Kitchen Remodel Diary: IKEA cabinets fit our budget

by Stefania Butler, Posted Oct 31st 2005 @ 7:15PM

We're remodelling our kitchen on a tight budget and I thought it might be interesting to blog it for anyone considering doing a bit of kitchen botox themselves. We have around 10K to play with (ideally we'd like to spend less) and we figured we'd spend 1/3 on cabinets, backsplash and floor; 1/3 on appliances; and 1/3 on labor and anything else that came up. They way we are keeping cabinet costs down is by purchasing them from IKEA. Since we live in Oregon, we don't have to pay sales tax so that helps, too.

I like the idea of a modular, restaurant-style kitchen. And since I cook lots and write about food lots, I need a kitchen that is more functional than fancy. I don't like a lot of kitchens that I see in magazines—the kinds that are too matchy-matchy or are filled with clutter. I am in love with the idea of a free-standing kitchen where pieces can be moved around. With stand-alone units, it is easier to mix and match. I am inspired by my aunt's kitchen in Rome where pieces are modular and functional. There is also something about being able to look underneath the cabinets that is appealing to me. Cabinets are pieces of furniture after all.

If I had my druthers (and about 100K), we'd contact a restaurant supply to outfit it, stick a drain in the floor, and be done with it. But, I do have resale in mind, and I think a kitchen like that would freak out some potential buyers. Since I have neither druthers nor duckets, IKEA it is.

Today J. and I took a whirlwind trip up to IKEA to see our new kitchen in person and to make sure it didn't completely suck. The closest IKEA to us is in Renton, Washington, just outside of Seattle and exactly 2.5 hours away.

We chose the VARDE line for its simplicity, craftsmanship, and cheap-osity. We spent about two hours in the IKEA kitchen today kicking tires, er, cabinets, and examining each piece inside and out. We had already spent lots of time online with their kitchen planning tool, so we knew what we wanted and where it would go.

In truth, I was prepared for it all to be crap because it is so affordable (and it is IKEA), but I can safely say we are getting a quality kitchen. The butcher block counter tops are thick and sturdy. The glass front cabinets are solidly made. Doors and drawers open and close as they should. The only downside is that their glazed porcelain apron-front sink ($260) is on universe-wide back-order until the 12th of Never so we will have a place holder sink for a while. Apron-front sinks can cost upwards of $1200 so I am prepared to wait and wait and wait for my IKEA sink. When you see the IKEA apron-front you will understand why. There is no reason to pay more. It is a beauty.

With about 45 minutes to spare before we had to start the trek home, we ordered our kitchen, arranged to have it delivered (it arrived in three days), gulped down a lingonberry soda, and then took a quick spin through the rest of IKEA to grab some non-essentials. (My 'puter now sits on a cute little laptop table so I can blog from my squishy armchair in comfort.)

Our remodel is a quasi-DIY project. We have someone doing demo and drywall and flooring, but we will do as much of this project as we can ourselves. My husband is pretty handy, he just doesn't have time to devote to being a full-time carpenter/electrician. The girls and I are going on vacation in early November when most of the dirty work will be done. The plan is that J. will bust out the cabinets while we are gone and I will come home to a mostly-done kitchen. We'll have to see. I just hope I have an oven and sink in time for Thanksgiving.

I'll keep you posted.

Next installments of Budget Kitchen Remodel diary will discuss how a culinary pro picks a range that isn't a Wolf or Viking, and how to find a deal on cork floors.

Filed Under: How To
Tags: west coast

Chew on This

Royal Wedding Cake Details Revealed! - YumSugar

Make Your Own Pop Tarts - CHOW
Denny's Introduces a Maple Bacon Sundae - Eater
Whole Foods Opening Bars in Stores - USA Today
Rules Of Bar Etiquette -- For The Bartender - HuffPost Food

Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

11-01-2005 @12:07AM Ed Charles said... Rock on Ikea. We saved about $15,000 and got those cool Blum draws as part of the deal by picking Ikea over a custom made job. You can check it out at http://www.tomatom.com/archives/2005/10/designer_kitche.html.
Don't forget to click through to see the real messy shots and the befores and afters.
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

11-01-2005 @1:02AM Almost Native said... "V?e" means "Value" (as in worth) in Swedish, so I think you are off to a good start with your kitchen. I wish you "Lycka till" ("good luck" in Swedish) to your project.
Reply