[cork2win]

Well, I took yesterday off work and made the 3 hour treck north to visit the Canton Michigan IKEA.

I have to say that initially the store is just overwhelming. I'm not a big shopper and don't generally care for crowds and I was a little out of my element at first. Remembering that I'd just driven 3 hours to get there helped keep me from running out, screaming.

I didn't quite get the organization and was a little concerned when I first got there that I really only saw one kitchen. Turns out the entry point seems to be a mix of all kinds of displays and the kitchen display is more toward the back, where I finally found myself.

I tried to focus on my goals. Checking the quality of the cabinets, looking at possible "mods" and choosing a door style. I found several door styles I definitely didn't like and to my huge surprise, liked Adel Med Brown and Uriksdal most. I absolutely LOVE the color of the MedBrown, it's EXACTLY what I've had pictured in my mind all this time. It doesn't come across well in print or on computer, you really need to see it in person. I just love it. I love the Uriksdal too but I think cleaning all those grooves would be a pain, and it's a little lighter than I like, but it was cool because it was different... I liked the texture. I'd been thinking all this time that I was going to do Nexus Birch but it turns out that I really don't like the look of very light cabinets. Just personal choice and I never knew I felt that way until looking at all the displays.

I spent two hours looking around and taking pictures and trying to soak it all in. I nabbed some kitchen catalogs and made my way to the As Is room hoping to pick up a cabinet and door/drawer to bring home to show hubby. Unfortunately there weren't any and by the time I realized that the only way to get one was probably to go back to kitchens and order one (or at least figure out where they were in the warehouse) I was just too tired to do it. Again, I'm not a big shopper. Two hours is a miracle! Of course now I'm really wishing I'd have done it and brought one home.

So.... now that I've seen them in person and am confindent in my decision on using IKEA for our cabs, I can start moving forward. Adel MedBrwn are available for pickup in the store, so I'm assuming this means that when the time comes all I need to do is make another trip to the store, sit down with an IKEAN and get my order all wrapped up, then pick it up from the warehouse, right? DH asked me what the lead time was on these cabinets and I hesitated to say there wasn't one, but as long as everything is in stock, it's immediate, right?

My only other question right now is about the pantry cabinets. I saw the tall one with the pullout front and the other style with just the door and shelves, and one with the shelves removed and wire baskets installed. These cabinets are very deep and as I stood in front of one realized that it's virtually useless for my needs as a pantry when installed with just shelves because I'd be stretching to the back of the cabinet all the time for my pantry items. The pullout front style just has me confused... it seems... akward I guess. The big door seems like it would get in the way, although the pullout drawers are nice. Is there some benefit to this style that I'm missing? It seems the best solution is the sliding wire baskets. I'm guessing with some research I'll find that many of you have modified these cabinets to use drawer slides or something, which may be better yet.

Anyway, just excited to have finally seen them in person. Wish I would have spent a little more time there, but baby steps I guess.

Oh, I just ADORE this kitchen. I'm thinking of doing my island cabs with RURBRIK black glass rather than stainless...

[kmcg]

Glad you survived! I often feel that way about visiting the store, but it's only 30 minutes away so I can go when it's not so crowded.

In stock means no lead time, but there could be a few things that are not in stock. When I ordered, it was the tall pantry cabinets, so I made a second trip when those came in. To save multiple trips, you should find out how to order by fax, and then deal with the kitchen expeditor to ensure that all the parts are there and ready to pick up. With the Seattle store, I faxed in my initial order, and did the followup details by phone while watching my daughter play soccer in San Diego! Now that's a great way to get a kitchen. I finalized the order over the phone, and they said I should pick it up within the week.

I have 2 of the pullout pantries, 15" wide. They flank my fridge, so they are actually the only option for me because of how an opening door would either swing into the fridge, or block too much of the adjacent counter. I don't find the attached door at all annoying, but some people do.

