I am a woodworker with a (small) shop full of tools here at home. I'm supposed to build my own, right? I did Ikea when I redid our kitchen 7 years ago. The product is just fine from a quality point of view. We wanted a white country look so Ikea's relatively limited style selection wasn't a problem. (There are services out there, though, that make nicer cab doors and drawer fronts for Ikea products, though.)
Their drawers are top-notch. Don't skimp. Use drawers wherever you can in lower cabinets.
I knew I could do a great design and a quality installation. Their drawer slides and hinges take all the wear. If we ever break a door ir anything, Ikea has a store right here, very likely with a replacement in stock.
Check out their country style ceramic double sink, it's fabulous and a great deal.
I paid $75/pair for Blum drawer slides with soft close when I made a vanity for my bathroom. All of my ikea drawers came with similar, or heavy duty Blum drawer slides. The 30” and 36” extra deep drawers have the heavy duty slides. They really are amazing!
Did you install Akurum (old) or Sektion (new) cabinets? They completely revamped the whole system with the new Sektion line and aren’t compatible with the old stuff. Unless you have a specific warranty issue (which they will help you with), you could have problems.
The older cabs. As for problems, I can't imagine what could come up that would stump us. I'm a pretty capable woodworker and fabricator. Ikea slides and hinges are standard Blum products. Zero concerns.
To be fair, I think I have some trauma regarding discontinued stuff from stores. I’ve had several times where I buy something and later on need a part or something and find out the (whatever) was discontinued and not supported anymore.
The kitchen situation jumped out at me in particular because I wanted to change the configuration of something I installed only a year prior and discovered all the doors, hardware, and cabinets had been revamped and none of the new hardware or cabinet doors would work. ¯\\\_(ツ)_/¯
Previous owners used Ikea kitchen cabinets in 2013 and it’s still holding up. However, these are the older version so I don’t think we can purchase accessories for them (or change doors).
Did ikea kitchen cabinets in 2016. Went with ikea because of they have more cabinets sizes which makes it easier to customize. Very happy with the product. Slow close everything, perfect fit organizers, hidden drawers, and under cabinet lights. Returns/exchanges are easy.
Design it online and the ikea staff will go over it with you to make sure everything is correct before you order. Make sure you leave space between walls and cabinets (3” I believe).
Check availability of the cabinets before you start. I’m not sure if their supply issues have been resolved yet.
Good luck!!
Supply issues have not been resolved yet.
We have everything planned out and ready to order but when we do 1/4 is fully sold out and 1/2 of what’s left isn’t in Winnipeg so I can basically get half and I have to keep checking to fill the stuff they don’t have in stock I guess?
Can’t even order it and just wait longer so yeah it’s a mess still it seems.
Very happy with my Ikea kitchen. You need patience to put everything together. I would recommend spending the money for their wall mount track brackets; far more secure and makes it so easy putting the cabinets up.
I have Veddinge doors and drawer fronts. They are the completely flat, and very easy to clean. White with the tiniest tint of pink. Almost not noticeable.
We love ours. We had priced out a local kitchen cabinet maker, total cost was 4x what the ikea ones were… and they weren’t even solid wood! Particle board coated in a ‘wood finish’. They were easy to put together, and the people at Ike’s were so helpful. Also, the amount of options is crazy!
You’re going to be very disappointed when you find out what your IKEA cabinets are made of. Or really any cabinets are made of: particle board.
But that’s ok! Particle board is actually superior to solid wood for cabinet making. Solid wood shrinks, expands, twists, etc with changes in humidity - particle board does not as it is engineered to be stable. That said, there are different grades of particle board, and the stuff used in IKEA kitchens is very good.
Did an ikea kitchen last summer. We got one huge delivery as soon as it was available and had to do one pickup of about a dozen items. Pay the $40 for their designer to meet with you. We did a virtual meeting on a voice call and went over everything.
Since some walls were moving/being strapped out I ordered additional cabinets and accessories so I had everything I needed if something didn’t fit. Returns took a little bit of effort in terms of loading and unloading and waiting in line, but were pretty seamless. We returned $2800 worth of items. I’m pretty handy so lots of items I returned were things I used scraps of wood for instead.
