There are so many posts on Gardenweb from thrilled Ikea kitchen owners. It seems like a great option. You can go to an Ikea and check out the kitchens. They have excellent Blum hardware, and are very sturdy and attractive and functional. I don't have an Ikea kitchen, yet, but I've spent enough time looking at them in person to be quite impressed!

When we were considering a kitchen remodel, I talked to a trusted contractor that I had used before about saving money on kitchen cabinets and asked him about Ikea. He told me that was what he put in his own kitchen and he was quite satisfied...and this was coming from a demanding German craftsman.

Although I didn't follow through with the remodel as we ended up moving instead, I did enough additional research to further confirm that the build quality was good (and I've been doing woodworking for 50 years, including cabinetry). What I particularly like about Ikea is the high degree of customizability and the many ingenious options available. If you do end up going with Ikea, I doubt that anyone would be able tell that this was a flatpack kitchen, or think the quality looks cheap. There's a lot to be said for Ikea quality control and factory production that results in excellent, consistent fit and finish.

I think it's really about what you want to spend, and the value of your home, and how much longer you want to live there..

I would make a preminary sketch / design with some dimensions, and go to a local design center (some better lumber yards have designers) and see what it costs for quality cabinets.

Then visit Ikea, and see what their solution will cost.

When we remodeled, we got custom built.

geoffrey-

Just curious: did you look at and price out Ikea cabinets, or did you decide you simply wanted to go custom?

Kudzu9: We have a more expensive home - wouldn't consider Ikea.

I don't like the idea of MDF or melamine.

It's like cars - a Chev will get you to the same place, just as a Mercedes - if you have the money you have a choice.

geoffrey-

I understand your point of view, but Ikea actually has some pretty classy cabinets: Ikea Kitchen Gallery...and a 25-year limited warranty, which is hard to get from a custom cabinet maker.

The house next door to me sold in 2015 for well over a million dollars and the first thing the buyer did was gut the kitchen and its 15-year old custom cabinets, and installed all Ikea for the remodel; it looks great. However, he is European and probably is more comfortable with Euro-style kitchens.

@kudzu9: " However, he is European and probably is more comfortable with Euro-style kitchens."

Why would you assume that custom cabinets made in the USA don't have 'modern' styles?

I followed your link - I saw a lot of melamine cabinets. I think MDF is an inferior product to wood.

Do you sell Ikea? Sounds like it.

I'm not talking about style, per se. For decades, Europeans have been installing Eurostyle, flatpack kitchens because, unlike the U.S., it's not uncommon cabinets to take your cabinets with you when you move to another apartment or house. They are aware that factory-made cabinets can be quality, they can be reconfigured, unlike permanently installed custom cabinets, and that they can stand up to the stresses of disassembly and reinstallation. And they aren't all inferior because they may incorporate MDF.

And no need to be prickly...I don't have any connection with Ikea. I just have an alternate point of view. Not meaning to insult your custom made cabinets and your more expensive home.

Interesting that I'm reading the 'argument' that occurs in my head. I also have my brother in my ear telling me how many carpenters have gone out of business since we got Ikea a few years back. Flat pack kitchens have been available here for longer than that, Ikea just made them simpler annd cheaper.