IKEA Question

[franksdad]

Hello everyone. I'm new to the discussion boards although I've enjoyed following the AW site since last summer at the suggestion of a good friend who also shares my fascination for vintage washers, other appliances, cars, Pyrex and Corning Wear, toys, and most anything else vintage. My wife, Kim, and I live in the Greater Greenville, SC metro area along with our westy, terrier mix, and our three wiener dogs. Our long hair dachshund is named Frank.

My wife and I are planning to completely gut our kitchen and start over from scratch. After numerous trips to Lowe's, Home Depot, and IKEA my wife has decided on cabinets from the IKEA Store. The cabinets are very nice but since IKEA is new to our part of the US (nearest stores in Charlotte, NC and Atlanta) I don't know anyone who has purchased anything from IKEA. I would like to get some honest feedback. My wife also wants an IKEA electric double oven, smooth cook top, microwave, dishwasher, and fridge. It is our understanding IKEA appliances are manufactured by Whirlpool, have a five year warranty, and are serviced by any Whirlpool service technician. Any comments on the durability and relaibility of IKEA cabinets and appliances?

The kitchen is Kim's territory so what she wants is what she will get. She's a fantistic cook and baker (and I have the belly to show for her talents)! I just want some comments to hopefully ease my mind.

Thank you very much.
Jim

 

[dj-gabriele]

In Europe they give between 15 to 25 years of warranty on the cabinets! And my ex has an Ikea kitchen with IKEA appliances (the appliances are horrid!) but the cabinets themselves are very nice! And seem quite well built too (and, hard to believe, many of them are made in Italy!)

 

[ronhic]

Noting Gabriele's comments above, the appliances he is refering to will have been made for the European market....Appliances supplied by IKEA to North America are, given the standard sizes of your cabinets etc, likely to be different whilst still made by Whirlpool...

I have not had a kitchen done by IKEA, but have bought numerous furniture items over the years from sofas to beds, curtains, quilts, tables and chairs...

I would have bought more if there was one closer.

Their quality should be backed up by a guarantee...and that should include any work done by trademen THEY provide for the install.

 

[spookiness]

my kitchen

My kitchen is very early Ikea, late 80's or early 90's. A previous homeowner installed, and knowing him, they were probably the cheapest available. That said, I think they've held up rather well. They're simple and white, but they do the job, and are relatively easy to clean. When its time to remodel, I'd consider them, especially since they have some good space saving solutions, and they're simple to self-install. If you decide to go with them, be sure to sit down with a store person and make sure you are ordering everything and don't have to make multiple trips, and delivery at a nominal charge can save a lot of hassle. IKEA on weekends around these parts is a maddening experience, so I avoid on weekends at all costs or get there when the doors open.

 

[franksdad]

Thank you

Thank you all for your comments. The cabinets my wife has picked up are on the high end of IKEA's cabinet line. I don't remember their name but they are white, raised panel, and have glass doors on the tops. I've noticed some of the home improvement shows are now using IKEA products. The cost for these cabinets, even with delivery from Charlotte, NC to our home (120 miles away) is much less than builder grade pre-assembled cabinets at Lowe's and Home Depot. We plan to do the install ourselves. Not only is Kim a great cook she's my number 1 carpenter's helper!
Jim

 

[veg-o-matic]

A lot of what Ikea sells is--let's face it--crap. Their cabinets, however, are pretty good. I put some up in my laundry room and they were really easy to install. I think the carcasses are all the same, and it's just the doors that are different (and run the price up.)

veg

 

[passatdoc]

good reviews both here and in Europe

I have several Swedish friends who redid their kitchens with IKEA cabinets. However, having toured the Stockholm IKEA stores, they have a wider selection of styles/quality, and some of it is pretty high end.

That said, I have a friend here who is an interior perfectionist. Her father owns a condominium in Borrego Springs, CA (desert resort community, eastern San Diego County), and she and her husband recently bought a house there too. She redid both kitchens using IKEA cabinets, partly because IKEA (and Lowes) are the only major retailers that will deliver to this remote community. Fit and finish are excellent. Her father's condo kitchen is about five years old and so far seems to be holding up well.

I know of no one who has purchased IKEA appliances, hence cannot comment. As mentioned above, Lowes delivers to Borrego, and my friend used Lowes as her appliance source.

The first IKEA stores in Southern California opened about 22 years ago (there was a small test store in Philadelphia from 1985, but much smaller than a current IKEA, only 15K square feet). I may be mistaken, but I believe the four California stores were the first full-sized IKEA stores in the USA.

They built two new stores in the SoCal region, plus took over two stores that belonged to a rival/copycat store that they forced out of business*. I know people with IKEA kitchens going on twenty years that are still in good condition.

*the rival was called "Stor" and had two locations, one in Irvine, CA and the other in I believe City of Industry, CA. Stor basically copied the IKEA walk-through format and even used similar names for similar products. From what I recall, the Marketplace section was similar. IKEA sued for infringement of copyright and won. The financial judgement against Stor forced them out of business, and IKEA acquired their two stores. So when IKEA opened in SoCal, they had four large stores from the get-go. The Irvine store, which was built out by Stor, was smaller than a typical IKEA and thus could not display the full range of products. However, it's mid-Orange County location was crucial because it was a quick drive from San Diego County (the store served both counties and was usually mobbed). In the last decade, a San Diego IKEA opened, relieving the pressure from the Orange County store, which then moved north to Costa Mesa in a huge, purpose-built new store. By that time, the more northerly location didn't matter, because the store no longer had to serve San Diego county customers.

 

[solsburian]

The previous owners installed an IKEA kitchen in our flat (I'd assume its a couple of years old).

The issue I have with them is that there is no recess at the back of the carcass for pipes etc. This has caused the previous owners to run the gas pipe for the hob inside the cupboard, underneath.

I've also heard that the carcass sizes are slightly different to other carcass from different manufacturers (in the UK at least), this could cause a problem if you want to put new doors on them in the future.

 

[vacbear58]

I have an Ikea kitchen

Both here, and in my previous apartment. I have also installed several others for friends, including one with combi microwave, additional oven and halogen hob. My current kitchen is 8 years old and is still holding up well. The carcases for all style ranges are the same as are the interior fittings, the extra you pay is for the door/drawer fronts. I have always liked the quality of drawers, drawer runners and hinges.

I am still delighted with my kitchen and have modified the layout at least three times during that period. I love the way you can mix and match the fittings and as more or less everything is packed seperatly once you know how to "play the game" you can get tremendous flexibality. I like how the wall units are deeper than normal (37 cm rather than 30cm) which makes them much more useful and again you can buy extra shelves for them which is a great help.

I cannot speak from personal experience about the applainces but those I installed for a friend are going strong 5 1/2 years later. It is true there is no cavity at the back (common here) but pipes can be easily run under the units and personally I prefer to have a full 60cm depth on all my units than have 5cm or so of dead space behind each and every one of them. The standard door height here in Europe is 70cm where, in the UK at least, its is more commonly 72cm.

When I bought the first kitchen they gave me a video which was very helpful, would be worth asking if they still do them as it had a wealth of useful tips - such as getting a even cupboard line with uneven walls (as most are)

If anyone ever says they are getting a new kitchen to me, I always say "go to IKEA". Good luck with your installation.
Al