Complete Kitchen DIY Remodel With Ikea Cabinets

Ikea Cabinet planner, kitchen remodel. A total gut, new floors, new electric, recessed lighting, Ikea cabinets, granite countertops, new plumbing, sink/faucet, etc... All done by myself except for the granite countertops. Under cabinetry lighting not installed yet Took a very casual 13 weeks to complete. I guess that is what happens when you want to truly take your time and enjoy a remodel. Ok...so I was lazy a lot of the days. I had to work a full time job during this remodel! ;-P

Music: Soulive ft. Dave Mathews, Joyful Girl. Written by Ani Difranco.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Kitchen
• remodel
• ikea
• cabinets
• granite
• countertop
• recessed
• lighting
• hood
• range
• fan
• install
• DIY

[Mrsberg76]

Did you reinforce the sink cabinet before set the granite? I am very curious because I got the same cabinets with granite but now I am afraid of the weight of the granite.

[thedragonb]

@Mrsberg76 - I was concerned of this too! Ikea's plastic legs can hold 275 lbs. each. 1100 lbs total! A sink cabinet doesn't even have a full slab of granite on top with the sink cutout. Granite counters 3/4" (2CM) weighs about 12 lbs. sqft. or 1 3/16"(3CM) thick weighs about 18 lbs. sqft. Black granite is denser than light granite and weighs more, but you are safe! No reinforcing necessary. Google: "Granite too heavy for Ikea cabinets? - IKEA FANS" - That should reassure you!

[TomBruckner]

@thedragonb There is no such thing as black granite. The rock is called Gabbro. Granite is light (Quartz) with specks of grey/tan/pink (Feldspar) and black (Biotite among others)

[thedragonb]

@TomBruckner - Thanks for the 411. I learned that a while ago, actually, but good to share! Right. NO such thing as BLACK GRANITE, people! :)

[UnaBellaMami]

Is there a guestimate in what you spend on cabinets n lighting? Thinking of doing a project like that.

[thedragonb]

@UnaBellaMami: Roughly $3500 to $3700 for the iKea cabinets. The granite counter tops was $1800 to $2000 or so. Flooring was about $350. The lights were $10 each- $80 total. Sink, Faucet and Range Hood Fan on eBay, plus plumbing, wiring and supplies for about 600-$900. It was about a $5000-$7000 give or take. Still haven't found undercab lighting to install. I want to be more green and go with energy efficient LED. Looks so COLD to my eyes. Even the warm white colored lighting I've seen here.

[chipped11]

nice job, your kitchen looks great

[Mrsberg76]

@ethanmalka I would like to see your kitchen to see how it looks like? can you post some pictures? I am very curious and the way you are talking it seems like your kitchen is perfect and beautiful (which I doubt) or it is falling apart and you are a frustrated person

[Mrsberg76]

@thedragonb Thanks! Now I feel better! By the way your kitchen look awesome in comparison with the one you had before. I also worked my kitchen on budget and I saved a lot of money and I am really happy with my results! A lot of (envious) people tried to put me down because of que quality.. I think is totally b***s**t. My old kitchen cabinets were bad quality not even close to the Ikea ones and they were looking great because of my "Good care"

[thedragonb]

@showerladdy - Very much so. 3 Family home built about 100 years ago in one of the oldest cities of America... Boston. The kitchen is a 12' x 12' space. Not very big at all. :) Many old houses around the city are quite small. I guess they just wasn't much demand for large spacious kitchens 100 years ago! ;) Hmm, just think of the heating bills alone?!! Haaha!