John Bleasby
The IKEA Kitchen: Heaven Sent or the Devil’s Spawn?
The July/August print edition of Canadian Contractor included a design feature by Kim Laudrum titled ‘Smart Tech Kitchens’. It got us thinking …..
Few kitchen discussions are as divisive as the one that goes like this:
‘IKEA kitchens are lousy. They don’t last, they only look good in the showroom, and they don’t really cost less than custom.’
‘Oh yeah?’
‘Yeah!’
Time for a more civilised discussion.
What really are the pro’s and con’s of IKEA kitchens? Why are some contractors and carpenters so against them?
Fact is, IKEA sells a ton of kitchen and bathroom cabinets and accessories each year in Canada. They have styles to meet just about every taste. Their on-line design software makes it easy for customers to layout the kitchen of their dreams and even spit out a list of all the required items to order with prices. They have a proven wall track mounting system for upper cabinets that installers like. Their cabinet boxes appear to be strong and durable, their hardware and drawer systems as good as or better than most on the market.
So, what’s not to like?
Apparently quite a bit. Despite their sales volume, celebrities like Mike Holmes think they’re inferior to well-made custom kitchens. Some carpenters agree, and claim that although they may be OK if you don’t have kids, IKEA kitchen systems won’t take the punishment of an active family over time. Others claim IKEA is actually not any cheaper than custom made cabinets when all is said and done. Some contractors complain that there’s no mark-up on an IKEA kitchen because they are sold direct to the end-user, only the labour charge of assembly and installation.
We want to know what you think.
We’re preparing a future print feature on the question of pre-fabricated, manufactured kitchens and your IKEA experiences, right from ordering, through order fulfilment, to installation would help us gain important perspective.
Please comment below, or send an email to
jbleasby@canadiancontractor.ca
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I have installed Ikea kitchens for clients ( and family), and dozens of other brands from cheap to higher end. Ikea is mid range honestly. They offer european hinges, adjustable legs, and a host of ikea- only inserts and options. Like any flat-packed diy solution you spend days assembling stuff, and you need competancy to build AND even more to install it. Alot of home owners definitely cannot do this. Since we bill for our time, it doesnt make economic $ense (for homeowners) to go the Ikea route if paid help are hired to assemble and install, especially when we can order fully preassembled product for about the same price.
This also presumes the homeowner knows how to design their own kitchen. However, if time matters not, and they have all the tools and expertise, Ikea is a reasonable choice.
I have installed several Ikea kitchens. I really like them. I have never had a problem putting them together or installing them. We have spent time with a designer and the client and we have had the client go direct to Ikea. In all cases it has been a positive experience. The only down side I have found is that the kitchen has to suit Ikea’s sizing so you will sometimes have fillers where a custom kitchen does not. They now have some newer door designs that match modern fronts elsewhere as well. Now if only we could solve the mountain of cardboard you end up with at the end.
That’s all we installed when I was a crew chief on Income Property with Scott Mc Gillivray. I can’t vouch for their durability but they looked good. I liked the metal sided drawers. In this disposable society that likes to change with the whims of fashion, IKEA cabinets fit the bill. They will be ready for replacement when you get bored with them.
During my 29 years of making a decent living from my professional handyman business, I have come across many IKEA kitchens that were either already installed but needed a little tweaking, or the customer required someone handy like myself to take care of the complete installation.
All in all, I feel IKEA kitchens (and bathroom cabinets) are a great solution for someone wanting to spend a little less on their cabinets (as opposed to custom made), or for someone looking for a more trendy and modern appearance.
If a person is at all handy and can read and understand instructions, then an IKEA design may be for them. If on the other hand, a person is not so inclined, and has a difficult time hanging a picture straight, IKEA cabinets may not be the most suitable choice.
Your article suggests celebrities like Mike Holmes think IKEA kitchens are inferior to well-made custom kitchens, and some carpenters think they’re OK if you don’t have kids. My response to this would be, not everyone has a budget that allows them the luxury of custom cabinets, and if your kids are damaging your cabinets, you probably need help reeling them in.
I have seen many “well-made” kitchen cabinets that were purchased through the big box stores and had their “installers” install them. They were expensive for the customer, the cabinets were actually not that great of quality, and the installation was terrible. Not all homes are created equal and especially when it comes to older homes, you’d better be able to deal with the crookedness and know how to make things look true rather than rely on your level.
If the contractors are complaining about not making enough money through mark-up, then please step aside and let handy guys like myself help out the customer who wants this type of kitchen or bathroom cabinets.
All in all I think IKEA has a good thing going. They have a solid product, a good price point, and installation is relatively simple.
They may not be for everyone, but the people I have run across that have IKEA cabinets in their home, certainly enjoy them.
Wayne Jackson
http://www.WayneJacksonHandyman.com
Mike Holmes is way off base – we have installed several hundred IKEA kitchens over the last 10 years and have had no complaints about quality / style / functionality. We now have many repeat customers who have moved and want another IKEA kitchen, we only work by referral and are kept very busy. ‘Custom’ kitchens are not twice as good as an IKEA kitchen at 3 – 4 times the cost, a lot has to do with the planning & installation. Our kitchens have been installed in million dollar homes and our clients are quite proud of the result.