IKEA Design Challenges for a Chicago-Space Kosher Kitchen

We stored their design theme whereas separating kitchenware, sinks and storage.

You’re an IKEA buyer presently with an outdated, inefficient kitchen and able to begin your new transform mission. You’ve gotten particular design concepts in thoughts, however you additionally know {that a} DIY strategy is means past your skill. Additionally, you retain a kosher kitchen — and that presents additional distinctive design challenges — particularly the necessity to discover applicable storage choices.

So the query turns into: How do you double the quantity of storage in your new structure to maintain your kitchenware correctly separated, with out growing the sq. footage — and improve the design theme as effectively? This was the problem set earlier than buyer Benji from Skokie, IL, when he and his spouse determined to renovate their house right into a timeless IKEA kosher kitchen.

“We preferred the clear, timeless and easy look of IKEA kitchens. However, since we maintain kosher, it was crucial that the kitchen had sufficient cupboard house for every thing that now we have, together with double the quantity of dishes, pots and pans, two sinks, and many others.” Benji says.

Add to that his choice for customized design options utilizing IKEA cupboards (akin to an IKEA cupboard “hack”) and the unique house was now going to be utterly reworked. However one problem emerged: a quick backorder delay affected the timing of getting two IKEA cupboards. Although, the mission was not on a selected deadline.

So with a finances of $35,000, Benji started working with IKD designer Frank to rework the 250-sq.-ft. house utilizing IKEA’s SEKTION kitchen system together with Semihandmade (SHM) Shaker white customized door fronts on the perimeter and 3cm thick IKEA KASKER Quartz counter tops with white marble impact. The couple employed Grand Installers from Chicago to put in the white kitchen cupboards. The look is enhanced by white IKEA UTRUSTA cabinets (good for ornamental objects) in addition to can lighting featured within the 95″ excessive ceilings.

In the meantime the peninsula island – a must have want record merchandise for the couple — options SHM’s SM Shaker Night time Sky base cupboards and is paired with extra KASKER counter tops to create a seamless look. The island additionally includes a 22″x18-1/8″ IKEA NORRSJON chrome steel sink (to enhance the second IKEA NORRSJON sink within the adjoining nook) which is right for meals prep.

The product lineup additionally contains: IKEA UTRUSTA hinges with built-in damper for kitchen; an IKEA UTRUSTA drawer entrance; white IKEA MAXIMERA drawers; white IKEA FORBATTRA toe kicks; an IKEA FIXA countertop help fixture; a chrome-plated IKEA FIXA diffusion barrier and an orange IKEA FIXA drill template. The home equipment embrace a Frigidaire backside freezer fridge; a Viking Vary 5 burner cooktop; a Miele Silencer Plus dishwasher and a Whirlpool microwave and double wall oven, amongst others.

Impressively, the IKEA whole cupboard worth ($3,819) and all additional objects ($764) got here to solely $4,583 — serving to the couple keep effectively below their whole design finances. So it’s very doable to rework your kitchen utilizing IKEA cupboards — even when there are very specific design wants concerned — and have it’s reasonably priced and performance precisely how your loved ones wants.

Let’s check out how Benji’s kitchen got here collectively!

Twice As Good

With any kosher kitchen it’s crucial to account for twice the quantity of kitchenware objects wanted (one for meat, the opposite for dairy). This requires distinctive design options.

“We actually needed two sinks, one on the island and one within the nook. The important thing was they each be as massive as doable and undermount. We noticed the IKEA NORRSJON sink and knew instantly it might work for the peninsula island,” Benji says.

To accommodate this request, Frank carried out an IKEA cupboard hack within the nook space close to the cooktop. Particularly, the IKEA base cupboard within the nook space was modified to 38″x38″ and mixed with the SHM SM Shaker Night time Sky door entrance. This enabled the second sink to suit and nonetheless keep a seamless look to the design. By designing the house with two sinks it permits for laundry cookware whereas conserving to their kosher wants. It additionally offers clear zones so the household can higher get pleasure from meal prep and cleanup collectively.

Storage With Type

It was essential for this IKEA kitchen to realize storage choices with out sacrificing house — or effectivity.

 “We needed sufficient cupboard house, a clear design — no kitchen desk — and a big peninsula to prep and eat on. Our previous island took over a lot of the authentic structure and made it tough to handle meals prep and cleanup. [We’re pleased] that every one of our needs had been addressed and included into the design plan,” Benji presents.

