Two Open Kitchen Designs Using IKEA Cabinets

Now that I've weighed the pros and cons of the galley kitchen, considered knocking down walls for an open concept kitchen, and grappled with the budget, I'm starting to think about cabinetry options. Cabinets can eat up 50% of the budget, so I'm looking to bring those costs down. First stop, IKEA.

After noodling around in the IKEA kitchen planner tool, I've come up with two designs that I like. Despite the tool's limitations — there's a very limited choice of appliances you can set into your design — it does quickly give you an idea how much basic cabinetry for your design will cost you.

Transitional Style Kitchen With Shaker Doors

This kitchen, with shaker cabinets, is inspired by one of my fave IKEA/SemiHandmade kitchens designed by Sarah Sherman Samuel @ Smitten Studio. Cabinets would run me about $9k, excluding appliances, before adding on the cost of custom doors and end panels.

Via Sarah Sherman Samuel

Shaker cabinets reflect a transitional style that would feel right at home in our 1946-era home and they'd mix well with modern touches, like marble counters, for a blend of period and modern that always appeals to me — like I used in our bathroom reno. I'd likely go with white for the uppers and perhaps a gray on the island, like this combo of Farrow & Ball's Simple White and Manorhouse Gray.

Via Houzz

Modern Style Kitchen With Slab Front Doors

On the other hand, taking things in a totally opposite direction, I could go all modern with slab doors and horizontal wall cabinets. Admittedly, were money no object, I'd be visiting a HenryBuilt showroom right this minute, and not take the time to even blog about it, and my kitchen would look something like this, but lighter and without so much wood.

Via HenryBuilt

Could I get a similar effect with IKEA? A Houzz search turned up this beautiful modern kitchen that used IKEA and didn't stint on style.

I love the use of counter depth tall cabinets, with a recess surrounding the cooktop. It will make a nice focal point as you enter the apartment. With the kitchen opened up to the living room, that's going to become very important.

I'm not planning to use any kind of chimney or blower — because, let's face it, it's the rare NYC co-op board that will let you make a hole in the brick facade for a true exhaust — so insetting standard horizontal wall cabinets beneath 24 inch horizontal wall cabinets is simple but stunning. Lighting in the upper cabinets will give warmth to an otherwise austere design.

To add more texture, I'd tile the backsplash in Heath Ceramics Ovals in a horizontal stack pattern, like this.

Via Houzz

I pulled this design together in IKEA's Kitchen Planner and the cabinets would run about $9k. That's about 1/3 the cost of semi-custom cabinets from a big box store and about 1/4-1/5 the price of a custom kitchen.

Up next, a visit to IKEA to see how the Ringhult, Voxtorp, and Grimslöv doors look (and feel) in person. If I can't find an IKEA door front that I do like, I'll have to consider the cost of doing IKEA boxes with custom doors and end panels. A third option would be a recycled kitchen from Green Demolitions.