Those of you who did this, can you tell me about the process? I thought the first step (after deciding you want to use Ikea) would be to have the planner come to your house to do the planning, and then you would go to the store to actually try things out and order. However, after reaching out to Ikea online (I could not find a phone number for kitchens), they said I have to go to the store to schedule the appointment. That's annoying, but it's only a half hour drive, so it's doable. Here's my question: do I just go there, schedule the appointment, and leave (and then go back after the in-home session)? Or is this the Ikea visit that I have heard people mention on here where you go early and plan to stay for hours? I assumed that would only happen if you are not paying them to come to your house, but maybe not, and I'd like to know how much time to allow for this trip to *schedule* the home visit. TIA!

I think to bad mouth Ikea because the whole world is in a mess at the moment is unfair. Everyone is having issues with supply of even simple things and I find when I work with Ikea that usually the boxes are available even if the doors might be a bit later . This in no way affects your install to the point of the layout . I would still ask your Ikea store for referrals . I also agree that these are a simple item to DIY they are made for that purpose and after the first bit of assembly learning curve are kind of fun to assemble so my clients tell me. IMO too many contractors are just not able to understand a different system and think they can improve the way it is done and they can’t .

I need a contractor in the Chattanooga Tn area that has experience putting in an Ikea kitchen

I would ask at the local Ikea store for that area. Or possible in a local FB group, and then vet the hell out of them.