You’re missing that AR is cheepchinesecrapola. And that they count linear feet differently. IKEA is good if you like IKEA doors and are handy enough you DIY. If they don’t have a door that you like, and you have to pay labor for anything, then they are not a good value compared to other American made budget lines.

@ Sophie - we cannot DIY, we are currently living outside of our house during a massive renovation and due to have a newborn a couple weeks before our cabinets need to be installed. The contractor will definitely need to assemble.

@blondelle, funny, I saw a lengthy blog post about finding the right white quartz for white cabinets that concluded that Frosty Carrina was the best bet (see here: https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/2018/03/choosing-quartz.html). Of note, in store, we definitely concluded the off white grimslov is just slightly less creamy side by side to the bobdyn (they actually had two sample cabinets for each side by side so we could see the contrast). We thought the frosty carrina looked ok with the grimslov, at least in the store lighting when we held them against each other.

We agreed we didn't like the pure white quartz. We ultimately wanted white cabinets with white counters with grey swirl and possible marble look backsplash, or else subway tile. I was worried the off white grimslov would be too warm as with grey swirling in the countertop and possible white grey backsplash, I had really been trying to get cool tones. That's why we were looking further for stark white options. Our budget is extremely tight.

We will check out pental misterio... we also wanted to check out LG Minuet Viatera, but haven't found a store with a sample yet.

Me I would hire the Ikea recommended company to install. We just did our suite kitchen and are very pleased with the results. We are in Canada so pricing may be different but the cabinets came in at about $3000 including the sink, faucet, all pulls etc. The install was $2300 including taxes. So $5500 give or take for a decently sized kitchen. Here is a picture of what they did. We even opted for more drawers in the base cabinets. The other good thing about Ikea is that it comes with soft close and has a great warranty. Sorry the pic is fuzzy we are still waiting on pot lights!

@Alison - thank you! We are all set up with a contractor doing a massive project for us and has experience with Ikea kitchens, so we are set with installation. It's more just about getting the look we want on an extremely tight budget.

We're budgeted about $4500 just for the cabinets right now. We really want the look of white shaker cabinets with mostly white quartz counters that have some grey swirling, and a marble-ish or subway tile backsplash (Also considering a herringbone pattern). We prefer a cool tone - wanted to utilize dark near black hardware for knobs/drawer pulls as we really like that sort of look.

Ultimately, we are just wondering if we can get the look we want from a different store than Ikea for a comparable price. That's why my question remains on whether Lowe's Allen & Roth shaker cabinets (closer to the look I want) are really going to be much more expensive than Ikea? They actually seemed a better quality, thicker more solid wood doors.

I think that if you are not careful you will make a mistake because you are rushing your cabinet decision. You can't really count on the price per linear ft to be accurate. Ikea has so many add ons, as does Home Depot or Lowes. You really need to get them to price out each design for you. It sounds like you are rushed because the baby is due. Can you buy an ikea door and bring it home in your light with your counter sample. Then you will know for sure if you can live with the cabinet color or not. I would look into the Home Depot and Lowes lines more. Some of the entry level cabinets are more customizable than Ikea's limited range.

I get RTA maple wood cabinets that come with soft closes from a local cabinet company. They're an average of 30% less than Lowes of Home Depot.

I have a friend who works at 1 of the big retailers. What she told me is if it's in the store it's a good price. if they have to order it from a supplier it costs significantly more.

Send your layout to some local cabinet stores that assemble. Hopefully you'll save some $$. :)

Thanks all - we are somewhat rushed, but really know the look we are going for. It's just a matter of finding it for a good value and on a tight budget. Honestly, Ikea would be it if they just offered grimslov in regular white rather than offwhite. The kitchen (when done) will have floor to ceiling windows and french doors to a deck so will get a lot of light. Because of that I'm not sure if that will wash out the cream of the grimslov or make it more obvious that it's creamy. All of our door/baseboard trim in our house is white. We want to do light grey/taupe walls.

I know we need to cost it out and we will (we just need better ballpark measurements from our architect). Before we even did that, I was just looking here for a quick and dirty answer in case anyone has gone through costing out Ikea vs. a Lowes cabinet.

Again, looking online, it surprised me that Lowes cost per square foot for cabinets was comparable, or actually cheaper, than Ikea in some cases. It makes me wonder what I'm missing.

@bgs990, we can't really look at a sample in the light it will have, because the area where the kitchen will be is not even there yet - it's a sort of addition, and the frame is just about to go up over the next few weeks.

However, it's really helpful if we can narrow down our choices and decide what we'll want now before the little one arrives in a couple months. Just will help take the stress off. We still have probably at least a month before we start to actually design the kitchen and order everything.

