I'm thinking of installing kitchen units from IKEA in a house that we're currently renovating.I'd be very interested to hear the opinion of anyone who's had experience of this, whether good / bad / indifferent, and also any comparison with other low-ish cost kitchen suppliers.Anything I should look out for etc - all hints and tips welcomed!I have Googled, but most of the posts seem to be from a year or three ago...Many thanks in advance

I have fitted three DIY kitchens, one from MFI, one from Magnet andthe latest from IKEA. All three are budget kitchens, although theMagnet units were comparatively expensive. The IKEA units were by far the best constructed of the three, and Iwould happily choose them again.

Just installed some Ikea units to replace some crap B&Q stuff. Theunits are great, but beware the buying process. Unlike everythingelse in Ikea, it proceeds as follows:1. Decide on the units and fittings you want. Either in store, or byreading the website/catalog beforehand. (So far so good).2. (This is the first unusual bit) Find somebody in the "Kitchens"department and tell them what you want. They then print out a longlist for you.3. (This is /slightly/ unusual) Pick up some of the smaller bits (egdraw dampers) direct from the kitchen display area. (You do have abig yellow bag, don't you?)4. Head to the warehouse and collect all the carcasses from thelocations indicated on your piece of paper.5. (... and this is the /really/ unusual bit). Take your piece ofpaper to a service part of the warehouse (possibly before, possiblyafter, checkout - depends on the store). They will the go and fetchthe door fronts from their fast selection.If you have the choice, I would strongly...

In message , The Medway Handyman writesWhat are Wickes 'to order' range like now - they used to be very good?

IKEA kitchens - experience anyone?

Steve Firth 17 years ago

I've installed several Ikea kitchens.

One problem is they are designed for forrin. And in forrin all pipework is channeled in to walls with service points installed about where the sink/dishwasher etc would be. In the UK this is rare and pipes usually are run on the surface.

The actual construction is very good, particularly the steel/stainless units which I've used in a commercial kitchen. Just as good as the catering units and a fraction of the price.

The only items that I have been disappointed with are the Ikea worktops. Every one of them has been of dreadful quality. The wooden ones split and the chipboard ones aren't waterproof. Not even if you carefully coat every single exposed edge with waterproof paint or sealant. Also the ones with "metal" trim use some substandard glue for the trim and after a year it falls off, then water gets in, and the worktop is ruined.

Shop elsewhere for worktops.

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Martin Bonner 17 years ago

Just installed some Ikea units to replace some crap B&Q stuff. The units are great, but beware the buying process. Unlike everything else in Ikea, it proceeds as follows:

Decide on the units and fittings you want. Either in store, or by reading the website/catalog beforehand. (So far so good).
(This is the first unusual bit) Find somebody in the "Kitchens" department and tell them what you want. They then print out a long list for you.
(This is /slightly/ unusual) Pick up some of the smaller bits (eg draw dampers) direct from the kitchen display area. (You do have a big yellow bag, don't you?)
Head to the warehouse and collect all the carcasses from the locations indicated on your piece of paper.
(... and this is the /really/ unusual bit). Take your piece of paper to a service part of the warehouse (possibly before, possibly after, checkout - depends on the store). They will the go and fetch the door fronts from their fast selection.

If you have the choice, I would strongly recommend going to Milton Keynes, rather than Lakeside. My partner got trapped in Lakeside for four hours getting some of the kitchen - we were in and out of MK inside an hour and a half!

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robert 17 years ago

What are Wickes 'to order' range like now - they used to be very good?

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The Medway Handyman 17 years ago

Don't know, but the 'take away' stuff is excellent & very good value.

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