I agree about the shelves being not so good, but the wire baskets drive people crazy. You should consider a 3rd option, which you must not have seen displayed: you can buy special 153 degree hinges that allow the doors to open wider and thus allow use of the pullout drawers. So, normal door on front, pullout drawers inside. Very cool, limited sizes. I think 15 and 24 so far, but no 30" wide internal drawers are available.

Kathy

[DesignDiva]

The pullout front style just has me confused... it seems... akward I guess. The big door seems like it would get in the way, although the pullout drawers are nice. Is there some benefit to this style that I'm missing?

I think the trick is to set the drawer that is below the top drawer (the one attached to the door) so that you have "reach in and remove item" room. That's the only drawer that is restricted because the bottom of the top drawer is always going to be above it. The other drawers don't have that issue. I would love to put several very close together drawers in my pullout, each sized just for a single standard sized can or box. I could have a tomato sauce drawer, a pasta drawer, a cake mix drawer etc. I have something very close to that now, even with the five drawers. But it isn't perfection LOL

[climber_grrl]

We're in the process of putting together our kitchen right now and I have only 1 deep 15"x80" pantry next to my fridge. It's at the end of a run and I was able to get the 153 hinges and drawers with Rationell fronts. They ROCK! I'm short (5'4" on a tall day) and I put a deep drawer at the top so I could pull the whole dang thing out (clears the fridge) and get heavy items, like a giant jar of flour, from the back. I wasn't into the pull out cab for the same reason. Seemed like the door would be intrusive.

Bummer the store is so far away. I hate shopping, but I've come to love IKEA because I can pop in and out quickly. The maze of the store is daunting at first, but soon you'll be a pro and know all the short cuts so you can get to the kitchen dept lickety split.

[DulcineaK]

yup, i'm a HUGE fan of the 153s there are very rare instances where i would see the pull out working better, but i think the 153s trump the p/o 98% of the time

[Tigratrus]

You know, for some odd reason I just never compared the functionality of the 153's and the PO's side by side in my head before? That's a really good point. Up against a wall it might make a difference, but... Good point.

::putting on clueless hat and sitting in a corner for a bit::

James

[DulcineaK]

making my mom's cooking area i have a 21in base pull out on the left and a 24in on the right. the right was originally doors and pull out shelves, but then i found torrus' thread about the 24x24 door and it was decided. next to a cooktop it just makes sense to pull out the drawers and get supplies. But in my high pantries it doesn't hurt to open a door and have full access to everything in the drawers.

[DesignDiva]

But the COOLNESS factor!!! Don't forget about the COOLNESS FACTOR!!!!

I agree, functionally doors would probably work better than the pullout big door...but it is the one thing that impresses all our friends the most. It MAKES the "European" style!

[cork2win]

Originally Posted by evaperconti

But the COOLNESS factor!!! Don't forget about the COOLNESS FACTOR!!!!

I agree, functionally doors would probably work better than the pullout big door...but it is the one thing that impresses all our friends the most. It MAKES the "European" style!

LOL. You know, that is SO TRUE. I was standing by the display at IKEA for a while where the only pullout pantry was located and I can't tell you how many people commented on it. I also can't tell you how many people pulled too hard and jarred all the contents, but still... it definitely has coolness factor.

Originally Posted by DulcineaK

making my mom's cooking area i have a 21in base pull out on the left and a 24in on the right. the right was originally doors and pull out shelves, but then i found torrus' thread about the 24x24 door and it was decided.

Can I ask what thread you're referring to here? I'm guessing it's something about modifying the 24" pantry to use drawers? I originally had two-15" pantries flanking my refrigerator in my design, but I'm seriously considering changing that to something else on the left side (or nothing) and putting a 24" with the 153 degree hinges on the right side with drawers. Seems this makes the most sense for me. Thanks everyone!

[DulcineaK]

i bought my 24x24 door yesterday to create another lil pullout base pantry! so exciting

24" cabinet combos