@blondelle, I realized we really wanted to look at LG Viatera minuet for a very white quartz, based on the blog! Sorry, I was wrong. Maybe that's why I thought Frosty looked great with the grimslov in the store, as both were off white!

But then, if we did get grimslov off white cabinets, maybe LG Viatera Minuet would look too white? Will have to test that out with samples.

Ikea cabinets will have a LOT more features for the money. And be better by far. Did you check the doors and door fronts available at Scherr's, Barker and Semi-Handmade? All make items to fit the Ikea boxes. I'd check those out first. Seriously, have had Ikea in the past and now have crappy big-box cabinets in our new home, and am never looking there again.

Check the alternatives. Just google each name and cabinets.

@sushipup1, I've got sample fronts from semihandmade and have reviewed some other houzz discussions comparing those few brands. But because the custom fronts can add considerable cost anyways, this is where I'm getting stuck, wondering if I can get essentially the same look at Lowe's for the same price or less.

In the end, I know I need to just go through a bid process with the different options and see how the costs compare, but was just interested to know if anyone had experience doing so already.

I have priced out my kitchen in many ways, including Ikea, Ikea w/ Semihandmade, and upgraded American Woodmark from Home Depot. Ikea had the lowest price point (though I did not price the same door style as you and used venddige which I think is cheaper); however, adding semihandmade doors made it comparable to the HD quote, especially when factoring in the DIY (my contractor will install but not assemble Ikea), both being about 50% more. I would imagine Lowe’s pricing would be similar.

A few differences I noticed include: IKEA cabinets come in fewer widths, not every 3 inches, which can be harder to work with. But if you’re considering all drawer bases, it seems like they have better options (full extension drawers, hidden trays for not too much more), than a basic big box cabinet. Uploading plans and getting a quote from Semihandmade was very easy. Obv big box has more door options and color choices, but basic cabinets can be junky unless upgraded.

I would not purchase any of these without taking advantage of a sale, which it seems like the big box stores have almost all of the time, even if not promoted, and Ikea has a few times a year (Semihandmade runs one with similar timing).

It’s not too hard to get quotes from any of these places and it’s really the only way to know for your personal kitchen.

I don’t really have anything to add that hasn’t been mentioned above, but before you lock yourself in to a kitchen layout, I recommend posting your layout in the kitchen forum. Those members are great and will help make sure you get a functional layout for the best use of your space.

@indecisive, thank you, that is super helpful to know! I do like some of the specific drawer/cabinet options at Ikea, and I also like their warranty. We've talked to sales reps on a couple trips who basically said you can always get the Ikea kitchens sale discount (you can go back for the discount if it's not running when you purchase). So that would be great.

If Semihandmade/Herr's/Barker costs similar to HD/Lowe's, and truly is much more expensive than Ikea, I struggle to see how it's worth it? Unless their doors are that much better? But it's more installation for the contractor.

So in the end, seems Ikea is truly our cheapest option, but I'm still harping on the off white grimslov in our very sunny kitchen, and trying to get the white kitchen/white and grey countertop look we wanted without the cabinets ending up looking too creamy in direct sunlight. Arrgh!

@richfield95, not sure what you mean by locking us into layout - you mean which style cabinet or drawer goes where? The general layout including deciding on a peninsula vs. an island and where the appliances go, we worked with an architect on, and are pretty happy with it. We are in a rowhouse, so it's basically cabinets on both sides of the rowhouse plus a peninsula with barstools. It's a very typical layout for rowhouses that are flipped in this area, and also places the fridge where it won't stick out too much (something not done well in some rowhouse flips). Couldn't hurt for a second option, I guess as long as nobody suggests anything that requires we go back to a permit revision (took 7 months to get a permit for this project!!)

Have Depot quote you the Woodmark San Mateo doorstyle. That ought to be right there price wise with anything IKEA. With tons more options, already assembled, and a lifetime warranty. IKEA can’t even come close to that.

@blondelle - thank you! That is very helpful to know!

Do you have any suggestions for a stone that would work for the look we want with Ikea Grimslov off white?

Not sure we'd be able to afford it this year, but we were looking into a security protective coating over the glass windows and french doors that would have UV protection, if that might help protect the quartz as well.

I should also add, though the kitchen will be sunny, it's located at the back of the house where 1) the sun sets, so isn't back there till later in the day, and 2) the direct sunlight is limited by what's behind us (more rowhouses from the next street over to block the sun once it gets too low, plus a couple trees with overhanging branches from neighbor's yard). So perhaps I'm overemphasizing the amount of sunlight that the kitchen will get. It will be more sunlight than we've been used to as the floor to ceiling windows and doors will be new!