The IKEA higher wall cupboards run alongside the perimeter from the wall with open shelving, then above the Frigidaire fridge, over the microwave and cooktop, round and above the nook sink space and at last above the double oven. Every cupboard options IKEA KALLROR chrome steel handles and white IKEA MAXIMERA drawers giving the house a clear, transitional really feel. This leaves the remainder of this wall (which is linked to the peninsula island) free to hold a flatscreen TV. IKEA STROMLINJE LED countertop lights are featured below the wall cupboards on both facet of the fridge and likewise highlighting the nook space with the second NORRSJON sink. This offers ample activity lighting throughout meal prep, and a contact of ambiance at night time. The wall cupboards are perfect for storing and separating plates, glassware and utensils with the intention to maintain a kosher house. This contains storage for seasonal dishware and different objects for necessary non secular holidays.

It was additionally necessary for Benji to have customized cupboards that may very well be used to face up cooking trays and cookie sheets, because the couple are avid bakers. This was addressed with IKEA base cupboards below the Whirlpool microwave (bought from ABT in Chicago). This base cupboard additionally includes a customized cupboard modification “hack” because the divider retains the baking trays correctly separated and an higher slot can be utilized for added baking tray storage as effectively.

General, Benji says he considers with the ability to accommodate the additional dishes wanted for conserving a kosher kitchen — and nonetheless having ample house — as essentially the most distinctive a part of the structure.

Provide Chain Struggles

One small problem was provide chain delays in getting all of Benji’s IKEA cupboards

“We weren’t on a deadline or in a rush, so (the backorder delays) didn’t trigger any inconvenience, apart from having some bins in our lounge for a number of weeks. Our installer was understanding and labored with us,” Benji says.

To accommodate the difficulty, IKEA instructed him to name his native retailer. He says that he was diligent and known as to test on the standing of the lacking cupboards and elements.

Pantry Placement

To raised make the most of the prevailing structure an IKEA tall cupboard pantry was added.

“We needed a further pantry that’s full size. The wall we selected was principally being unused in our authentic kitchen other than one mild swap that was by no means used. Now now we have a lot extra storage,” Benji says.

With an additional 60″ now to work with, Frank added 4 15″ IKEA tall cupboards, that includes Semihandmade (SHM) Shaker white customized door fronts, in addition to 4 15″ higher cupboards. The whole pantry space reaches 94-1/2″ to the highest of the ceiling. This creates an amazing quantity of recent space for storing so the household can simply retailer elements, akin to non-perishable objects, which makes meal prep simpler in addition to unloading grocery packages.

A second full-length pantry is featured close to the Whirlpool double oven as effectively. This offers extra storage above the oven with an IKEA higher cupboard and includes a 30″ (w) drawer beneath the wall oven.

Island Within the Stream

Eliminating the unique, unusually formed heart island that consumed a lot of the previous house was paramount to Benji’s IKEA kitchen.

“We requested for an oblong island within the heart that juts from the wall. It was necessary for the workflow of the brand new design to incorporate our dishwasher, sink, and trash/recycling cans there as effectively. Since our household preps and eats on the island, we additionally needed a 15″ overhang and ample seating — ideally with 5 seats,” Benji says.

Right here, Frank paired 24″ and 36″ IKEA base cupboards (together with the 24″ Miele dishwasher) in addition to a pull-out trash can to create storage for trash luggage, detergents and different cleansing provides.

Frank was additionally in a position to embrace 5 chairs, from Room and Board, so there may be loads of comfy seating for the household with out sacrificing house or workflow. The kitchen is complemented by VCT flooring from Flooring and Décor.

Clever Recommendation

Benji presents some phrases of knowledge for future IKEA remodelers.

“Undoubtedly interact with a design firm like IKD. We briefly thought of doing the design ourselves utilizing the IKEA Dwelling Planner however we positively didn’t have the aptitude to do that on our personal. IKD has the designers that provide you with distinctive concepts and are in a position to take a want record and switch it into fruition. The house appears to be like and feels a lot bigger than it did earlier than. It’s so brilliant and lightweight crammed and has made the kitchen our favourite room in the home!” he concludes.

Benji’s IKEA kosher kitchen is a examine in utilizing the out there footprint to create a sensible and classy IKEA kitchen. There are a lot of customized choices out there with IKEA cupboards to search out storage — like Benji did for his kitchen. Actually, the necessity for inventive storage options made his kosher kitchen extra environment friendly and distinctive. Our design crew is right here to do the identical in your mission.