinets.
The finished setup looks like this. The windows are drawn somewhat imprecisely but they open despite the cabinet doors because they are recessed compared to the walls.
What do you think of my concept? Have I made any major planning mistakes? As I said, this is my very first kitchen planning experience and I have no prior knowledge. The whole setup would cost about €3500.
I also had a similar kitchen designed at Obi (Wellmann kitchen) for €5300 (including installation) and at a small kitchen studio for €5600 (including installation). I’m confident I can assemble it myself since I’ve put together quite a few IKEA products before. But I would seek advice from a professional for the kitchen layout, plumbing connections, and countertop installation, possibly from a local carpenter.
Maybe you could give me some tips regarding my kitchen plan. I’d appreciate it.
Best regards,
Mario
N
Nayla_106826 Oct 2012 01:00Hi,
oh no. How did the connections end up like this??? Terrible!
Well, there’s no way around it. Installing the drain pipe with a proper slope is not just a good idea but absolutely necessary. You didn’t mention how high the drain is on the wall, so I’m worried you might not get a proper slope. The siphon is quite low, and then there’s the long run with a 90-degree bend. Hmm... There are no 90/90 corner cabinets with shelves, only with inner-turning carousels—or completely empty. The fridge in that spot is also rather counterproductive. When it cools inside, warm air comes out, to put it simply. Definitely not 50 degrees Celsius (122°F), but enough to cause odors over time given the low wastewater slope. You surely know that the left window sash might only be tilt-open, not fully open, unless you install a very flat or removable faucet. Having the handle on this side for opening is really unfortunate. By the way, what is the height of the window sill? We need a height of 90cm (35 inches). And how wide is the remaining wall space to the left of the window? It looks very narrow. If you hang wall cabinets there, the window might not open at all, meaning the right sash wouldn’t open either. Did you consider that the power outlets are directly above your cooktop, or does it just look that way?
Overall, the design isn’t bad for the given circumstances. However, I wouldn’t sell it to you as is; you’d need to explicitly confirm in writing that you want to go ahead with the kitchen purchase without changes, especially considering the safety points mentioned above.
Okay, enough complaining. Sorry if I’m making your work seem bad, but it’s supposed to work properly. Now for my solution:
* Have the faucet connections moved behind where the fridge is currently planned, then place the sink cabinet there. A small sink like the round one or models measuring about 70x50cm (28x20 inches) would work. Position the sink in the cabinet as far to the right as possible to avoid issues with the countertop cutout and give you space for dish soap and other items. You can also store your trash there, which wasn’t possible in the 50cm (20 inch) cabinet.
* I would advise against a dishwasher, as it sounds like a single-person household. If you do have one, how often do you actually use it? If it must be included, put the dishwasher where the sink is and USE it! Since the drain hose runs on the floor under the cabinets, water will stay there and eventually cause odors if not flushed out regularly.
* So, dishwasher in the sink spot, fridge next to it. Power outlets in the lower area are also scarce. The dishwasher needs its own dedicated circuit; the fridge doesn’t necessarily, but it would be better. Under no circumstances put both on a power strip.
* Corner cooktop cabinet and drawer cabinet next to it are fine. I’m not a fan of the three shallow drawers. You have two great carousel cabinets, so why have the 40cm (16 inch) mini drawers? I agree on the cooktop side if you want to store seasoning packets and canned goods, but on the other side, it’s unnecessary. A 50cm (20 inch) drawer cabinet would be better. You have so many small items that need storage. With three small drawers, you end up using boxes and containers, or just shelves where then dish soap, etc., sits. Think about it.
* For the wall cabinets on the left wall, please don’t install them right up to the window. Consider horizontal wall cabinets—they’re stylish and modern. Maybe in that glossy green or with smoked glass; they look black during the day and you can light them from inside in the evening. Looks great. Ideally, just one 92cm (36 inch) wide cabinet at the far left and possibly a second one above it. The same on the other side. You can make up the missing 3.5cm (1.5 inch) for a longer cabinet and side panel by fitting a filler strip at the bottom between the corner cabinet and cooktop. Again, two wall cabinets stacked and on top you can hide the ugly ventilation pipe from the hood.
* Don’t forget the side panels in general, and get one more for fillers. Cut them to size and fix with brackets and screws from the hardware store.
* If the outlets are really above the cooktop, ideally remove or deactivate them. Condensation, rust, short circuits, etc. Nothing may happen, but if it does...
* The blanket handles you chose are only meant for horizontal mounting/use. This is related to door swings and possible damage to neighboring cabinets. Please plan accordingly.
