This weekend we started installing the Ikea kitchen. Everyone had said they were hard to instal, so Jamie got online and watched some Youtube videos. Sure, it was tricky - more on that in a second. But we've done trickier things. This space was sooo ready for a kitchen.
First, let's have a quick look at where we have come from, hey? For those new here, this was the old 80's kitchen. Note the horrible varnish and the tiles. All of that was removed, as well as the wall to the left, opening up the entire space. We also removed that window and plastered it up.
So, the tricky bit about the Ikea set up is that it's designed for a space that has square walls and floors. NO one has a house with totally square walls and floors.
Ikea also has this rail system - you can see it in the photo below.
It's actually a reasonably clever way of making it all square, and it helps stop the cupboards pulling away from the wall when the benchtop is on. All you need is a lazer level and a few other tricks which we'd watched on Youtube.
Once that was done, it was a matter of putting the cupboards together. Some took longer than others. It's much better quality than say a Bunnings Kaboodle kitchen (Australians will know) so we knew we choose the right kitchen, but sometimes those instructions were hard to understand! Thank goodness Jamie's super practical as I think it's be hard for your every day person to do.
And it was pretty exhausting.
All this with the stress of still not selling the house and having a mortgage to pay and no work in a months time. I'm beside myself writing this. A buyer we thought might bite pulled out and we just dont know what else to do. I know crying doesn't help but I'm struggling at the moment big time, wondering if we made the wrong choice. That doesn't help I know but these things go through your head. Maybe I'll die of a heart attack before the kitchen is finished.
Being broke, and horrified at the cost of cabinet knobs, I ordered some from Temu. It totally goes against my principles but $20 vs $500 won out. They are solid wood and I figured most homewares and cabinet ware companies buy their stuff from China anyway and repackage and remarket it for a lucrative DIY and home reno market. That's something else making me cry - I really didn't want to support Temu and I'm upset I'm in this position. Still, perspective and first world problems, I know. .
I love the dark beige brown we have - it's dramatic and looks gr at against the wooden handles. It would look amazing with brass too but we can't afford it.
I love the size of the kitchen and how it fits the space. It's a massive change from what it was.
Still waiting for three cabinet fronts on back order from IKEA. I'll keep you posted on progress I'm sure!
We did want it finished this weekend but then we had a drama and we are actually going away this weekend - yay. We need it. So patience patience!
With Love,
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Oh my, @riverflows! Such trials and tribulations. Please hang in there and don't die of a heart attack. I won't say anything stupid and trite about how this too shall pass. But that usually is actually what happens. We tackle the challenges, things start to fall into place, life looks less bleak... I really hope that happens for you soon!
@jayna I need the trite now! Constant reminders are welcome lest I go on a downward spiral...❤️❤️
What a lovely kitchen and love how it turned out despite the shenanigans hahaha. please post the progress, this is motivating me to start picking up tools and wait for nobody to fix my place.
Haha yes you can do it! I will do!
I'm so tired of the house, kitchen, and furniture drama. It's truly the worst part of being a wife. I hope your house sells quickly and doesn't kill you of a heart attack :D
Oh darling, you get it. Thanks for the solidarity xx
Wow, what a transformation, the kitchen looks amazing, I love the dark beige brown with the wooden handles, patience pays off 😅
I'm glad you like it. Can't wait to finish.
I hope everything takes a turn for the better for you soon! I can imagine that the end result will be really nice!
Nice knob!
Right?! What the hell is up with that. I've yet to install mine, as I never saw the point in spending the extra money. With a little finagling, you can open the cupboard just fine.
It looks like it's coming along well. And sure, the space had time to reset, clear the ghost of the old kitchen, high time for a new one.
Bit worried. Is Jamie examining something there or just dead from exhaustion? xD
We have no hardware on the new cabinetry we installed at our new place. It was new overhead cabinets, easy enough to open from the bottom. Why waste money?
Our pantry is fancy though, push to open!
Push to open...fancy. What's wrong with crouching to scoot the bottom one open so you can then get your hand under the top one and get that open? Works every time :))
The floor is a long way away from where my brain lives
The overhead cupboards won't have handles as they are push up close. The bottom is soft close but yes we are having handles. Definitely not wasting money, hence China..
Hahaha well my son messaged with a photo of my grandson asleep in the hallway as that's as far as he made it after swimming lessons 😜 so we sent that back as a joke...
The knobs are so exy!!!!! Can't believe I booted my morals out the door for $16 worth of knobs. I promise I'll never replace them.
🤔🧐 Had to look that up!
We have had no end of DIY innuendos...
$16 worth of knobs? Saucy!
Ah, early love. Nothing like it.
Enjoy your time away. I really hope the other joint sells. Kitchen is coming together. Don't cook mushroom Wellington. Be well.
I will absolutely cook mushroom wellington. Maybe my first meal.
I hope it sells too. Going crazy.
Like you, I can't wait to see the finished kitchen! Never messed with IKEA but have heard stories...
Good or bad? Installation hard but easy enough for Jamie. It seems quality enough and I can't afford 20 k which a cabinet maker would have charged.
Mostly that it wasn't really quality stuff here in the US. Some about being hard to assemble.
It's only hard if you're not clever like Jamie
Wow, everything turned out great, even though you ended up exhausted on the floor hahaha. I love this post, thank you so much for sharing it with our DIYHub community...
You're welcome.
I know that should I or should I not Temu struggle. It's so annoying especially when I have to give in
Yeah I hate it. But I guess some things you can justify like handles that would come from China anyway on Amazon. And that's just as bad. I'd never buy clothes from there, it's all fast and cheap fashion that's so bad for environment.
And anything electrical, it's too dodgy
I bought a house cash (was supposed to pay my brother back, long story) and by the time the sale finally went through and I moved in, I'd lost the job that was my main source of income. I'm still here, with a lot of thanks to crypto and various other rabbits that were pulled from hats and you will find a way too
Thanks so much. I really appreciate the support - your kind words mean a lot.