Official Intro and Hello (+ ikea cabinets)

[bunnies]

Hello! I usually hang out on Style & Beauty but have been popping over here since I bought my short sale 2 bed 2 bath condo in June. I started looking in Dec. 2011, and spent the summer of 2012 with many rejected offers (the short sale and foreclosure market around here has been fierce!). I found my place October of 2012 and crossed my fingers and prayed to the gods of good karma to be nice to me. After patiently waiting for 8 more months, it's mine! I got really, really lucky. Though this place was at the top of my budget, it's in a perfect location. Much, much better than everywhere else I looked.

My first project was making one large closet into a smaller closet and coat closet, and my dad did most of that work.

My recent big project was updating this ugly kitchen! I started with cabinets that were original to this unit (built in 1989) that had been painted poo poo brown by the previous owner (and looked even worse under the giant fluorescent light), red gloss walls, earthy tile, and cream countertops and appliances. The unit faces north and doesn't get a ton of natural light so it was really dark and dreary in there. I wanted to brighten up the space. I went with Ikea cabinets during the 20% off sale. The countertop is Caesarstone quartz in "atlantic salt." The dishwasher is from Ikea and integrated into the cabinetry. The counter-depth fridge is Frigidaire and the oven/range/microwave is Whirlpool all purchased at Lowe's during a 4th of July sale (and I had an extra 10% off coupon AND used Ebates for cash back). At this point I'm fully functional but still need to finish the flooring, add tile backsplash, crown moulding, paint, and a new light fixture.

[kermit]

Looks great! Love the cabinets, I can't wait to redo my kitchen with Ikea cabs!

[pitterwoo]

Ditto Kermit!

[thewop]

Um. Holy shit, that looks awesome.

May I ask how much you paid for your entire reno-including appliances (PM is fine)? I have a similar kitchen and am wondering what I'm looking at as far as cost goes.

[bunnies]

Sept 9, 2013 13:50:17 GMT -5 thewop said:

Um. Holy shit, that looks awesome.

May I ask how much you paid for your entire reno-including appliances (PM is fine)? I have a similar kitchen and am wondering what I'm looking at as far as cost goes.

Thanks everyone!

Yes, I can post the info later tonight when I get back from work. Thanks! 

[kellikans]

looks great!

[emoflamingo]

Looks great so far! I love white cabinets, but my H says they look cheap. (I always retort "YOU LOOK CHEAP" and then look like a weirdo, so you know..)

[minniebee]

Great inspiration! I too own a condo built in the 1980s and have been planning on a kitchen remodel. I've considered Ikea cabs, so I'd also be interested in what the budget was for them.

At least my current cabinets aren't painted poo brown, but the doors of mine are painted while while the boxes are still honey oak. Not a good look. I have owned the place for awhile, I just haven't been sure what I wanted to do with the kitchen, so I've been putting up with ugly for far too long!

[bunnies]

My goal was to spend under $10k, preferably in the $8k range. I made an appointment with a kitchen planner at Ikea. For $200 they come out to your space for 4 hours to help plan. I told him what I wanted and he put together an inventory for me. He works with a company that is contracted through Ikea. He also gave me a total budget with labor and it was over $15k! So I started looking for cheaper options.

I can't find some of my receipts right now for exact cost breakdown, but here's what I have in my Google spreadsheet.

Ikea Kitchen planner - $200
Whirlpool Microwave and Frigidaire Stainless steel counter-depth fridge - $1317, including taxes (I shopped Lowe's during 4th July sale and also had an extra 10% off coupon (and used Ebates, too)) PS - The Ikea SS CD fridge was $1900!
Whirlpool Stove/Oven - $519, including taxes (same deal as above)
Cabinets + Caesarstone quartz countertop - $4670, including taxes (with the 20% off Ikea coupon. The minimum was $4500 to get the 20% and the counters were my biggest line item)
Stainless under-mount sink - $330, including taxes with 10% off at Lowes
Faucet, Handles, + some accessories - $120, including taxes at Ikea
Garbage disposal, under-cabinet lighting, a few accessories - $215, including taxes at Home Depot
Labor - roughly $1500. The contractor is my boyfriend's dad's neighbor who gave me a really good price.

Estimate total (within $200) - $8871
I'll give a final budget when it's all finished.

Still have to do a tile backsplash. I think my Dad and I will DIY that to cut down on costs. The crown moulding that still needs to be done may or may not have been included in my contractor's estimate. I still need to find out. The floor I'm not including in this budget because I'm getting all the hardwood in the common area refinished and it will go in that budget. The light fixture I want is $99.


minniebee The originals were the same as yours. One of my bathrooms, they painted them white. But the other bathroom is exactly what you describe, haha! ;-)

[house]

Wow your kitchen looks great! We are also thinking about doing an IKEA a kitchen reno next year.

[bunnies]

house Thanks! It's kind of frustrating, but Ikea was good with returns. One of my cabinets was the wrong size and they let me return it even though it was already assembled and I didn't have the original packaging.

[house]

Sept 10, 2013 12:06:08 GMT -5 bunnies said:

house Thanks! It's kind of frustrating, but Ikea was good with returns. One of my cabinets was the wrong size and they let me return it even though it was already assembled and I didn't have the original packaging.

I am sure just planning the whole project and executing it is frustrating enough.  Glad IKEA let you return it! That's good to know. Though last night DH was a little hesitant about  the cabinet quality. So now I don't really know what we will be going with but we have time to figure that out.

[bunnies]

Sept 10, 2013 12:19:58 GMT -5 house said:

Sept 10, 2013 12:06:08 GMT -5 bunnies said:

house Thanks! It's kind of frustrating, but Ikea was good with returns. One of my cabinets was the wrong size and they let me return it even though it was already assembled and I didn't have the original packaging.

I am sure just planning the whole project and executing it is frustrating enough.  Glad IKEA let you return it! That's good to know. Though last night DH was a little hesitant about  the cabinet quality. So now I don't really know what we will be going with but we have time to figure that out.

They do offer a 25 year warranty. The cabinet being the wrong size was me and the planner's fault (I changed the fridge once I found the cheaper one from Lowe's, which ended up being a few inches taller). However, if I was in a nice big, fancy house, I might not do Ikea.