Nothing else comes to mind at the moment. I hope I haven’t upset you too much and that you find these suggestions helpful. I sometimes seriously wonder what landlords or even architects are thinking when they plan kitchen connections and power outlets. They probably all eat out or live with their parents. Really bad what you see sometimes. The fact is, if you wanted Ikea to install this kitchen without these warnings, the installers would turn around on the spot and leave. I also wonder on what basis kitchen studios plan and then sell these designs? If you can mention prices, there surely are plans involved. Has anyone thought about these major problems? Then the customer goes to Ikea and finds out what doesn’t work. Bearer of bad news. Great!
Just let me know if and how you replan and put pressure on the landlord. And don’t worry, you won’t catch me at your place, and in real life I’m not harsh at all. 😎
Best regards
Na.
PS: If anyone finds spelling mistakes... it’s late already...
oh no. How did the connections end up like this??? Terrible!
Well, there’s no way around it. Installing the drain pipe with a proper slope is not just a good idea but absolutely necessary. You didn’t mention how high the drain is on the wall, so I’m worried you might not get a proper slope. The siphon is quite low, and then there’s the long run with a 90-degree bend. Hmm... There are no 90/90 corner cabinets with shelves, only with inner-turning carousels—or completely empty. The fridge in that spot is also rather counterproductive. When it cools inside, warm air comes out, to put it simply. Definitely not 50 degrees Celsius (122°F), but enough to cause odors over time given the low wastewater slope. You surely know that the left window sash might only be tilt-open, not fully open, unless you install a very flat or removable faucet. Having the handle on this side for opening is really unfortunate. By the way, what is the height of the window sill? We need a height of 90cm (35 inches). And how wide is the remaining wall space to the left of the window? It looks very narrow. If you hang wall cabinets there, the window might not open at all, meaning the right sash wouldn’t open either. Did you consider that the power outlets are directly above your cooktop, or does it just look that way?
Overall, the design isn’t bad for the given circumstances. However, I wouldn’t sell it to you as is; you’d need to explicitly confirm in writing that you want to go ahead with the kitchen purchase without changes, especially considering the safety points mentioned above.
Okay, enough complaining. Sorry if I’m making your work seem bad, but it’s supposed to work properly. Now for my solution:
* Have the faucet connections moved behind where the fridge is currently planned, then place the sink cabinet there. A small sink like the round one or models measuring about 70x50cm (28x20 inches) would work. Position the sink in the cabinet as far to the right as possible to avoid issues with the countertop cutout and give you space for dish soap and other items. You can also store your trash there, which wasn’t possible in the 50cm (20 inch) cabinet.
* I would advise against a dishwasher, as it sounds like a single-person household. If you do have one, how often do you actually use it? If it must be included, put the dishwasher where the sink is and USE it! Since the drain hose runs on the floor under the cabinets, water will stay there and eventually cause odors if not flushed out regularly.
* So, dishwasher in the sink spot, fridge next to it. Power outlets in the lower area are also scarce. The dishwasher needs its own dedicated circuit; the fridge doesn’t necessarily, but it would be better. Under no circumstances put both on a power strip.
* Corner cooktop cabinet and drawer cabinet next to it are fine. I’m not a fan of the three shallow drawers. You have two great carousel cabinets, so why have the 40cm (16 inch) mini drawers? I agree on the cooktop side if you want to store seasoning packets and canned goods, but on the other side, it’s unnecessary. A 50cm (20 inch) drawer cabinet would be better. You have so many small items that need storage. With three small drawers, you end up using boxes and containers, or just shelves where then dish soap, etc., sits. Think about it.
* For the wall cabinets on the left wall, please don’t install them right up to the window. Consider horizontal wall cabinets—they’re stylish and modern. Maybe in that glossy green or with smoked glass; they look black during the day and you can light them from inside in the evening. Looks great. Ideally, just one 92cm (36 inch) wide cabinet at the far left and possibly a second one above it. The same on the other side. You can make up the missing 3.5cm (1.5 inch) for a longer cabinet and side panel by fitting a filler strip at the bottom between the corner cabinet and cooktop. Again, two wall cabinets stacked and on top you can hide the ugly ventilation pipe from the hood.
* Don’t forget the side panels in general, and get one more for fillers. Cut them to size and fix with brackets and screws from the hardware store.
* If the outlets are really above the cooktop, ideally remove or deactivate them. Condensation, rust, short circuits, etc. Nothing may happen, but if it does...
