I don't have an Ikea kitchen, but I have loved the ones I've seen on this forum. I am sure people will post on how great theirs is. I think you have to be prepared to do more work in the design of your kitchen than, say, if you go to a kitchen cabinet showroom, where they have designers on staff. But you will be saving thousands of dollars. It sounds like you are just starting out planning your kitchen. In that case, I would hang out on this forum for quite a while before doing anything or buying anything. Read the many posts, and look at the many kitchens here. You will be amazed at how many ideas you get, and how your kitchen design will evolve in your head.

One of most favorite kitchens on the Kitchens Forum is an Ikea kitchen. I will link the thread.

Here is a link that might be useful: Brickmanhouse's Ikea Kitchen

We put an Ikea kitchen in our previous home and when we sold it 8 or 9 years later it was still in excellent condition (and that was including raising a toddler there and renting it to strangers for 2 years while we were away!) Lots of prospective buyers ooh-ed and ah-ed over it.

I would have done another one in this house, except for the fact that a realtor warned us that in this PARTICULAR market it would not be good for resale. Unless your house is in a really upscale location, I think it's a great idea. They have some nice traditional door styles and some uber-sexy contemporary ones, like glossy red, ooh la la!

The only "bad" thing I will say about Ikea is that they have a limited selection of sizes, so sometimes it's harder to make your layout work. However, if you're at all handy it's easy to modify the cabinets (Ikeafans.com has lots of great ideas!) Also- I'll quantify my earlier statement by adding that we did buy the mid-high range Ikea cabinets. I doubt that the cheapest ones would hold up as well (ours had wood doors, for example.)

I recently looked at a whole range of locally-available cabinets with a friend, and dollar-to-dollar the Ikea cabinets were a LOT nicer than the lower end cabs available at big box stores and lumberyards.

Ikea has design software on their web site you can use to plan your layout.

I forgot to add that Ikea's cabinets are made to the very high German EC standards for VOCs and off-gassing, so they are LOTS healthier than anything else, unless you go with a company that uses low- or no-VOC plywood, particle board, and finishes (which is unusual and is normally only available on the higher-end products...)

This is my favortie Ikea kitchen, from the Sarah Richardson farmhouse remodel, on HGTV. Here's a link that shows them...she had them professionally sprayed in cream, gray and yellow. They're just beautiful :)

Here is a link that might be useful: Sarah's Farmhouse

I'm in the pro-IKEA camp. We completed our IKEA kitchen in April of 2010 and couldn't be happier with it. IKEA is best for those with a kitchen planning gene and the accompanying DIY gene. If you're not much for DIY, you're going to wind up hiring out the bulk of the work (planning, pick-up of cabinets, assembly and install) and eliminating much of your savings.

Our kitchen is an open galley, so we didn't have any inside corners to deal with, and those are where IKEA comes up a bit short, IMHO -- not as many options for the interiors. But you can always forego the IKEA lazy susans and install something aftermarket (Rev-A-Shelf, Hafele) that is more to your liking.

IKEA cabinets come in standard sizes (mostly 15", 18", 24", 30", 36", with a few 12" in there, I think, depending on the cabinet). We had 273 inches of lower cabinet space to fill. We ended up using a grand total of 6" of filler -- 3" of that was due to an inability to shift the sink cabinet due to plumbing constraints and a desire to keep the sink centered within a 2" range. As mentioned by staceyneil, cabinets can be cut down if needed (in width, or in depth). But you'd also have to cut down the stock doors -- easier in some styles (slab) than in others (dimensional). But that is a way to avoid using filler.

The drawer hardware is terrific. It is by Blum, and although IKEA-specific, is comparable in function to the Blum hardware available aftermarket and on pricy European brands. Full-extension drawers, soft-close drawer glides, etc.

The issue of durability of IKEA cabinets leads to a never-ending discussion. When the cabinets are assembled properly and installed properly, they are as sturdy as any other quality cabinet. But if you or your DH are of the belief that anything other than plywood won't do, you won't want IKEA . . . or the bulk of the cabinets out there that use some form of manufactured wood/board for the cabinet bodies. My theory is that anyone who is overly skeptical from the get-go will always look for a way to validate the skepticism. Just look elsewhere and avoid the nagging..

As for the resale issue, it was hit on above that IKEA performs well, except perhaps in very limited high-end locations. I would agree with that. Keep in mind that the cabinets themselves and the hardware are all the same -- no different ranges or levels of quality. The only difference comes in the doors/drawer-fronts chosen. And when you look at them -- touch and feel them -- you'll see that they tend to be priced in relation to the quality. Some have solid wood, some wood veneer, some painted wood or MDF, some thermofoil. You get what you pay for.

Here is a link that might be useful: IKEA Nexus Yellow-Brown Kitchen

I have an all-drawer kitchen. People think it's high end. I bought Ikea components. Blum is the high end drawer hardware manufacturer of my drawers. You can get Blum drawers at Ikea. (Get the hint?) At Ikea, you can get drawer fronts that are lower or higher quality. Buy the more expensive ones. Or, you can buy other drawer fronts, from another source. Easy.

A new thread today at http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0122274817144.html shows an all-drawer kitchen. He doesn't say if it's Ikea drawers or some other company's drawers. His Yellow Pages video is here: http://bcove.me/na8tgkp8 . His backsplash is a new (wide) window. His countertops are a fancy stone. Underneath his fancy wood drawer fronts, fancy stone, and new window, what are the cabinets? Could be Ikea and Blum, or ... ?

