[red_rooster]

We just purchased a Värde kitchen counter for built in oven for our apartment (see pitcure below.) However, just as I finished building it my girlfriend suggested that it needed to be stained white to match the rest of the kitchen
I was immediately reluctant becuase it seems to me it would be hard to make it look clean and professional. I was wondering if anyone has any experience or suggestions. Any information will be useful. Thank you.

http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/store...rentCats=15576

[DesignDiva]

Welcome, Red Rooster! Glad you're here.

Do you mean literally stain, or would painting work also?

My advice is to live with it for a while before deciding to change the color, and perhaps bring in more wood accents into your kitchen to help it be more of a design feature. If you (well, she) really want it white after a couple of months, you can proceed from there.

The design trend today is to have "furniture" style islands or units in kitchens, which deliberately don't match the rest of the cabinets. It's a very European look!

[The Kitchen Magician]

Yes it is a very European look, on a decidedly European style cabinet. The sides of the piece are real, honest to God, solid birch and are stainable. HOWEVER, there is the evil clear lacquer on the wood which would need to be removed. If you plan to try this, I wish you the best of luck in the world. Most of the time IKEA furniture, unless we clearly specify it, is not meant to be altered.