When designing a kitchen remodel, one of the key decisions that we have to make is what cabinet system to use. This is a critical question because it affects the budget, the appearance, the ability to meet your requirements, and the options available. Some cabinet systems are better than others. If a client is working on a tight budget, they usually ask me about using Ikea cabinets.
I have nothing against Ikea cabinets, and have used them for various kitchens over the years, most recently in last year’s Sunnyvale remodeling. A construction photo of that kitchen is shown above. But they do have limitations. I discuss those limitations in the feature article of the upcoming July issue of Making Places, my bi-monthly newsletter. Subscribe by July 14 and you will be able to read that article, you will also receive a complimentary copy of my ebook, 12 Ideas to Freshen Up Your Kitchen, and access to all my future newsletters.
The folks at Kitchn.com featured a nice condo kitchen which used Ikea cabinets. This particular kitchen is an ideal application for Ikea cabinets: a simple space and a simple kitchen design. It is important to remember that while Ikea offers a fair number of cabinet sizes, other manufacturers offer even more cabinet sizes. On the price scale, the next manufacturer I would recommend, costing more than Ikea, is Kitchenmaid. They offer more cabinet sizes, more finish options, more accessory options and they arrive assembled. Other manufacturers offer even more than Kitchenmaid. Custom cabinets allow complete design freedom, but they cost more (a lot more) and they have to be designed, which means a lot more of your architect’s time.
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