[Glitch Magnet]

I am planning a complete new Ikea kitchen and everything is making sense to me except I don't like any of the current door finishes. I want simple plank doors, drawer fronts, and cover panels similar to Nexus except with quarter-sawn wenge wood veneer.

I got one quote for third-party custom doors from SemiHandmade, which added several thousand dollars to the total price. On top of that, I'd have to go through the hassle of specing and obtaining all the various hardware (hinges, sliding shelves, etc.) that would ordinarily be furnished with the ikea doors and drawers.

So then I turned to considering making my own doors and panels using MDF and veneer. But the more I thought about it, I'd still have to deal with all the hardware AND get all the measurements perfect and drill everything right. So then I thought, why not just buy Ikea doors and either refinish them or reface them? At first that seemed a waste, but now I actually think it makes the most sense.

So here's where I'm at. I'll get Nexus Brown-Black and reface them with PSA veneer. I beleive that should work. I just need to go back to the store and look to see if there's adequate clearance for the additional thickness of the veneer.

I considered getting Harlig White and refacing with PSA veneer, but I'm concerned the veneer may not adhere to the Melamine/Polypropolene surface as well as it will to the lacquered wood surface of the Nexus. Also, with the Brown-Black, I can get by without refacing the inside surface whereas I'd be compelled to do so with the white.

I also have considered just sanding down and refinishing the Nexus oak veneer, but that would not give me the look of wenge and I'm not even sure if it's possible.

Wondering if anyone has gone through a similar process or if anyone has any thoughts or advise here? Seems like this will save me a ton of money, and I don't mind doing the work and I'd get exactly the look I want with minimal hassle.

[Harpy]

Semi-handmade has gorgeous doors, but they aren't the only place that does custom doors. I'd check prices from Scherr, Advantage, cabinetnow.com and others before embarking on this. You might find it easier to custom stain a premade unfinished wood door, I would think.

Also, remember that Harlig is limited in the sizes available.

[Glitch Magnet]

Thanks. You may be right. I'll probably contact Scherrs and MapleCraftUSA. But am I correct that I'll have to source all the various hardware myself (hinges, drawers and slides, pull-out storage)? Does Ikea sell all this stuff individually apart from the doors and cabs? Is it all Blum, and does Ikea have the best prices when you purchase these parts individually?

[Chuck]

As long as you use IKEA cabinets, you can still buy all your hardware from IKEA. Scherr's will drill the doors and drawer fronts to accept IKEA hardware.

[Glitch Magnet]

Thanks Chuck. I just submitted my design to Scherr's. Sadly, I don't care for any of their selection of woods either, but I've asked them to consider sourcing some wenge veneer for our job. We'll see if they oblige. And depending on their price, I might prefer Semi-Handmade or go back to doing my own veneer work.

BTW , I also contacted MapleCraftUSA but they aren't as easy to deal with. You have to provide all your own measurements whereas Scherrs and SemiHandmade make their doors to Ikea specs. Naturally, MapleCraftUSA has the wenge that we want.

	BTW definintion BTW means By The Way

[Harpy]

Naturally, MapleCraftUSA has the wenge that we want.

Of course! Life is always like that.

[kitchen7138]

Not sure where but I once saw door drawer dimensions on here.

I bought a door in the As Is section just to use as a guide to have the hinge cups bored in my doors. All the hinges are in exactly the same place relative to the top or bottom edge of the door and from the side edge. The door maker did the hinge cups. I used the template for the base pullout as a guide to drill my own drawer front holes.

In hindsight, it was all a much bigger task than I imagined as the measuring, ordering, painting, hole drilling, getting everything aligned took much longer than I planned to get my perfect look. But I was a bit ambitious for a for a first timer to do it yourself, have a full time job and weekends full of kid activities. One day, I will get the final details like backsplash done and post pictures.