Discuss Please comment on plan- going to be on TV on IKEAFANS.com. We're Personalizing the IKEA Experience. Please comment on plan- going to be on TV - Need help with planning your remodel? Want a kitchen planner to review your ideas? This is the happenin' spot!.
Update: Dec 2, 07 - I posted three pics of the 99% complete on Page 4 of this thread.
UPDATE: Wed, Nov 7. - Please see POST #18 Page 3 for Final Design and QUESTIONS....
Hello Everyone
Intro: My wife and I just found out that we’re going to be on a DIY Network TV show to redo the kitchen. After looking at Home Depot, Menards, and Ikea, we decided to go with Ikea. We will start shooting Nov 8 and need to be done in 3 weeks. I would appreciate your thoughts on our layout and I also have a bunch of questions.
We decided not to make any major changes to the layout after looking at several possibilities. The one addition we made is the row of cabinets on the wall opposite the sink. It seems that space could be used for a small table but we never eat in the kitchen.
Our goal: We both dislike the look of the golden oak cabinets and floor. We want a more modern look. We thought the Adel Medium Brown mixed with glass looked great. We want more storage space which is why we are adding cabinets on the wall opposite the sink. Countertop space is a priority, which is why we are not using a tall pantry in the corner next to the dishwasher.
Our plan: We will demo the entire kitchen. Remove soffit to put in taller 39 inch tall cabinets. New stainless appliances, granite tops with undermount sink, can lights, etc.
The one major issue we have is with the flooring. We have solid oak floors that run through the kitchen, dining room, and entry. Again, my wife and I strongly dislike the golden oak look, so our plan was to install a nice tile. After speaking with a few people, I’ve been told that replacing wood with tile is never a good thing.
So here’s my first question, how does the Ikea Medium Brown cabinets go with the golden or honey oak flooring? If it goes well together, we can live with it. We also considered sanding and restaining with a lighter finish. Or should we just ignore everyone’s advice and go with tile? If we went with tile, we’d be looking at $1700; the tile heater would be a big part of it (we live in MN). Refinishing would be around $500 or so.
Glass Balance: We are using glass panels and the Ikea lady tried to balance the panels to give it an even look. She changed my original plan so that the cabinets above the dishwasher have 2 glass panels, instead of 3. She wanted to balance with the 2 glass panels on the other side of the sink. Please comment.
Notes about drawing: Door shown on left is a not a door, just the walkway. Large window shown on right is the patio door. Island countertop will overhang the cabinet by ~2 feet. I did not show all coverpanels, Ikea lady helped me with that. We will enclose the refrigerator with panels. Microwave is not shown, it will go above the range.
Labor: We plan on doing the majority of the work. Do you strongly recommend we ask an Ikea specific contractor to advise? I’ve talked with a few local Ikea contractors and they both mentioned that there is a learning process specific to Ikea.
I'm the engineer type rather than a design type, so I won't try to comment on the design specific issues, there are many better qualified to do so .
IKEA does have a learning curve, but it's not terribly steep, in fact IKEA cab's are *very*
DIY
friendly. If you've ever been involved in putting together a kitchen before, once you use the suspension rail you'll never want to do it a different way! Putting together boxes is easy once you've done the first one, you get a *lot* faster as you go. Get a brad nailer to handle putting in the thousands of little nails in the backs of the cabs and you'll be good to go!
How exciting that you're going to be on TV! You should talk to jgsearlsthey were on "House Hunters" just recently... Took a loooooong time from taping to airing
IIRC.
Anyway welcome to IKEAFANS, we look forward to seeing how your project goes!
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TV - how exciting! I will just comment on the floor - I think you should keep the hardwood. I think you can find a way to work with the stain color. In my opinion, it would be a mistake to rip out hardwood floors to replace with tile.
While I don't see Adel Medium Brown as "modern" at all, I think it would look just fine with the floors. Maybe add some modern elements and a pop of color with the backsplash/wall color.
