Howdy! Amanda Holstein right here with an replace on how my IKEA Kitchen Cupboards have been holding up since my final put up in 2020. To remind you, I’m an inside designer primarily based in Mill Valley, California, and 5 years in the past my husband and I started renovating our first residence collectively. With a good finances and the expectation of residing there for 5-7 years, we selected to save lots of on cabinetry by going with IKEA. Although the method was a little bit of a headache, we had been typically proud of the outcomes and the way our kitchen seemed & functioned ultimately.
It’s been 5 years since our renovation, together with a world pandemic, so we’ve undoubtedly put our kitchen to make use of with a lot time spent at residence. Right here’s what we’ve skilled:
The Good Information
No one can inform they’re from IKEA
Our pals, household, and company have at all times commented on how good our kitchen seems to be and are shocked once I inform them our cupboards are from IKEA. To a extra discerning eye, like a designer or contractor, you may inform the supplies are extra cheaply made because the doorways really feel a lot lighter than actual wooden. However typically, I’d say they mix in properly and our kitchen seems to be elevated.
We love our structure
The way in which we laid out our cabinetry, utilizing IKEA’s 3D Kitchen Planner, has confirmed to be tremendous purposeful for the best way we stay our every day life. We love our pantry and trash-pull out, and I wouldn’t change or rearrange something. So these 3 hours (and three scorching canines) at IKEA deciding on each little element paid off.
They’ve been straightforward to wash
One factor I wasn’t anticipating is how straightforward the doorways have been to wash. They’ve a very clean end that wipes clear with minimal effort.
The Unhealthy Information
Some doorways & drawers have grow to be misaligned
Most of the doorways have barely shifted out of alignment and really feel flimsy. Our trash pull-out, for instance, will get plenty of use and feels a bit unstable. You’ll be able to simply shake it back and forth. Within the above photograph, you may see our higher cupboards are clearly out of alignment as effectively.
There’s some chipping paint
As a result of some doorways have come a bit free/misaligned, they’re rubbing towards one another, inflicting the paint to peel in sure areas.
They most likely can’t face up to youngsters
I don’t suppose they’re sturdy sufficient for normal use with youngsters. I can’t think about the drawers being robust sufficient to carry the load of a toddler knocking down on them or the doorways making it very lengthy with youngsters slamming them.
Their customer support may be very tough
Sadly, coping with IKEA’s customer support is a big ache. If a chunk breaks or is lacking, I wouldn’t waste your time making an attempt to switch it. We skilled so many points that we ended up giving up, so certainly one of our drawers is lacking a facet.
So, are they definitely worth the financial savings?
For us, sure, they had been definitely worth the financial savings. Selecting IKEA cabinetry saved us a ton of cash and we undoubtedly don’t remorse that (our cabinetry and equipment whole got here to about $6,500). As a result of we had a good finances to renovate our whole 1800 sq foot home, I’d say saving on decrease high quality cupboards was value it in our case because it allowed us to unfold our finances over extra sq. footage. We aren’t anticipating them to final eternally and we don’t have youngsters including to their put on & tear, so that they nonetheless look fairly good and performance as we’d like them to.
My Ultimate Suggestion
If you happen to’re planning to make use of them brief time period, with no youngsters, and also you’re doing an affordable flip or momentary renovation on an excellent tight finances, then sure they’re value it. Nonetheless, with a couple of extra renovations underneath my belt, I’m now extra more likely to suggest one thing like Granite Expo which is barely costlier, and a lot better high quality than IKEA, however nowhere close to as costly as customized cupboards. This kitchen price $6500 in cabinetry and I might guess it might solely be two thousand or so extra from Granite Expo.
Only for enjoyable, here’s a earlier than and after so you may see how the kitchen seemed earlier than the renovation:
Thanks for occurring this IKEA Kitchen Cupboard journey with me! In case you have every other questions or need to get in contact with me, you will discover me at www.amandaholstein.com or on Instagram @amanda_holstein.
*Design and pictures by Amanda Holstein
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