Update: The more I look, the more I think I'm ok with Ikea grimslov off white cabinets - and that it's just a matter of selecting the right countertop to complement them, for which I've read through a few threads and may post my own for additional feedback. I was looking at photos online and websites for Ikea Kitchen installers that have a lot of showcase photos, and finding I can get the look I want. Not using custom door fronts such as semihandmade would be a relief as the budget is tight, and we could put the extra $$ into a couple other things we'd like to splurge on. Plus as we know we can get the Ikea discount at some point, we can use that money back towards a new bed for our four year old.

Me,

Last November Ikea offered gift cards at 20% off. My DH bought 10k worth of cards for me, I received the 10k in cards, and he received 2k in cards in his name. We bought our kitchen using these cards last February and went back during the sale and received the additional 15% off in an additional gift card. All in all, that's a sweet 35% discount. We're spending the extra $ on Pax wardrobes plus interior organizers for the mudroom and Besta cabinets for the family room. Ikea might offer this card promotion again. I'd sign up for their family membership, that way you'll be notified of all promotions by email. Also, as a family member, the sales price is really valid year round, as any purchase within 3 months of a sale is eligible for the sales discount. Just bring your original receipts back to Ikea.

I wish you best of luck with your remodel!

You WILL pay more going with IKEA if you have to pay labor. People get suckedin by the IKEA effect and just wont look at it objectively. I have no dog in the fight. Sometimes IKEA is the best option, and sometimes it isn’t. It is not for someone paying labor. If you won’t assemble and hang IKEA, you need to be doing something else.

Here in Canada, Home Depot and Lowes carries cabinet lines by Fabritec out of Quebec. My sister used them. They are called by different names by different stores and they have different levels of customization but the boxes are the same. Find out if the US stores have them. They are cheaper than Kraftmaid and really nice door selection. Most important, the box construction is really good.

The US doesn’t have them.

I believe that assembly/installation have already been accounted for in the OP's budget. Again, Ikea bells and whistles are better and will cost less than anything from the big box stores. When you figure the doors from another source, remember to price the Ikea pieces without doors and drawer fronts.

I realize you feel a baby coming is making it impossible for you to do your own Ikea assembly and install. Ask your husband to check with his friends. He and one of them or more can do the assembly in a day and the install the next. You can concentrate on baby care. Think what you can do with the money you'd save. Your tight budget would get a bit more flexible. A friend and I did his assembly and install without a hitch. It's really not difficult.

I think you just have to price out a couple of options. It’s easy to price out Ikea, you can get the exact cabinet cost using their planner. Sounds like you already have an assembly quote. So just add those together and compare to a Home Depot quote for the same layout with already assembled cabinets.

We did this in the DC metro area in around 2005 and Ikea was cheaper. We paid a carpenter to assemble and install them. He did a great job and got it done on time. We were very happy with that kitchen and when we sold about a year later due to an unexpected job opportunity on the other coast, the kitchen got a lot of positive feedback—in a 3/4 of a million dollar house.

Thanks all - the $4500 quote from our Contractor is including cabinets plus assembly labor for doing Ikea (I asked about this directly). This is part of a huge project that involves essentially building an addition, knocking out walls, moving plumbing and electricity, and more, etc. etc. I'm not sure how the $4500 breaks down to cabinets alone vs. labor, but I don't think he is charging much for the labor portion considering all the labor they are already doing on our house on this 5+ month project.

I also think at this point reading through multiple threads that it's true we might easily spend more than that $4500 going to a Lowe's or Home Depot even if cabinets come preassembled. I got hopeful for a moment while in Lowes, but I'm now skeptical. We WILL likely cost out some options when the time comes, just to be sure in the end. It's just not at all worth the headache to us to try to DIY the assembly at that time for a number of personal reasons I won't go into.

One thing to consider is the warmth (Kelvins) of the lighting you will use. I have a undercounter light from Home Depot which is selectable for 3000K/4000K/5000K.

With an Ikea Bodbyn off white door, the 3000K made it look very creamy yellow white. The 5000K gave it a blue tinge. The 4000K was just right, the closest to a neutral white.

It seems to be hard to find screw in LED's for cans and fixtures in 4000K, but easier to find in the recessed light fixtures with built in LED .

So also consider what lighting you use if you go with the Grimslov as it can make a big difference.

One other thought with the ikea is that you do have the option to change your doors later when you want to spend more for something like Semi Handmade. They have some really gorgeous doors, but very pricey.