Ikea kitchen yay or nay

[Badweekjustgotworse]

We're doing a large extension and have totally overstretched ourselves. Long story short bought the house after speaking to our architect about cost o the scale of extension we wanted and bid accordingly.... now of course the estimates for the extnsion are over and above what he estimated and we bid up higher than we originally wanted before taking his advice so budget is already stretched which leaves us looking at possibly an Ikea kitchen.

I actually really like the Scandinavian design and look of their kitchens and options, but just wary it could be a false economy if the mechanism on the drawers etc isn't going to last.

We have two small children though so what ever we put in could potentially get wrecked / drawn on / bashed with trucks and ride on toys etc anyway so maybe a cheaply now and replace in ten years is the way to go.

Had anyone had an Ikea kitchen put in in the last few years and how has it lasted?

As always all mumsnet wisdom greatly appreciated.

magic how do you find the job on your island. This is what we're looking at doing but I've rears some people (mumsnetters... I've been stalking the kitchen threads) saying that they get irritated by cooking oil splatters going over the far side of the island and onto the floor, so essentially with no splash back they find it just goes everywhere.

Not a bother...the island is 200cm wide and the hob is 80cm. You can get a bit of spitting but nothing much and it's so easy to wipe down the hob or counter.

Good to know magic thank you

We love ours, but our builder did NOT love fitting it! He's a bit set in his ways and it was his first time using IKEA - and his last, he said 🙄
So just be aware of that!

I'm also really indecisive, but I went into the store, saw our kitchen and says "That's the one." Really helps to see it in real life in their store, IMO.

I renovate properties for a living and always use Ikea kitchens. Always buy appliances separately so can't understand the comments about alliances not fitting? They are a standard size as mentioned above. They also take standard plumbing fittings although the ones supplied are often the euro fitting so you'll need to purchase the equivalent uk fitting from a plumbing merchant but that does not mean that their sinks won't fit etc. What the units don't have (that builders love) is the void at the back (like howdens) of the cupboard to hide electrical cables and plumbing fittings. You can get around this if your fitter is experienced. I have also used Ikea for my personal kitchen with marble work surfaces.

It's important to note that there are different planning services at Ikea. The free one is the one where 'the spotty teenager' 🙄 (I have to say not in my experience) checks that your design fits. Or the £50 one where the person is trained to give design advice on your basic wants and needs. Maybe that was the service you needed?

My ikea island is four wall cabinets back to back
one side has drawers (by the hob)
the other has cupboards and drawers (by the dining table)