I'm with DC - keep the floor. You'll be glad you did, especially if you refinish it. You may want/need to stain it slightly, but the look will be really nice with the cabinets. We went with faux Brazilian Koa (Tigerwood) for our floors, and the predominant color in the floor is very similar to that of golden oak.
Ahkim,
That is so exciting about getting on TV. Once the filming is finished, you'll have to tell us when the show will be on!
I like your basic layout, but I am concerned there is not enough clearance between the island and the cabinets against the wall. You need a minimum of 36", 42" is better and even wider if it is a two cook kitchen.
What do you plan for the lower cabinet to the left of the sink and the two 12" cabinets on each end of the island? Unless you are planning on making those pullouts for garbage or some other specific use, I'd consider making those drawer cabinets - there are 24" wide drawer cabinets now. If your IKEAn does not know about them, we can supply the
article numbers
.
12" cabinets are not efficient, so you might want to narrow the middle cabinet in the island to 30" and make the two end ones 15" drawers. Or you could make one or both pullouts for garbage.
I like the combination of wood and glass doors for the room. Oh - I am a golden oak fan so I'd keep the floor. But if you really hate it, vinyl or cork over it would be a different look without destroying that oak.
Congrats on your T.V. gig. How that come about anyway?
Keep the floor! Our floor is oak and looks great with our ADEL MB. We're refinishing the floor as we speak and can't go in the house until tomorrow!
Woodsell made some good comments but I must say that 12" cabinets are perfect for baking sheets and the like.
Your plan makes good use of glass doors and solid doors. I think it's essential to have some sort of open or glass doors in a kitchen. Otherwise, everything feels top-heavy and "kitchen-y."
Your IKEA lady did a good job. As Woodsell advised, double-check the traffic flow around the island. Traffic jams around islands and peninsulas are horrible and a very expensive mistake. We tore out the previous homeowner's peninsula for that very reason.
One suggestion: If room allows, consider adding an open shelf on one end of the peninsula. Great for cookbooks, etc. Otherwise, all the functional bits are one one side only. Your island is the workhorse of the kitchen. You've got the top and cabinets/drawers on one side. How can you make at least two sides useful?
What about staining the floor in a real dark brown colour? That could look really modern and contrast with the Adel MB. Or you could go for an even more modern cabinets that is lighter and contrasts with a dark floor.....
These are all great comments. When I get home, I'll take some measurements and post them as a new drawing. You can apply to be on
DIY
network shows by going to their webpage at diynetwork.com and click on BE ON DIY. We happen to be in the right place at the right time to be on this show.
Now that I think of it, the Adel MB is not really modern, so that probably isn't the right word. Maybe "updated" is the look we are going for.
We just looked at Granite, any thoughts on light vs dark tops?
Based on what EVERYONE has said, we will keep the floor. Zeuss, I think the only thing we are set on is the Med Brn. Having said that, would dark floors work with MB?
Sorry to make things more complicated, but here's a non kitchen question. Given that the dining room and entry are connected with the same floor as the kitchen, what do you recommend I do with the golden tone trim and stair railing. I was thinking that if I went lighter with the floor, the golden trim and railing would be fine as is. If I go darker, would the trim/railing stand out? I dont mind redoing the trim, but the railing would be expensive and too much work.
Congrats for being on the TV show! Yes, you must let us know when the show will air so we can all watch it.
I would keep the floor as well. You can give it a bit of a stain and it will look very nice with the Adel MB.
What will the cabinets behind the peninsula house? I see you don't have drawers in those. Was that done purposely? If not, you'll want to have drawers in those cabinets as well.
For countertops, I've seen both light and dark counters used and they both look nice. (I used black - Via Lactea - black with some white veining. You can take a look by clicking on my gallery on the left) If you have particular ones in mind, you can post pics here and we'll provide you with feedback. I know some folks do not like black counters due to fingerprints and dust. that's one thing to consider. Another thing to consider with the lighter granite is the maintenance of it. Any one you choose, you should take a sample home & do a thorough test to test staining & etching.
I say absolutely Adel MB can go with dark. It is an amazing door style that way - it goes traditional to modern and with lilght and dark. It depends what you pair it with.
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