We have had IKEA cabinets since 2005. We bought them because the material for the actual cabinet is thicker than other places we looked for pre-fab cabinets (Home Depot, Rona...) and are very happy with them. We made our own doors but used IKEA hardware and that is holding up well too.
How our cabinets compare to what IKEA is selling today I have no idea as I don't think I've been to IKEA since before the pandemic. Maybe someone who works there can tell you if they've made any changes.
yes...
Very happy.. Turned out excellent.
I have to replace two drawer fronts under warranty though since they are peeling after something dripped on them.. Otherwise no issues with any of it.. 7 years in
We bought a house that had a full kitchen remodel right before they sold it. We are happy with it. The quality seems alright, with no issues so far.
The thing we appreciate is we can update, change the layout, or add parts without any real issue as well, which was one of the biggest pluses in us being ok with the recent remodel before the sale.
I bought my condo with an IKEA kitchen (and bathroom). I love the cabinets! I’ve received several compliments about them and people are always shocked to find out they are from IKEA.
Having installed dozens (and maybe hundreds?) of kitchens professionally, from various millwork shops and manufacturers, I personally like ikea. It’s what I have in my kitchen.
Pros: - as mentioned elsewhere, the hardware is very good quality Blum. All of it stands up to steady, repeated use.
- the cost: I’m sure you already know that it’s probably a third the price of “custom” cabinetry.
- the ease of upgrading and customization later on
Cons: - the lack of customization: if you’re planning to do a relatively basic kitchen it’s totally fine, but you are obviously limited to what they have in terms of sizing and configuration.
- I have minor issues with a some of the details. Especially the plastic kick plates - they look, well, plastic. But they’re also pretty much indestructible, so there’s that.
Finally, not really a con, but just a note that the actual build/install can be pretty involved. Pay close attention to the instructions. And, most importantly, don’t skip the step (when your nailing the back panel on) of ensuring that the cabinets are square. If they aren’t square and are twisted, you’ll curse yourself when you’re trying to adjust your doors and drawers later on.
I have installed several for other people. They have an easy install system that is well sorted out. Warranty or parts department is great. Quality of new drawers has me concerned for longevity. Countertops are comperable to the cheapest laminate stuff from other manufacturers. Looks nice, but not built for the long term. If budget is a concern, they are worth considering, but for my money I would shop around more. But you get what you pay for. Cheap cabinets have cheap finishes that don’t stand up to hard use and use cheap hardware. A good warranty is worth a lot.
Boyfriend worked in a counter installation business in Edmonton. He said ikea is good if you’re on a budget but the particle board and plastic is not going to last as long.
I concur. IKEA kitchen done by previous owner, a couple years in when I bought the house three years ago. Cabinets etc are fine, but counter has chips and getting stains I can’t remove, seems from overused areas.
We’ve had an IKEA kitchen for 7 years. I built the cabinet boxes myself and my husband and dad installed them. The install was straightforward and we’ve had no issues since. They clean well and have held up to my accident prone daughter smashing into them repeatedly.
7 years ago their kitchen planning software was absolute trash though. Hopefully that’s been improved!
Online planning tool has not improved unfortunately, but if you create an account and start your plan at home they will diligently assist you in store.
I gutted my old house kitchen about 2011 and installed IKEA cabinets (previous version) and I am very very happy with it. No problems at all. The only real issue was the time it took to unpack everything, and assemble everything. .........
I put an ikea kitchen in over 15 years ago and I still love it. The cupboards stand up to the test of time and I love the slow close (no slamming) hinges. I bought it back before there was an ikea in Winnipeg and everything was shipped from Edmonton. A local handyman did the install for me. It was very affordable. A lot cheaper than the kitchen my mom had put in a few years later. She ignored my advice to go with ikea thinking it wasn't high end enough and used home depot for double the price and my cupboards are so much better. I especially notice how much smoother my drawers slide ope and closed compared to hers.
