Ikea kitchen fitters

[shanghaismog]

We've pretty much decided to go for an Ikea kitchen & will head there this week to finalise design. We're considering using their fitting service (to add to the financed purchase cost). Has anyone used this from either the Croydon or Lakeside stores? We could reach either store quite easily, so any feedback would be appreciated on their experience of either one.
Also, has anyone used their appliances? Specifically fridge, freezer and dishwasher, as we'll probably upgrade the rest. We're also contemplating the push openers on the cupboards, any experiences good or bad with these? Do they work on drawers..? Thanks all.

[Applefallingfromthetree2]

We have An Ikea kitchen and two built in fridges plus a freezer. The kitchen is fine and great value for money. Not so happy with the fridges, they never seem to maintain a constant temperature.

[ElphabaTheGreen]

We wished we had never got an IKEA kitchen, so I'd say step away while you still can!

In order for the units to look extra deep in the in-store displays, there are no service gaps behind the units to allow space for pipes and cables to run. The only option, if you have an awkwardly located gas pipe, for example, which can't be sunk into a wall, is to cut into the back of the unit where it will be visible forever more (we had this in a wall and a floor unit - gas pipe and electrics visible everytime you opened a drawer or a door).

Also, as with IKEA a beds, the units are non-standard sizes so if you get bored with the look of your kitchen but just want to replace doors, you can only use IKEA doors as the carcasses won't accommodate doors from any other supplier.

[ContentedSidewinder]

Elphaba the issue with your gas pipe is down to a lazy installer. Was that an Ikea installer? I am confused by this not being buried in the wall bit as my gas pipe comes into the kitchen then up the wall and runs across the house at first floor level as we saw it when they took the floor up on our landing. My house was built in 1999.

When you have a new kitchen installed the old one is completely removed giving the fitter access to move pipework into position, pipes for Ikea kitchens can be run at skirting board height electric cables should be in the wall.

I had an Ikea kitchen fitted last year, my kitchen was extended hence the need to move pipes like the original water feed to my sink was now in the middle of the new kitchen, it had to be moved to the newly built back wall.

Appliances wise we had their extractor as it is built in and although we didn't have their exact models we have Whirlpool appliances (same sized to fit the apertures) and a beko integrated dishwasher. We love our oven and combi microwave, and have an american fridge freezer which is plumbed in (all pipework runs under the cabinets)

We had an independent installer fit it due to timescales for Ikea coming out. Because of the build we were without a kitchen for a while and I didn't want to be without it for longer waiting for Ikea to be available to measure up then order it then fit it.

Off topic re doors and bed sizing, many companies now supply mattresses that fit European sized beds and Ikea do UK sized stuff. Replacement doors are available too. You are not "stuck" with Ikea. Plus a joiner can make them for you.

We love our Ikea kitchen and I know we are not alone. There have been loads of threads on here about them.

[poocatcherchampion]

I'm confused by elphaba too. our gas pipe came down from the ceiling as well. and in the previous kitchen it was also visible in the cupboards.

but I'm mostly confused as I don't understand the problem with this. the cupboards have doors on them to hide this kind of stuff don't they?

we are fitting our IKEA kitchen next week and cannot wait.

[WallBox]

We ordered an Ikea kitchen last autumn, ( it was fitted in Feb this year) not realising that the whole system was about to change. The new carcasses, as far as I know, now have a service gap at the back, and come in different widths.

The experience was a nightmare, but much of this was due to the system changeover. We spent many hours at the Croydon store trying to sort out various problems, and were given a certain amount of compensation.

We didn't have any Ikea appliances and they charge quite a lot to install other brands. We did order a made to measure worktop from them, and it had been installed before we saw it, it's the wrong one. We were compensated for that but it's awful and I can't face having them back.

Their fitters were great and made the best of things, but were sick of Ikea as well. So many wrong deliveries, so much bad communication. An hours delay on the phone every time there was a problem.

All in all, I would say that it was a very bad experience and I wish we had gone elsewhere, but a lot of this was due to unfortunate timing. For obvious reasons they didn't announce the changeover until it happened.

The best thing about our kitchen is the depth of the drawers and cupboards, now that they have the British style gap at the back, that probably no longer applies.

I don't think that this kitchen will last as long as our old cheap MFI one, bits have already fallen off. Not happy at all really. Sorry.

[SoloCatherineWheelsOnAllPosts]

I am going to have an Ikea kitchen on recommendation of my friend who has had hers for many years and it still looks brand new! it has heavy usage and she can't praise it enough. Her Dh installed it.

[shanghaismog]

Oh no, mixed experiences....

Pipes not a concern as this will go in a new build and we can arrange them as we need to.

I've been to so many kitchen companies recently including the trade places and I'm sick of the lack of transparency in pricing. I'm about to spend a decent chunk of money and I want to feel like I've got good value. I'm also realistic that most kitchen unit deliveries come with bits missing etc no matter which company is used.

Financing the kitchen part of the build would ease our cash flow, otherwise we would probably go with DIY kitchens.

Any experiences with the Lakeside or Croydon fitters? At this stage we can find someone else and we'll get the stone work tops done separately.