* The blanket handles you chose are only meant for horizontal mounting/use. This is related to door swings and possible damage to neighboring cabinets. Please plan accordingly.
Nothing else comes to mind at the moment. I hope I haven’t upset you too much and that you find these suggestions helpful. I sometimes seriously wonder what landlords or even architects are thinking when they plan kitchen connections and power outlets. They probably all eat out or live with their parents. Really bad what you see sometimes. The fact is, if you wanted Ikea to install this kitchen without these warnings, the installers would turn around on the spot and leave. I also wonder on what basis kitchen studios plan and then sell these designs? If you can mention prices, there surely are plans involved. Has anyone thought about these major problems? Then the customer goes to Ikea and finds out what doesn’t work. Bearer of bad news. Great!
Just let me know if and how you replan and put pressure on the landlord. And don’t worry, you won’t catch me at your place, and in real life I’m not harsh at all. 😎
Best regards
Na.
PS: If anyone finds spelling mistakes... it’s late already...
Hey, thanks a lot for the great tips.
I will work through them bit by bit and then implement what makes the most sense for me. I’m very grateful for your suggestions since I’m a beginner in kitchen planning and still at the very start. On Tuesday, I will be back at the apartment to carefully measure everything again and compare the current dimensions. Then I’ll move on to the next planning phase. I also need to contact the landlord to see if the drain or water connections can be relocated because, as it is, it’s really a challenge. The drain is currently located right at the floor level, which at least makes it possible to achieve the necessary slope.
I also appreciate the tips regarding the heat generated by the refrigerator and the effects this can have on the drain pipe (causing odors).
Now to a different topic. We are considering choosing the Nussbraus Sofielund instead of the Abstrakt high-gloss fronts. I have a question regarding this: The carcasses are white, so if the fronts are brown, would white areas then show through the brown fronts? There are also these cover panels. Would they solve my problem? If so, there is a new issue, as I believe the cover panels are 15mm (0.6 inches) thick. This might make the kitchen slightly too long on the left side, potentially preventing it from fitting all the way to the corner wall. I hope this makes sense?
Thanks again!
Best regards,
Mario
I will work through them bit by bit and then implement what makes the most sense for me. I’m very grateful for your suggestions since I’m a beginner in kitchen planning and still at the very start. On Tuesday, I will be back at the apartment to carefully measure everything again and compare the current dimensions. Then I’ll move on to the next planning phase. I also need to contact the landlord to see if the drain or water connections can be relocated because, as it is, it’s really a challenge. The drain is currently located right at the floor level, which at least makes it possible to achieve the necessary slope.
I also appreciate the tips regarding the heat generated by the refrigerator and the effects this can have on the drain pipe (causing odors).
Now to a different topic. We are considering choosing the Nussbraus Sofielund instead of the Abstrakt high-gloss fronts. I have a question regarding this: The carcasses are white, so if the fronts are brown, would white areas then show through the brown fronts? There are also these cover panels. Would they solve my problem? If so, there is a new issue, as I believe the cover panels are 15mm (0.6 inches) thick. This might make the kitchen slightly too long on the left side, potentially preventing it from fitting all the way to the corner wall. I hope this makes sense?
Thanks again!
Best regards,
Mario
Hello everyone,
I have a quick question: How do I create a blind corner in the Ikea kitchen planner? I arrange the cabinets, but how can I close the gap around the corner with a fitting panel? Does the Ikea kitchen planner offer a solution for this? So far, I have always used corner cabinets (for example, the ones with a carousel). I can’t manage the blind corner.
Maybe someone can give me a hint.
Thanks and good night,
Mario
I have a quick question: How do I create a blind corner in the Ikea kitchen planner? I arrange the cabinets, but how can I close the gap around the corner with a fitting panel? Does the Ikea kitchen planner offer a solution for this? So far, I have always used corner cabinets (for example, the ones with a carousel). I can’t manage the blind corner.
Maybe someone can give me a hint.
Thanks and good night,
Mario
N
Nayla_106827 Oct 2012 11:38Hi,
Either use filler strips, for example when you click on base cabinets as the first option. Or go to the countertops section and then to countertop adjustments. Set them to 60cm (24 inches) wide and you will have a dead corner. Basically, leave it open so the staff know what to do with it. 😉
NfU
Na.
Either use filler strips, for example when you click on base cabinets as the first option. Or go to the countertops section and then to countertop adjustments. Set them to 60cm (24 inches) wide and you will have a dead corner. Basically, leave it open so the staff know what to do with it. 😉
NfU
Na.
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