What’s The Real Difference?
When planning a kitchen renovation, one of the first questions a lot of homeowners ask is: “Should I go with an IKEA kitchen, or invest in a fully custom renovation?”
And while we may be a bit biased (for obvious reasons), we do believe it’s a fair question to ask. IKEA kitchens are known for their affordability, which is especially appealing in today’s economy where every dollar you spend needs to hold its value. But when it comes down to it, is saving money worth the cost of longevity and quality? We break it down for you in this article, so you can make the most informed choice for your kitchen renovation.
Design Flexibility and Personalization
IKEA offers a limited range of cabinet sizes, styles, and finishes. Their online planning tool is helpful, but your kitchen design must fit their dimensions. If your space has any unique measurements, bulkheads, angled walls, or if you want any non-standard features like built-in appliances, you’ll need to modify IKEA components. This can complicate the process dramatically.
With IKEA, you are the designer and the contractor, meaning you’re responsible for measuring and designing the space. Creating an aesthetically pleasing and optimally functioning kitchen design can become overwhelming.
A custom renovation is designed around your home and lifestyle. Every cabinet, drawer, and detail is made to fit your exact space. The possibilities are endless from door styles, cabinetry finish, layout, and custom accessories. We work with you and our local custom cabinetry maker to some up with the exact design and layout you’re looking for.
Quality and Durability
Custom kitchens use higher-quality material like plywood boxes, hardwood doors, premium finishes, and soft-close hinges. These high-quality materials and premium finishes are the hallmarks of a long-term investment in your kitchen and home, not a short-term upgrade.
Our local custom cabinetry fabricator offers budget-friendly options, such as particleboard, in their creations. Building the cabinet boxes out of particleboard instead of plywood can save you around 10-15% of the construction cost. Particleboard offers a smooth, uniform surface at its lower price point. Plywood offers a stronger, more durable, and more water-resistant product for its higher cost.
IKEA cabinets use particleboard boxes with melamine or laminate finishes. They look attractive when first installed, but are not built for decades of heavy use. Over time, hinges will loosen and general wear and tear will take its toll on the kitchen cabinetry and surfaces. Even if they’re not built to last, IKEA kitchens can be suitable for lower-traffic kitchens, rental properties, or for short-term solutions.
Functionality And Everyday Use
IKEA offers standard storage solutions and layouts, with limited customization options. You can purchase plenty of inserts and accessories through IKEA or separately to satisfy your storage requirements. Without being able to integrate these options directly into the design, your kitchen design may appear disjointed and feel inefficient.
Custom kitchen designs like the ones EPI develops can be built to integrate storage solutions right into the design. We can add pull-out spice racks, integrated garbage/recycling systems, oversized drawers for pots and pans, appliance garages, built-in cutlery drawers, a pot filler, and so much more.
Cost and Value
A full IKEA kitchen, including cabinets, hardware, and basic installation, ranges from $10,000- $20,000 depending on size and upgrades. IKEA does include installation, but it not the demolition and disposal of your old kitchen. If you need new flooring, backsplash, lighting, and appliances, you need to factor in those costs. Having IKEA as your kitchen supplier means these items are separate costs.
A custom kitchen generally starts around $40,000- $60,000 and can go higher based on materials, layout, and features. Working with a licensed renovation contractor will ensure the demolition, electrical, plumbing, flooring, tile, and all other needs for a kitchen renovation are included. Kitchen renovation specialists like the professionals at EPI take care of all the details so you won’t have to.
Whether you purchase from IKEA or hire a contractor to complete your custom kitchen renovation, either option can result in a beautiful-looking kitchen. Your final decision will come down to your renovation goals. If you’re looking for affordability and short-term use, IKEA can suit your needs beautifully. But if you’re renovating your forever home and want something that will enhance your daily life for many years to come, a custom kitchen renovation is the kind of investment to help you achieve that.
At EPI Renovations, we specialize in designing and creating the functional, custom kitchen you’ve been dreaming of. We work closely with our cabinetry supplier that is located just outside of Ancaster, Ontario. Our kitchens are fabricated locally, fully customizable, and made from high-quality materials.
Contact us today to book your in-home consultation and start planning your dream kitchen renovation.