[WallBox]

Ikea don't employ their own fitters, the work is contracted out to companies that fit Ikea kitchens. The plan that is drawn up in the store is just a guide, the fitting company will send their own designer to make exact measurements and give advice. The two fitters we had were delightful, particularly the one who plastered the walls as well.

I had a bad experience but that doesn't mean that everyone will. The situation was chaotic at that time but is probably much better now.

I know several people who have an Ikea kitchen, and there is one recurring theme I'm afraid. Be prepared to spend a lot of your time at the Croydon store and avoid the school holidays if possible.

As for the value, I think it probably is good, I didn't go anywhere else, so nothing to compare it with. Every little thing is priced separately though.

Good luck.

[WhatsItAllAbout123]

We are in the middle of fitting our Ikea kitchen ourselves at the moment. We got it from Croydon, and the experience was fine. I asked them about the ordering procedure on a prior visit and they said it is quieter in the early afternoon in the first part of the week so we would likely not need to make an appointment to see someone. We went on a Tuesday at the end of September at lunch time, and were seen about 2pm. I didn't want any help with the design, but it probably still took a couple of hours to go through the plan I had saved online and sort out the finer details like end panels and filler pieces. It certainly wasn't stressful. Everything was delivered on time and nothing was missing and none of the packaging was damaged either. We are still building units, but so far there hasn't been any quality issues with anything.

We are having push openers on our cupboards, these are made by Blum, along with all the drawer runners and hinges. From my research Blum are used by a few of the German kitchen brands and Howdens use them as an upgrade option. Unfortunately I don't think the push openers work with the drawers, which is a shame (I think the electronic opener does though).

They are definitely good value! We have bought 2 full height appliance housings, 7 base units and 8 wall units. We have 20 drawers (some hidden inside others) which have the Blankett handles, all the normal cupboards have push openers. We opted for the white Veddinge fronts and we bought the hallestad work tops. All in it came to a touch over £2k. I have yet to buy all the internal gubbins such as cutlery trays, bins, none slip protective mats, spice racks, plate racks etc etc, so they will add up!

[ElphabaTheGreen]

We definitely didn't have a lazy fitter - he was meticulous. You haven't been allowed to sink gas pipes into walls since some time in the 2000s, to stop them from getting drilled into, and we had a gas hob fitted in 2008/9, so they had to run the piping down the outside of the wall. Hence the fitter had to cut a channel into the back of the carcass to accommodate it. If IKEA have since started putting service gaps behind their units, this problem should be sorted.

[SoloCatherineWheelsOnAllPosts]

I believe the push openers do work on the drawers. If it isn't in the kitchen catalogue, I've seen it online, as I too was thinking about having them. The picture shows a woman dealing with vegetables and using her knee to open the drawer revealing kitchen waste bins.

[Mrsladybirdface]

there is still no service void...it is no issue just get pipes rerouted tis half a days job

[MummytoMog]

My gas pipe runs under the floor and comes up by the hob - we designed the kitchen so that there is a wine rack in front of the pipe and the gas pipe then goes through a hole in the side of the carcass right at the top. I bought the 60cm drawer unit for the hob, so I can't see any of that at all. I fitted my kitchen, aside from the gas, and I'm very happy with it. The returns policy was brilliant, allowed me to change my mind on a few things and in the end we probably returned about £500 worth of stuff. They were totally fine with that.

[Madcatgirl]

Two houses ago we had an ikea kitchen and will be having another one when we redo the kitchen/conservatory here. It was brilliant. Can't help you with those stores though.

[SoloCatherineWheelsOnAllPosts]

I love how the new system means you don't attach the cupboards to the walls, but to the metal brackets that you attached to the walls; so simple I think I could do it myself too!

[shanghaismog]

Ok, so I'm quite partial to a bit of Ikea furniture building, is this really something I could consider doing myself...? I'll have electrician/plumber on site anyway and we're going to get quartz worktops, so they'll be installed properly. We've got a straight run of base units only and an island. My DH will kill me for even considering this, especially since I'm doing all the decorating and downstairs wood floor too....

[WallBox]

Give it a go, I would. I'm the DIYer in my house and unless it involves plumbing I've done most things. It sounds as though it's mainly cupboard assembly which is just a bit time consuming, not rocket science.

[MummytoMog]

I absolutely wouldn't get them in in that case. I would build the carcasses and then get your onsite trades to recommend a joiner to put cover panels on and line up your doors. Will be miles cheaper, probably only a day's work.

[Fourarmsv2]

I built all of our IKEA kitchen cupboards myself. It was really easy and I did it completely single-handedly. We have 9 x 2m tall cupboards of various widths.

Space was the main issue as they were significantly bigger once assembled!

We hired in someone to install the rail, hang the cupboards & put doors on.

The rail meant our 'not quite straight' walls were a bit of a pain.

We ordered soft close hinges which are superfluous with the push door openers which are amazing. You only need one push opener per cupboard door - even with the 2m high 60cm wide door :)

I love them :)

[TalkinPeace]

I had my ikea kitchen installed by an independent chippy.

The false hoo hah about gaps down the back IS about lazy fitters.

While the kitchen is out, a swift bit of re-routing the utilities along the plinth height and then straight up to where needed.

Picture on my profile btw