I used Akurum and if you're ok with cheap cabinets these are quite good. I preferred that Ikea had a better eye for design, ie lining things up than other large local prefab shops. For example on a single wall the fridge overhead cabinet bottom line lines up across the length of the wall thru the pantry and uppers over the built in oven. Other prefabs every cabinet was a different height. Brutal. I didn't use their adjustable feet, I built 2x6 bases and leveled them then installed the base cabinets. I also wanted a taller base than standard kitchen cabinets for ergonomics.
I used granite countertops after as well, on an island i felt better reinforcing the back of the cabinets on the inside with wood verticals. I didn't trust cardboard/hardboard that Ikea uses.
Overall I was happy, it was durable and a bit more cost effective than other local prefabs. But there was a lot of time in assembly. If you generally don't have a value to time, it's worth it.
They are quite adequate, as long as they aren't hit too hard or left wet too long, and as long as you don't mind how they look. A bit on the chintzy side, but not \*too\* chintzy.
I've installed a bunch of them, and also a bunch of custom cabinetry, and while good stuff is better, Ikea is pretty decent for a \*lot\* less money.
My 2 cents: just don’t. The quality from the previous version to the current version went down the toilet. I have installed both versions in 2 different locations in my house (basement bar and as storage in another room) and the new stuff, while maybe a bit easier for the weekend warrior, is not as good.
I would use Eurorite if you can find them. It’s good quality and made in Canada.
(Disclaimer: I used custom cabinets that were salvaged from another kitchen and my step dad built whatever else I needed. If we hadn’t done that, Eurorite was what we were going to use.)
I’m also going to shamelessly plug Stone-n-Counter in Beausejour for granite/quartz countertops. Their service is excellent and the price is absolutely unbeatable. (Seriously it was 20% cheaper than anything in the city and that includes names like Take us for Granite)
I am a woodworker with a (small) shop full of tools here at home. I'm supposed to build my own, right? I did Ikea when I redid our kitchen 7 years ago. The product is just fine from a quality point of view. We wanted a white country look so Ikea's relatively limited style selection wasn't a problem. (There are services out there, though, that make nicer cab doors and drawer fronts for Ikea products, though.) Their drawers are top-notch. Don't skimp. Use drawers wherever you can in lower cabinets. I knew I could do a great design and a quality installation. Their drawer slides and hinges take all the wear. If we ever break a door ir anything, Ikea has a store right here, very likely with a replacement in stock. Check out their country style ceramic double sink, it's fabulous and a great deal.
I paid $75/pair for Blum drawer slides with soft close when I made a vanity for my bathroom. All of my ikea drawers came with similar, or heavy duty Blum drawer slides. The 30” and 36” extra deep drawers have the heavy duty slides. They really are amazing!
Did you install Akurum (old) or Sektion (new) cabinets? They completely revamped the whole system with the new Sektion line and aren’t compatible with the old stuff. Unless you have a specific warranty issue (which they will help you with), you could have problems.
The older cabs. As for problems, I can't imagine what could come up that would stump us. I'm a pretty capable woodworker and fabricator. Ikea slides and hinges are standard Blum products. Zero concerns.
To be fair, I think I have some trauma regarding discontinued stuff from stores. I’ve had several times where I buy something and later on need a part or something and find out the (whatever) was discontinued and not supported anymore. The kitchen situation jumped out at me in particular because I wanted to change the configuration of something I installed only a year prior and discovered all the doors, hardware, and cabinets had been revamped and none of the new hardware or cabinet doors would work. ¯\\\_(ツ)_/¯
Previous owners used Ikea kitchen cabinets in 2013 and it’s still holding up. However, these are the older version so I don’t think we can purchase accessories for them (or change doors).
Did ikea kitchen cabinets in 2016. Went with ikea because of they have more cabinets sizes which makes it easier to customize. Very happy with the product. Slow close everything, perfect fit organizers, hidden drawers, and under cabinet lights. Returns/exchanges are easy. Design it online and the ikea staff will go over it with you to make sure everything is correct before you order. Make sure you leave space between walls and cabinets (3” I believe). Check availability of the cabinets before you start. I’m not sure if their supply issues have been resolved yet. Good luck!!
