[petonza]

Sorry, I just discovered the long distance questions area.

My questions would have been better posed there.

Again, sorry for the gaffe.

[jgsearls]

Welcome!

No worries - Susan will come along and move the question for ya. No need to re-post. But doread through the posts for some great information.

But St. Thomas huh? I haven't been there in years but have some very fond memories.

[DesignDiva]

Welcome again! I responded to your post re the breakfast bar.

There will be an IKEA opening next summer in Sunrise, FL, close to the Miami area. There's also a couple in Texas and one in Atlanta if that would make it easier for your shipping arrangements.

I would recommend you post your plans and ideas here, we've got a wealth of collective experience and can probably help you a great deal. You don't have to place your order in the store necessarily, you can place it over the phone and arrange pickup at the store of your choice. IKEA only takes kitchen orders in store or over the phone, not online, although you don't find that out until you're ready to place your order. :X

Have you downloaded the planner? It will be of immeasurable assistance not only to you but to us to see your plans. And please read the thread on "Mission Statements" which will help you to nail down your vision nicely!

If you and your DH are handy, yes, you can definitely DIY your kitchen. I (as well as many others here on this board) have done it all ourselves! If there is a mistake to be made, you can be sure we've made it and resolved it, and if there's a modification you are thinking of, someone here might have done it and can give you great information. So feel free to jump right in!

[GardenOfDarwin]

Hi potenza! I was out of town, so I'm late to the party, but Welcome! I'm going to move your post to the 1000 member thread, but I heartily encourage you to post your plans in the Long Distance Ordering thread and of course take your turn in Kitchen Planning. We have a number of design divas around here who would be happy to help you with your plans.

Susan

[831Coastie]

Another introduction is in order here, and from another guy no less. My name is Erik. I live on the Santa Cruz CA coast. As others have mentioned I too have been a lurker since any question I ever could think of is always a quick search away. Once my dreams of a Poliform kitchen hit the $30,000 mark I knew IKEA was for me. And it will be just as nice...almost.

More to come from me. My taste is so difficult and expesive I will need help finding alternatives to overpriced, out of budget kitchen accesories.



Erik

[BarbaraK]

Hi Erik!
Do you have any pictures of a "poliform" kitchen?
(I must admit ignorance).
Have fun finding your alternatives here. It's amazing what people come up with.
barbara

[831Coastie]

BarbaraK, Poliform is a European line of cabinets, very contemporary. The kitchen I ordered through IKEA came in around $3600, the equivalent with Poliform was $30,000 with no added options. Unfortunately their site will not allow me to copy pictures so if you go to http://www.poliform.it/introMenu.asp?lang=2and look at the Varenna collection there are several kitchen designs to view.

A Poliform search on Google Images also has numerous photos, mostly of interiors.

[BarbaraK]

Very cool, Erik. Sleek! what door style did you go with at IKEA, or did you choose a combination?
bk

[831Coastie]

We scoured and studied the 2006 kitchen catalog, went to the Palo Alto CA store, brought our carbonized vertical grain bamboo floor sample, downloaded the kitchen planner, came up with a final plan after 15 revisions and finally settled on Nexus Oak.

We went to the store acouple months later ready to order. Helen tells us in her wonderful english accent "oh, sorry, Nexus Oak has been discontinued."

I must have looked like a large mouth Bass standing there with my mouth agape. So my wife and I decided to go with Nexus Brown/Black with some fun options mixed in. I have an integrated handle option up my sleeve that I can't reveal yet becauseI'm not sure if it will work yet. I will try to get some screen grabs to postonce I get home from work.

[laurie]

I feel your pain. I think the Nexus Oak was a beautiful doorstyle. You get the rich grain look along with the contemporary lines of the slab doors.

BTW, loved the site.......thanks for the link.

Laurie