Mix & Match kitchen?- IKEA carcass / units / cabinets & BnQ fronts?

catt_2

There's a lot I like about IKEA kitchens....

Good reviews on these forums.
Long guarantee.
Immediately available for collection.
Deeper storage due to no void cabinet backs.
Low prices.

I have however set my heart on a gloss cream kitchen and IKEA only do a gloss white.

I'm thinking about buying IKEA cabinets only. This is possible as they sell the carcass separately from the doors and drawers. Then I would buy the fronts elsewhere, probably BnQ.

I know that some of the IKEA cabinets are non-standard sizes for the UK.

I wonder if anyone has done something like this who can advise me?

I imagine that it could push up fitting costs and drawers might not fit. I do want 600mm pans drawers units.

Is this a crazy idea of mine or has anyone done this?

Or will Ikea introduce gloss cream!:D

ic

The base unit doors may well actually match the base unit in size, however I doubt that the hinge locations or drawer locations match up. You'd probably need to drill new holes.

Ikea's wall units are certainly a different size - I think they're 70 cm and 90 cm tall, whereas standard units from other stores are 72 cm tall. You'd be restricted to the smaller doors, and would have to cut them down or have them overhang the units.

Ikea's units are a deeper than others, so you won't be able to get side panels that fit. You shouldn't have a problem with the pelmets.

I also wonder if Ikea / B&Q would support their guarantees if you're fitting different doors to different units and making them fit?

ThrifTE

when fitting IKEA kitchens plumbing the sinks in is more of an issue than in the normal units available in the uk with space at the back to run the pipes. it depends on your design. the only other issue i had when fitting them was the walls in most uk houses of an age and some times new build !! is the walls are not normally that square or perpendicular. thus some times you have to make adjustments and fill gaps in, which is much easier to do using a std back recess kitchen. yet again depends on design and house situation etc. having to gauge a long work top is a right pain. where as adjusting the carcasess is much easier.

jennifernil

Ikea doors and B&Q doors are not the same size at all, the heights are different. You will need to stick with one or the other.

vansboy

Agree, with above, you'll need to get from one source, to be safest & to stop your fitters going barmy, trying to mix n match!

Isn't there a creamy/magnolia colour in Ikea any longer?

VB

catt_2

Thanks for all your helpful replies.;)

I thought I should let you know that after lots of cross-referencing of the IKEA kitchens brochure and B&Q's, checking measurements, etc....as well as another trip to IKEA, I have decided not to attempt the mix & match route!

Yes, Vansboy, IKEA do a creamy/magnolia kitchen but it's sort of Swedish cottage style and not the glossy modern look I'm trying to achieve. So as they don't have my kitchen, I'll opt for BnQ.

Having paid another visit to IKEA, I do like the tall wall units but noticed they were hung 60cm, even 70cm above the worktops on the display kitchens. Stylish but impractical unless you keep steps handy!

I might put my BnQ base units on IKEA's Capita steel legs. Should that be compatible?

ic

Legs, handles and most other accessories will be compatible (pull out bins, towel rails, lights, etc).

There is no rule about how high up the units are mounted - you can have them an inch off the work top if you like! The showroom fitters have just fitted to a certain style.