Planning new IKEA kitchen experiences

Hello,

I have been considering for a long time replacing our over 35-year-old kitchen model "Eiche Rustikal" with something nice and new. After careful consideration, weighing numerous options and always keeping in mind the limitations the room brings, here is my current design:


or


I only have space for the kitchen line along one wall, and it is barely about 3.47m long.

In addition to the new kitchen furniture, the room will be completely renovated. Wooden ceiling painted white. Old wallpaper removed, new applied. Tile backsplash behind the kitchen line removed, and when the new kitchen is fully assembled, a new one installed. Switches, sockets, etc. replaced. All connections, electricity, water, sewage, exhaust will be relocated to the appropriate places before purchase.

It is also planned to replace all appliances; the current oven is partially defective, and it is a miracle of biblical proportions that the dishwasher brand "Methuselah" is still running at all. The appliances will also be purchased from Ikea. Only the faucet will probably be kept, although a new one wouldn’t hurt either…

We have no experience with IKEA appliances at all, but they can’t be that bad.

Refrigerator Förkyld €349
Dishwasher Välgjord €499
Oven Kulinarisk €699
Cooktop MÄSTERLIG €429
Microwave SNABB €449
Extractor VINDRUM €239
Sink: domsjö €79 (incl. DOMSJÖ drain basket)

Handles EKEBODA, countertop SÄLJAN.
Changes that still need to be made, which the configurator does not allow, include the drawer below the refrigerator. Because of the door frame, a normal door has to go in there, and I also wanted the dishwasher front in a "drawer design," for which apparently only the VÅGLIG rail is needed.

There is no space left for any trims on the right and left sides of the tall cabinets because the kitchen is "shot" into the room and there are only about 5-6mm clearance on the right and left. However, our walls are straight and right-angled, and we will assemble the kitchen completely ourselves. Cover panels are planned on the right and left of both tall cabinets to increase stability.

Theoretically, the back wall with the two display cabinets could be completely knocked out to open the room; then you would be in the living/dining area. However, the head of the family raised massive objections: "Then the living room has to be renovated too!!" No... I’m not doing that. :D

Sometimes you can’t see the forest for the trees. Have I made a serious mistake? Is there room for improvement? Oh yes, the sink is so close to the cooktop, but we have that already and have never had any problems in over 35 years because of it. Of course, we also know that the countertop above the dishwasher on the right somehow needs to be fixed.

In the past, we once assembled an old Faktum kitchen.

Hello, the floor plan would still be helpful to possibly have suggestions for improvement. With the predecessor of VÄLGJORD (ENASTAENDE), significant defects in drying the dishes were described here. Whether it is better with VÄLGJORD, I do not know.

I have to say that the measurements are only roughly estimated! Only the upper wall comes into question, where the current kitchen unit is also located. This wall is approximately 3.47m wide and all the connections are there. The configurator states the width of the kitchen unit shown above as 3.454m.

The door on the right leads to the hallway; it is mostly open and represents the main access to the kitchen. The left wall is an exterior wall, or the door on the left leads outside to the terrace. The door at the bottom leads to the living/dining room. This wall is not load-bearing and could theoretically be removed, but unfortunately, this is not an option because the effort would be way too great. Dining room is also the wrong word. Because meals are eaten at a table in the kitchen! It stands with three chairs against the wall opposite the kitchen unit. Cups, glasses, plates, etc. are supposed to go into the two cupboards there. They might possibly be modified so they open upwards.

As for assembling or installing the new kitchen, we can take our time since we still have a small secondary kitchen in the basement, the aforementioned Faktum kitchen.

What I have already learned is that all non-IKEA appliances can be integrated relatively easily, but a fully integrated dishwasher can indeed cause problems. Therefore, the corresponding IKEA model is used there as well.

Regarding the fronts, I am currently undecided between Bodbyn and KROKTORP. Laxarby and GRYTNÄS rather not. The configurator currently shows €4,854. That would be €2,743 for the appliances and €2,111 for the furniture. Plus accessories such as lighting (probably Omlopp), drawer interiors, stuff for the Grundtal rods, etc.

Is the storage space sufficient? Otherwise, I wonder why not place the table in front of the door to the dining room, if it is only rarely used anyway? Also, higher cabinets might be possible if the wooden ceiling were removed.

By the way, the 86 cm high dishwashers with Varioscharnier from Siemens / Bosch / Neff allow 80 cm high fronts.

Yes, already thought about that. ;)

The doors must remain free, including the lower door to the living room.

The ceiling consists of wooden panels that are to be painted white. Theoretically, the very tall 2.40m version could also fit. With feet, the kitchen unit would then be at least 2.47m high. However, the ceiling would have to be completely removed to allow some space above (fridge/oven etc. still need some air to breathe). Above the wooden paneling, the ceiling is raw, untreated concrete...

Additionally, my mother wouldn’t be able to reach the top shelves without a step ladder anyway.

I think the storage space is okay. Under the 60cm cooktop would be the large 80cm base cabinet with large drawers. Cutlery, and all pots, pans, etc. go in there. The sink cabinet also gets a drawer with an additional small, internal drawer. Dishwashing utensils go in the small 20cm drawer next to the sink cabinet. Under the oven goes the unused interior parts of the oven and microwave.

Plates, cups, glasses should be placed on the opposite side. I’m still considering whether to use 80cm tall cabinets there instead of 60cm. And whether I should also illuminate them inside.

This would result in less work surface than before, since we currently only have a tall cabinet (where the fridge is). The oven is classically under the cooktop, but now it is to be built in at a higher level.

The "enclosed room" would actually be larger with the new kitchen than before, because, as mentioned, in the old kitchen there is only one tall cabinet and everything is 20cm lower. However, the microwave currently stands on a large shelf above the dining table, which would then be removed.

For waste, there is a normal, free-standing trash can. Above it, a shelf like e.g. VÄRDE (102.413.39) is to be installed, where the Nespresso coffee machine should go, and e.g. the toaster, the bread slicer, etc. can be placed when not in use.

A television is to be installed on the right wall towards the hallway.