Freestanding kitchen unit with built-in hob

Dear Ikea fans,

I would like to build a completely free-standing kitchen island with Faktum base cabinets. My questions are: can IKEA base cabinets be left free-standing at all, meaning not screwed to the wall? Are there cover panels for backs in standard sizes or only for sides? If not, my alternative idea would be to place two 37 cm deep cabinets together (instead of 60 deep, that would be 74 cm deep), but how do I solve that with the cooktop? For that, I need a base cabinet at least 60 cm deep? I hope it’s understandable what I am planning..

Best regards

The cabinets are anchored to the floor. IKEA does not offer any special fittings for this. You have to use suitable items from the local hardware store depending on the circumstances. You can screw anything from the back that somehow fits, for example, doors. If you use the wall cabinets and place them against each other, then the two cabinets standing against each other must be cut appropriately at the top for the cooktop.

I see a problem with the stability.

You have to remove the rear crossbar from the 37 cm deep cabinets and either leave out or shorten the back panel, but both affect the stability of the cabinets themselves.

It would work if neighboring cabinets with a crossbar and back panel stand on the left and right, then the system is stable again in itself.

Thank you very much!

Hi,

IKEA expert, that's not quite right. There is a way at Ikea to fasten the base cabinets to the floor with UTBY legs. They have, simply put, a kind of U-bracket that is screwed to the floor into which the legs are then inserted.

They are allowed or even desired for freestanding installation. Just using the plastic legs, even if you place cabinets back-to-back, is not enough; there MUST be an anchoring in the floor. Otherwise, it would also be possible to build a frame out of wood under the cabinets and screw it to the cabinet bottoms, then attach the toe kicks in front, done. Or, what also works and looks nice, use the countertops on both sides as sides and possibly also as back panels that reach down to the floor.

As a tip, it is always recommended to build the island so that it does not consist of only one row but has another "behind it" and connected to it. The cabinets, especially when they have drawers, are very top-heavy and thus always have a counterweight on the other side. If it is intended to be just one row of cabinets, let the countertop overhang a little to sit on it and support it with a leg or the aforementioned sides. The Utby legs hold tight, but whether the chipboard of the cabinets will still hold up is questionable.

Regards

Nayla

... Otherwise, it would also be possible to build a frame under the wooden cabinets and screw it to the shelves, then attach the base panels in front, done. Or, what also works and looks nice, to use the countertops on both sides as sides and possibly also as a back panel reaching down to the floor. ...

Please pay attention to ventilation when installing electrical appliances in the block.