Comments on: Budget Reduction – Goodbye Custom Casework. Hello IKEA.

By: Stanford Gable

Stanford Gable — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 16:09:44 +0000

Have you considered the unfinished cabinets sold at Lowes. I’ve used these on several projects and the cost is far less than anything sold at Ikea. Using unfinished requires considerably more labor but it’s not highly skilled work. You could save bigs bucks if you were willing to finish them yourself.

By: chad

chad — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:47:41 +0000

Thanks for the comments guys. Just to clarify, we are not claiming in any way that using IKEA cabinets adds to the sustainability features of the house. It does, however, satisfy our modern and affordable requirements.

While the IKEA cabinets will offgass a bit, they will allow us to afford to use low or no-VOC finishes and materials in other areas of the house that will hopefully have a greater overall impact on the indoor air quality.

By: Darin

Darin — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:59:50 +0000

There is another option. Don’t include a kitchen at all. This is fairly common in a few other countries. People buy fantastically built modular cabinets that they take with them when they move. It might not be the norm in the U.S., but it’s a creative approach that some people may be into. It may also allow the purchaser to ‘stretch’ their creative legs. If you cook, kitchens are extremely personal spaces. Of coarse, if you don’t cook, it doesn’t matter…

By: Y. Bzerious

Y. Bzerious — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:29:25 +0000

I support your decision to go IKEA. It is pragmatic — and at this price point, one HAS to make trade-offs as you’ve consistently and thoughtfully done.

By: Calisurf

Calisurf — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:21:24 +0000

A follow-up to Martha’s question, do people feel that IKEA is a sustainable solution? are you using them in your “green or eco” projects? I am not a big fan of IKEA as I believe they promote the “throw away and buy new” mentality that surrounds us today.

By: Martha

Martha — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 22:06:59 +0000

wow. I’ve been checking in for a while, and this one really tugs at my heart strings, being a cabinetmaker myself, and interested in supporting sustainable and affordable design. Yes, so I’m not disinterested, but I find it hard to justify IKEA…is there anything sustainable here?—it’s another big box store, the materials are hardly sustainable, nor is it local. I’ve been thinking about this one for a few days…it strikes me, as calisurf indicated above, that perhaps the budget could not include custom built cabinetry, but what was the actual budget for the kitchen, was it based on IKEA? I’m left in a quandry….if the absolute point is “what can be done for 100K”, maybe this is what you get, but I’d be hard pressed to argue it’s sustainable. Quality, a huge difference, and one that one feels continually.

By: Evelyn

Evelyn — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 19:04:02 +0000

I have installed 2 Ikea kitchens and have been very happy with both. Easy to build, good quality, and they last. The basic cabinet is the same for all. Go for the best quality face you can afford, and you can’t tell the difference from any other vendor.

By: chad

chad — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:56:39 +0000

I haven’t found a lot that impresses me, but from what I remember we have our pricey options as well. There are not nearly as many as there are on the West Coast.

Using a local shop in Pappajohn Woodworking is much better in my book than a manufacturer somewhere on the east coast. We support local business, reduce transport and increase custom options and materials, all for a very reasonable price.

By: calisurf

calisurf — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:32:53 +0000

What type, if any, type of “eco” cabinetry do you have on the east coast? are there any affordable options? manufacturers? I am sure you can’t find them at the IKEA price point but maybe in future designs or at the 120k level? Some of the interesting companies on the west coast that I have looked at are: Humabuilt and small Bay Area companies such as AlterEco. Still pricey.

Is there a US based company manufacturing “affordable” eco friendly cabinets?