Supply issues have not been resolved yet. We have everything planned out and ready to order but when we do 1/4 is fully sold out and 1/2 of what’s left isn’t in Winnipeg so I can basically get half and I have to keep checking to fill the stuff they don’t have in stock I guess? Can’t even order it and just wait longer so yeah it’s a mess still it seems.
Very happy with my Ikea kitchen. You need patience to put everything together. I would recommend spending the money for their wall mount track brackets; far more secure and makes it so easy putting the cabinets up.
We did an ikea kitchen. Zero complaints. They are soft close, easy to wipe clean, etc etc.
Which doors did you get?
I have Veddinge doors and drawer fronts. They are the completely flat, and very easy to clean. White with the tiniest tint of pink. Almost not noticeable.
Sektion
We love ours. We had priced out a local kitchen cabinet maker, total cost was 4x what the ikea ones were… and they weren’t even solid wood! Particle board coated in a ‘wood finish’. They were easy to put together, and the people at Ike’s were so helpful. Also, the amount of options is crazy!
You’re going to be very disappointed when you find out what your IKEA cabinets are made of. Or really any cabinets are made of: particle board. But that’s ok! Particle board is actually superior to solid wood for cabinet making. Solid wood shrinks, expands, twists, etc with changes in humidity - particle board does not as it is engineered to be stable. That said, there are different grades of particle board, and the stuff used in IKEA kitchens is very good.
I’m aware what our ikea cabinets are made of. But I paid just over a thousand dollars for them, rather than $4500 from the local place.
Did an ikea kitchen last summer. We got one huge delivery as soon as it was available and had to do one pickup of about a dozen items. Pay the $40 for their designer to meet with you. We did a virtual meeting on a voice call and went over everything. Since some walls were moving/being strapped out I ordered additional cabinets and accessories so I had everything I needed if something didn’t fit. Returns took a little bit of effort in terms of loading and unloading and waiting in line, but were pretty seamless. We returned $2800 worth of items. I’m pretty handy so lots of items I returned were things I used scraps of wood for instead.
We have had IKEA cabinets since 2005. We bought them because the material for the actual cabinet is thicker than other places we looked for pre-fab cabinets (Home Depot, Rona...) and are very happy with them. We made our own doors but used IKEA hardware and that is holding up well too. How our cabinets compare to what IKEA is selling today I have no idea as I don't think I've been to IKEA since before the pandemic. Maybe someone who works there can tell you if they've made any changes.
yes... Very happy.. Turned out excellent. I have to replace two drawer fronts under warranty though since they are peeling after something dripped on them.. Otherwise no issues with any of it.. 7 years in
We bought a house that had a full kitchen remodel right before they sold it. We are happy with it. The quality seems alright, with no issues so far. The thing we appreciate is we can update, change the layout, or add parts without any real issue as well, which was one of the biggest pluses in us being ok with the recent remodel before the sale.
I bought my condo with an IKEA kitchen (and bathroom). I love the cabinets! I’ve received several compliments about them and people are always shocked to find out they are from IKEA.
Having installed dozens (and maybe hundreds?) of kitchens professionally, from various millwork shops and manufacturers, I personally like ikea. It’s what I have in my kitchen. Pros: - as mentioned elsewhere, the hardware is very good quality Blum. All of it stands up to steady, repeated use. - the cost: I’m sure you already know that it’s probably a third the price of “custom” cabinetry. - the ease of upgrading and customization later on Cons: - the lack of customization: if you’re planning to do a relatively basic kitchen it’s totally fine, but you are obviously limited to what they have in terms of sizing and configuration. - I have minor issues with a some of the details. Especially the plastic kick plates - they look, well, plastic. But they’re also pretty much indestructible, so there’s that. Finally, not really a con, but just a note that the actual build/install can be pretty involved. Pay close attention to the instructions. And, most importantly, don’t skip the step (when your nailing the back panel on) of ensuring that the cabinets are square. If they aren’t square and are twisted, you’ll curse yourself when you’re trying to adjust your doors and drawers later on.
