Anyone ever use Ikea or other sources for cabinets?

[89911]

I'm tackling a bathroom remodel in a month or two. Ripping out the old cabinets, new tile, new cabinets, counter tops. I've been to Lowe's and Home Depot to price out cabinets and I am getting the price around $2000 for either stores "entry level" ordered cabinet (not stocked). We recently had an addition done and had custom cabinets made from a cabinet maker, so we know the difference with what you get. The entry level cabinets aren't really that well made with MDF as the primarily material with veneers. Because of the difficultly we had with the cabinet maker, we are not choosing him also. Has anyone actually done any work using Ikea's cabinets? I have not priced them out yet, so I am not sure how much they actually will be cheaper. I'm just a little disgusted at what you actually get for a $400 base cabinet. If not Ikea, any other options? Thanks.

[Jim Richards]

I used them for storage of my wife's craft supplies in her study/craft room. The remind me a lot of the cabinets you buy at Home Depot that require assembly. They have a variety of finishes to choose from. The Ikea cabinets we purchased has a nice modern finish. They've held up well so far (2.5 years) and I expect no trouble from them.

[svandamme]

i have some ikea shelves... no complaints, it does what it's supposed to do
same for the other stuff they sell, cooking pots, chef knife... it ain't poor quality at all

[gassy]

a friend put them in his kitchen about 3 yrs ago--they look great and are holding up fine.

[red-beard]

I bought some painted white cabinets for my apartments from a "discount" place, sort of like Home Depot, but close-outs. These were lower end, but held up fine for the 4 years I had the apartment building.

[BeyGon]

The last time we moved the moving people had us sign a waiver that if we had and Ikea furniture they weren't responsible for it, I guess the stuff doesn't make moves well.

[Oracle]

We have a lot of ikea stuff and we're really happy, we've never had a problem (and we have moved like 4 times since last year - don't ask)
The trick with Ikea is that once a year you go around each piece and tight every screw and you'll have furniture for many years.

My sister bought the table/chair set at the same time, hers after a few years was falling apart and too late for any tight the screws.

Someone recommended to use glue when assembling Ikea stuff.. maybe that's the ultimate trick.

[ckissick]

We got a quote from a cabinat maker to outfit our office with two built-in desks and 3 book shelf units with glass doors. His price was $9000. Instead, we went to Ikea and did pretty much the same thing for $900. The quality is very good,and it assembled perfectly. Everything fit and there were no parts missing. It won't get us in Architectural Digest, but it looks pretty damn good.

I still can't figure out how it can be so cheap when it's all made in Sweden.

[Oracle]

Originally Posted by ckissick

I still can't figure out how it can be so cheap when it's all made in Sweden.

Ahem.. designed in Sweden, made in Vietnam, China, Philipines, etc.. Still shipping can't be cheap from those places...

[creaturecat]

Ikea - best d i y cabinets available. Nice finishes available. Finishes that would cost a fortune to duplicate (professionally). Proper installation is the key.

[Jim727]

We bought some cheapo Ikea cabinets for temporary use when we were overseas 20 years ago. They came back to the States with us and are still strong and in use. Some cabinetry - like kitchens - is higher quality than others, but overall it's an excellent buy. I'm planning an office remodel and it will be Ikea.

Yes, it's manufactured all over the world, but to Ikea standards. Incredible success story - wholly owned by the gent who started it. He's now one of the richest people in the world running a company with no debt.

[jackobleep32]

If you compare IKEA stuff to furniture from 20 years ago, the quality is way poor. BUT, the stuff from 20 years ago may have been overbuilt. ikea stuff serves it's purpose - garages, closets, desks, etc., bookcases, kitchen tables, etc. But it doesn't move very well at all because it's not joined together well, and particle board doesn't like lateral load transfer.

[rvanderpyl]

The cheapest part of IKEA is the actual cabinets, thet are MDF and held together with those quick lock gizmos. However if you are willing to take a little more time and glue them as well, and then make sure you fasten them together and to the wall well, they will hold up fine. I re-did my parents kitchen with them and when they sold the place 10 years later they were all still working fine, all the doors still fit well, all the drawers wtill opened and closed fine.

[trekkor]

We did a full kitchen remodel this year using IKEA cabinets.
Instead of using the brad nails to fasten the back panels, I used my 1/4" stapler.
This really sped up assemby.

I posted some pictures of the remodel a while back.

It was about $1k to do all the cabinets with doors.


KT

[TerryH]

I haven't been to Ikea lately, but in years past I could browse the entire store and see nothing to my liking. Maybe it's the contemporary styling as everything just yells ICK at me.

[trekkor]

Little before and after

Searched it out


KT

[VINMAN]

I put Ikea kitchen cabs in my last house. Was very happy with them. My kids where pretty rough on our stuff, and the cabinets held up well. Also installed them for a couple of customers. I am going to redo my kitchen in my current home with them also.
I would definately recommend gluing them in addition to the supplied fasteners.

[89911]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

I put Ikea kitchen cabs in my last house. Was very happy with them. My kids where pretty rough on our stuff, and the cabinets held up well. Also installed them for a couple of customers. I am going to redo my kitchen in my current home with them also.
I would definitely recommend gluing them in addition to the supplied fasteners.

Thanks. How much do you think you saved over traditional ones from major suppliers, 50%?. The cabinets is all about the doors anyway. By the time you get the doors on and the counter tops on top, the actual cabinets provide little to the appearance. As long as there strong enough is good for me.

[ckissick]

Originally Posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts

Indeed, IKEA's items are manufactured in China or the Asia Pacific these days, not Sweden.

-Wayne

Then why do the boxes say, "Made in Sweden", with no mention of China, etc.?

[livi]

Originally Posted by ckissick

Then why do the boxes say, "Made in Sweden", with no mention of China, etc.?

The boxes are made in Sweden..