If you don't like admitting it's Ikea, just say it's Blum. All Blum. http://www.blum.com/us/en/01/40/20/index.php
HTH

A hotwater slab leak destroyed my kitchen last summer. In looking to replace my custom solid oak cabinets, I was working with insurance reimbursement which only replaced under counter cabinets--impossible to match uppers and other wall UNLESS I did so with non-custom. After much searching, I chose IKEA Adel in Beech and replaced everything except my stone floors and appliances. With soapstone counters and high end appliances, my neighbors are all envious. In this So. Cal beach city where 1500 square feet easily goes for six figures--I was relunctant to use IKEA until consulting with two realtors. Their advice: go with the solid wood IKEA doors and as many drawers as possible for best ROI. At least in this market, IKEA is not a problem--but then, these are not custom homes in my little neighborhood.

We loved our IKEA cabinets. They looked and felt great. We had no issues with quality (though, for us, professional installation was key).

The money we saved on cabinets (5k v. 20k for Kraftmaid from HD, through the roof for Woodmode) we put into a Bertazzoni range, a Liebherr Fridge, a Bosch DW, black granite counters, and a granite tile mosaic backsplash.

Three years ago, I bought a lower-end-of-the-market foreclosure that needed a complete kitchen reno after years of being the property of a long-time absentee landlord. Based on recommendations on THS at the time, I went with IKEA. I'm happy and my mom -- who rents the place and chose the look she wanted -- is delirious (especially since she's lived with her fair share of non-THS-type kitchens). It's actually a pleasure to operate the drawers and doors -- the hardware feels substantial, everything opens and closes smoothly ... And we saved enough money to go with new (though scratch-n-dent) appliances throughout and splurge a little on the floor (lino that matched the countertops). Being able to go with IKEA cabinets made that reno possible, and it's added a lot to the house. I'd do it again in my house when the time comes.

I'm sorry; I'd provide pictures, but they're somewhat indisposed at the moment. :-p

after finding mold in our 1950s cabinets, Ikea saved us from completely gutting our savings. We've had them in for a little over a month and they impress a lot of people (we went with as many drawers as possible!) Lots of great advice earlier in the thread. We did everything ourselves and have a blog about the process with some pics. I included a link to a fraction of the pics we took during the process.

Here is a link that might be useful: 1940 cape cod kitchen

If you use the search function here, you will find lots of info on Ikea kitchens.

Irene~ I just clicked over to your photos, and it looks great! I love how Lidi looks in your space! You must be thrilled with all that counterspace and storage space. Your floors look fantastic!

Would you mind sharing the color of paint you chose for your walls? It looks so pretty and serene on my monitor.

Will you be posting your finished kitchen soon? *hint, hint*

(We're still working on ours, but finally finished the floors--woo hoo!)

BTW, I love working with the new IKEA planner! I sooo wish I had that planner when I was designing our kitchen; I did ours on the 2006 version. Bo-RING! This 3D version really brings it to life! I may have to draw ours up on the new planner just so I can see it illustrated in 3D. I know, I know. I am such a dork. ;^)

When finishing our basement, we installed a kitchen using IKEA cabinets. We utilized multiple finishes and made significant modifications. They have worked very satisfactorily for perhaps 7 years.

Here is a link that might be useful: Basement Kitchen

igarvin,

We have the same stove and same sink. We MUST be kindred spirits! Love your kitchen.
Ne

I will certainly post a finished kitchen post as soon as the backsplash is in! It isn't huge and fancy but omg, it is such an improvement on the old footprint.

Benjamin Moore Palladian Blue is the color, from the historical line. I love how it can play green or blue.

doggonegardener - that's really great! I already love your kitchen, haha!

Irene,
I love seeing your floors because we are doing those 2 colors (plus one more) and they look really nice in your pix ;)
I love the pic of your husband reading what appears to be directions... priceless... btw - I assume he is your dh because if not, then your contractor has gone above and beyond by posing how you direct him, lol...

Any chance you still have your old pulls and hardware from the previous kitchen? I'd gladly make you an offer for them as I need to add to mine due to some added cabs in my new kitchen.

We've had our DIY Ikea kitchen for about two years now and I still LOVE IT! We have Adel Birch cabinet doors and Nexus Birch drawers...unfortunately Ikea has changed the color of Adel and Nexus birch so we can't buy any matching kitchen pieces. That has been incredibly disappointing.

Our home is a starter home in a lower middle class neighborhood. Everyone who has been over and seen our kitchen thinks it's really nice. We have solid surface countertops (LivingStone "Volcanic Ash"), medium tan/brown porcelain tile floors, and white appliances. The kitchen isn't cutting edge style, but I think it has a more classic look and it's very practical for the type of family that would buy a starter home in our neighborhood.

I have an ikea kitchen and I'm thrilled with it so far. My parents changed their own remodel plans from Kraftmaid to Ikea after seeing my completed kitchen.

A friend of mine is telling me that I really should put more money into my kitchen so it will last much longer... The cost of the kitchen has very little to do with how long it lasts. Inexpensive cabinets may help you get something really posh elsewhere,

A good functional layout is the most critical thing.

dianalo - yes it's my DH lol. The pulls (they had the buttons to push to open/close) were mostly rusted by the time we gutted it :( of course, they probably could have been salvaged, darn it, I knew I should have just kept the things! Someones trash is another's treasure.

I can't wait to see your flooring!!!