Any one have any views on IKEA kitchens?

[ElephantOfRisk]

Looking to replace our 19 year old kitchen as it's totally done and to be fair, it has been for a while. We were dilly dallying about knocking through to another room but have actually canned that. DC have a couple of years left of Uni, we are a couple of years from retirement so just want to redo what we have on the basis that we would intend to move once DC are settled into jobs and potentially move out completely.

In theory we should just leave it as unlikely to get value back and fast moving market here etc but I'd rather get in something new, plain and not too expensive. Looking at IKEA amongst other things.

Has anyone used their planning and fitting as well as buying the units?

How was the experience?

Having one fitted at the moment, replacing one we'd had for 10 years which stood up extremely well. My builder has fitted lots of them and is of the opinion that they are the best budget carcasses available. We have not had problems with services, you just keep them at plinth level or bring the units forward slightly, as PPs have said.

I designed my own kitchen but had an online appointment with one of their designers to confirm details. I'm sourcing doors, sink, taps, worktops and most appliances (except the fridge) elsewhere, and the designer was unfazed by this, he was super helpful in getting all the details right and answering my queries. We haven't had any supply issues to speak of either, but this could be because we are essentially just buying the carcasses and interior fittings.

What I love about Ikea kitchens, apart from the quality/price, is how flexible they are. There are so many companies making doors to fit their units now, at all price points, you can have pretty much any look you like, and the internal storage is second to none. If you're prepared to put a bit of legwork in, there are endless options for doors, worktops etc and you can have something really unique and personal to you, without being tied in to what's on offer from a particular kitchen company.

We love ours too. Have had it for ten years and it still looks good (apart from the worktop, but I picked wood and am crap at oiling it so that is on me).

We had a joiner mutter about IKEA kitchens and not want to do the job. I think he’s pretty lazy and stuck in his ways personally. Just wanted the easier option for him! We didn’t use him and built it ourselves.

I will never get another IKEA kitchen after the issues I had; missing and broken parts, items not in stock, last minute change of delivery dates, countless emails and frustrating phone calls. I was fed lies, fobbed off, dealt with staff who sympathised with me and told me the stock database system was ‘a joke’. Additionally my fitter told me the carcasses were average build and he had to put them together himself - adding to the cost. Howden carcasses are already pre-made and their service was faultless. You have been warned.

I love my ikea kitchen. Quality seems good. Lack of Service void wasn't an issue. Can be seen a positive as it ends up being deeper than competitors. All accessories fit perfectly.

My main gripe was customer service. When we went to the plan and pay.... About 7 items were out of stock and they wouldn't tell us when they would be in. They wouldn't allow us to 'pre order' them... And we couldn't order it from another store where is was in stock.

I put in the cheapest of the cheap IKEA kitchens in a flat bought to see my kids through university. It went through a succession of male student lets and a house fire (only thing that could be salvaged). It was 20 years old when the flat was sold; it was dated but still ok. They’re pretty amazing.