Anyone have an IKEA kitchen?

Atali

Thu, Aug 20 2009, 10:11 pm

ShiffyChani wrote:

I can't speak from experience with IKEA kitchens, but their furniture is junk. It falls apart from regular use and it difficult to assemble. The kitchens they have are very attractive but I would imagine they're the same quality as the furniture. Think twice before you go for the IKEA kitchen. The wood they use is mostly pressed wood and it stains easily. Just my opinion Smile

Not all ikea furniture is the same quality. Some is real wood and quite durable. It depends on what you get.

katb

Fri, Aug 21 2009, 2:06 am

ShiffyChani wrote:

I entirely disagree. We have a lot of IKEA furtniture which is very easy to assemble as the instructions are excellent. If you break or lose pieces they replace them for free. I love the billy bookcases as they are designed to fit standard UK alcoves and you can get glass shelves and use them as display cabinets. We also have lovely wardrobes from there although they were fairly expensive.

We happen to also have an IKEA kitchen which was already there when we bought our flat. I don't think it is very good, the wooden surfaces are a nightmare and they mark very badly. The units are fine and easy to keep clean. I don't like the butler sink but that is just my preference. We didn't put the kitchen in ourselves so I can't comment on assembly, but assembly of all the other flat pack furtniture is easy. They also do a service where they assemble stuff for you, and the prices seem to vary depending on which country you are in. It is not cheap in the UK, and not necessary either.

Tamiri

Fri, Aug 21 2009, 4:25 am

We have IKEA cupboards (closets with hanging space, shelves, drawers) which moved, as they stood in our home in the U.S. (we didn't take them apart) and they are still alive and well here in Israel, getting ready to move to yet another home here. They still look great, but the hardware isn't always the strongest so DH (handy) keeps fixing.
I am not sure I would go with an IKEA kitchen, which is more wear and tear, but there are so many satisfied customers out there. Could they all be wrong?

Inspired

Fri, Aug 21 2009, 4:48 am

Atali wrote:

ShiffyChani wrote:

Not all ikea furniture is the same quality. Some is real wood and quite durable. It depends on what you get.

Exactly.
I have a few ikea things. If you buy the solid wood it lasts. I did not find it hard to put together at all. Most of what I have bought is solid wood, and Bh doing great. they don't hide what it is. You choose the solid wood or the junkier stuff and know that the wood obviously lasts longer but is more expensive.

Fox

Fri, Aug 21 2009, 8:05 am

Although I don't have an Ikea kitchen, I've looked into their cabinetry extensively and have heard generally good things -- especially for the price. A couple of thoughts, though:

1. With a couple of exceptions, Ikea counters do not come with the countertops. You're free to use whatever you want for the countertop.

2. While I do know a few people who've done their own kitchen renovations, I definitely don't think they're "average" in their skills or experience. All of them either had a famly member who had done some sort of related construction work and was willing to help them or they were living elsewhere and had no pressure to finish the job quickly. I don't think installing a new kitchen is on the same level as putting together a bookshelf!

The subject of Ikea comes up here every once in a while, and in general, I'm a big fan of Ikea products. Reading opinions and experiences can be misleading, though, and I think there are a few things to keep in mind:

1. How is the furniture going to be used? Where? For how long? What's the cost of the alternative?

For example, I purchased their higher-end compressed wood/wood veneer bookshelves for my dining room. Based on the number I needed, the cost was approximately $1500. We are not planning on moving or even rearranging these bookshelves in the forseeable future. The cheapest "real wood" alternative was over $6000. So, yes, I'm sure the $6000 version would last longer. But how long do I need it to last? Long enough for my children to sell it from my estate?

On the other hand, I can completely understand someone choosing a real wood bed over compressed wood -- though I have a neighbor with 8 kids who absolutely swears by the Ikea "Malm" beds.

2. Is costlier, more durable furniture really a savings?

I would have to replace my bookshelves four times before they would equal the cost of the real wood alternative. Since I've had them five years already, I'd have a ways to go!

It also depends on how much you want to be "married" to a particular piece of furniture. If a $80 piece of furniture doesn't really fit into your new home or apartment, it's a lot different than a $1500 piece that looks tired or dated.

Bottom line: I don't think it's fair or accurate to characterize Ikea products as "junk" or to claim that they're the greatest thing since sliced bread. It depends entirely on what you need.

BinahYeteirah

Fri, Aug 21 2009, 8:28 am

My last apartment (in Australia) had an Ikea kitchen. It was there when we bought the place, so I can't speak to how easy it was to install. I really liked the kitchen. It seemed very well-made to me. After living with it for two years, it showed only minor signs of wear (a few scratches on the veneer, not much else). I definitely prefer solid wood, but I was surprised how well it stood up and how nice it looked when the cabinets were only the veneer ones. I personally would not buy the "foil finish" ones (the cheapest ones), but the real wood veneer we had, I enjoyed. One feature my kitchen I that I did not like was a set of stainless steel drawers. They were not fingerprint proof, so I was always wiping them down. I had to do that multiple times a day if I wanted the kitchen to look clean.