european style non-custom cabinets
Does anyone know where I can find full-overlay (european) style cabinets that are not custom? I like the style of ikea, but have heard negative things about their quality; I’ve been advised to buy kraftmaid cabinets with upgraded plywood boxes, but don’t much like the look of them, and have read that their Venecia line…
Does anyone know where I can find full-overlay (european) style cabinets that are not custom? I like the style of ikea, but have heard negative things about their quality; I’ve been advised to buy kraftmaid cabinets with upgraded plywood boxes, but don’t much like the look of them, and have read that their Venecia line is available only with particle board interiors. I’ve thought about buying doors and boxes separately. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
Yes, plywood boxes are better than melamine, but once a 3/4″ box is level, plumb and attached to a wall it’s not going anywhere. Add in the Blum hardware and IKEA kitchens are a steal.
Another option re: customizing is a company called Semihandmade that makes custom doors, panels and drawer faces for IKEA kitchens.
StarMark Cabinetry and Fieldstone Cabinetry both have full overlay doors, there’s no particle board in the construction, they are not manufactured overseas, and it doesn’t take three months…more like four or six weeks after placing the order. A good example of a recent loft project is at http://www.qualifiedremodeler.com/print/Qualified-Remodeler/Penthouse-Galley/1$740
About IKEA blum hinges – they are custom made for IKEA, slightly different than for other cabinets makers. Why, I don’t know.
I called Blum to ask and that is what they told me.
Try Scavloni Cabinets. Very reasonably priced if you can wait 3 month for them.
Chelsea Kitchens on 8th ave at 17th has moderate to highly priced modern Italian made kitchens. They cost much more than Ikea but far less than Valcucine or Poggenpohl, Boffi, etc.
an alternative to kraftmaid is Decora. I used them in one of my houses and they were terrific and definitely less expensive than kraftmaid. you can check their site at ‘decoracabinets.com’ and there’s a supplier on kent ave (i forget their name but do a locator search on the site and you’ll find them). the decora maple ply cabs are the least expensive and come in a variety of styles and colors; not sure what the euro look is, but I did a modern look with a flat front that was great and they are great quality, very solid, and good paint job.
12:15 agian – I’d consider getting Ikea cabinets were I renovating a place. The only reason I would pick more traditional wood ones over them would be if I wanted to go for a more retro/traditional style – Ikea ones seem more modern to me. But if that works with the aesthetic of the place, the quality is great.
12:15 again – I also had solid wood doors on my ikea cabinets. They were pine, and showed some wear from the previous owners before I moved in. Before I sold, I finally got around to refreshing them with some smelly stuff you rub on wood for that purpose, and they looked new again.
I’d definitely get solid wood doors for Ikea cabinets, though I’d get a harder wood than pine – oak, birch, whatever.
Ikea hinges are made by Blum.
They make most of the hinges worldwide.
You can buy your own blum hinges.
Everyone sells them.
Suprisingly enough Ikeas has excellent prices on blum hinges.
Yes you can buy them separately there
.Ikea reminds me of “I’ll huff and I’ll puff and blow your house down”.
What is popular now is Blumotion.
I am not for or against Ikea.
I really can’t recommend my Ikea cabinets enough- But I want to point out that you can get doors for the front made out of solid wood. This makes all the difference in the way they look and function. I have solid oak fronts. The parts that get the most wear are therefore solid. I did my own design, and custom cut some of the boxes myself, which is easy with a saw and particle board. The hinges are well made and very easy to keep true with adjustments. The drawers are made by another manufacturer and they are I think German. The board that the cabinets are made of is of better quality than your average IKEA desk shelf.