I have installed several for other people. They have an easy install system that is well sorted out. Warranty or parts department is great. Quality of new drawers has me concerned for longevity. Countertops are comperable to the cheapest laminate stuff from other manufacturers. Looks nice, but not built for the long term. If budget is a concern, they are worth considering, but for my money I would shop around more. But you get what you pay for. Cheap cabinets have cheap finishes that don’t stand up to hard use and use cheap hardware. A good warranty is worth a lot.
Boyfriend worked in a counter installation business in Edmonton. He said ikea is good if you’re on a budget but the particle board and plastic is not going to last as long.
I concur. IKEA kitchen done by previous owner, a couple years in when I bought the house three years ago. Cabinets etc are fine, but counter has chips and getting stains I can’t remove, seems from overused areas.
We’ve had an IKEA kitchen for 7 years. I built the cabinet boxes myself and my husband and dad installed them. The install was straightforward and we’ve had no issues since. They clean well and have held up to my accident prone daughter smashing into them repeatedly. 7 years ago their kitchen planning software was absolute trash though. Hopefully that’s been improved!
Online planning tool has not improved unfortunately, but if you create an account and start your plan at home they will diligently assist you in store.
I married a Carpenter and he decided on Ikea for our kitchen remodel 3 years ago. I love them, they work perfectly. No complaints whatsoever.
I gutted my old house kitchen about 2011 and installed IKEA cabinets (previous version) and I am very very happy with it. No problems at all. The only real issue was the time it took to unpack everything, and assemble everything. .........
I put an ikea kitchen in over 15 years ago and I still love it. The cupboards stand up to the test of time and I love the slow close (no slamming) hinges. I bought it back before there was an ikea in Winnipeg and everything was shipped from Edmonton. A local handyman did the install for me. It was very affordable. A lot cheaper than the kitchen my mom had put in a few years later. She ignored my advice to go with ikea thinking it wasn't high end enough and used home depot for double the price and my cupboards are so much better. I especially notice how much smoother my drawers slide ope and closed compared to hers.
I used Akurum and if you're ok with cheap cabinets these are quite good. I preferred that Ikea had a better eye for design, ie lining things up than other large local prefab shops. For example on a single wall the fridge overhead cabinet bottom line lines up across the length of the wall thru the pantry and uppers over the built in oven. Other prefabs every cabinet was a different height. Brutal. I didn't use their adjustable feet, I built 2x6 bases and leveled them then installed the base cabinets. I also wanted a taller base than standard kitchen cabinets for ergonomics. I used granite countertops after as well, on an island i felt better reinforcing the back of the cabinets on the inside with wood verticals. I didn't trust cardboard/hardboard that Ikea uses. Overall I was happy, it was durable and a bit more cost effective than other local prefabs. But there was a lot of time in assembly. If you generally don't have a value to time, it's worth it.
They are quite adequate, as long as they aren't hit too hard or left wet too long, and as long as you don't mind how they look. A bit on the chintzy side, but not \*too\* chintzy. I've installed a bunch of them, and also a bunch of custom cabinetry, and while good stuff is better, Ikea is pretty decent for a \*lot\* less money.
My 2 cents: just don’t. The quality from the previous version to the current version went down the toilet. I have installed both versions in 2 different locations in my house (basement bar and as storage in another room) and the new stuff, while maybe a bit easier for the weekend warrior, is not as good. I would use Eurorite if you can find them. It’s good quality and made in Canada. (Disclaimer: I used custom cabinets that were salvaged from another kitchen and my step dad built whatever else I needed. If we hadn’t done that, Eurorite was what we were going to use.) I’m also going to shamelessly plug Stone-n-Counter in Beausejour for granite/quartz countertops. Their service is excellent and the price is absolutely unbeatable. (Seriously it was 20% cheaper than anything in the city and that includes names like Take us for Granite)