Complete Information to IKEA’s Up to date Kitchen Planning Providers

2023 Replace:
We first wrote about IKEA’s planning service again in 2016. That was earlier than COVID, earlier than video chat grew to become the norm, and earlier than IKEA purchased out Traemand. Briefly, loads has modified, and we wished to replace this publish to mirror the methods through which IKEA’s companies have modified.

2016:
Right this moment’s visitor publish is by Ray S.

IKEA affords a $199 in-person kitchen planning service. An IKEA kitchen planning skilled visits your house, takes measurements, and spends 4 hours sitting with you to plan the kitchen you’ll use for the subsequent 20 years.

Is it higher than working with Impressed Kitchen Design on-line?

Our secret shopper, Ray, employed them to search out out… and boy, did we study loads.

Earlier than you rent IKEA to plan your kitchen, you should learn this weblog publish.

2023 Replace:
IKEA now not prices for his or her kitchen planning service, however you received’t be getting the identical in-home, customized service. As a substitute, you get a 90-minute appointment both in-store or on-line with an IKEA planning specialist. (Notice: An IKEA planning specialist shouldn’t be a skilled kitchen designer.)

You might be anticipated to have your measurements prepared, however for a $49 payment you may rent a technician to carry out the duty for you.

IKEA vs. Impressed Kitchen Design Providers

2016:
There are three the explanation why somebody would possibly select IKEA’s service over IKD’s.

• One-stop-shopping: IKEA handles the entire thing, soup to nuts. They measure and plan your IKEA kitchen in particular person and you then purchase the kitchen from IKEA.
• The $199 price ticket: IKEA prices much less for his or her service than the IKD design payment.
• Any errors are IKEA’s duty: If IKEA’s service makes an error as a result of incorrect measurements, they have to pay to repair the error.

Sounds fairly good on paper, doesn’t it?

2023 Replace:
IKEA was once one-stop procuring. Somebody would come to your house, measure, plan, order, and schedule set up. Now, clients are left dealing with a lot of the kitchen transforming course of on their very own.

Throughout the planning appointment, you basically get one-on-one assist utilizing the IKEA on-line house planner. IKEA workers put the kitchen plan into your account so you might have entry to the pictures and should purchase the gadgets in your procuring bag. Measuring prices further, and the set up service is at present on maintain.

Free continues to be lower than IKD’s design service. However what do you get on your cash? IKEA’s kitchen planning specialists can’t name themselves kitchen designers as a result of they don’t possess that certification. They know how one can put a kitchen collectively utilizing IKEA merchandise within the IKEA planner. That’s it.

IKD isn’t sure to IKEA-only provides. Many purchasers come to us as a result of they’re in search of extra from their inner group and cupboard fronts, which is why we are able to supply inner design packages and designs with customized fronts by firms like Semihandmade.

That was the case with our buyer, Ben. You possibly can learn his Houzz evaluation of IKD’s progressive design course of right here.

We provide step-by-step measuring directions, present an expert design package deal with 3-D renderings (and, sure, we additionally add it to the house planner to make buy simple), and we provide our clients entry to Set up Join, a database of vetted IKEA installers.

(To study extra about how IKEA’s on-line plans examine to IKD’s design package deal, click on right here.)

Once more, the measurement service is now not included in IKEA’s kitchen planning appointment – however we nonetheless offer you peace of thoughts.

IKD affords two design revisions freed from cost, and we provide step-by-step measurement directions. If one thing goes flawed, you’re coated by our pre-design measurement assure. If a measurement error ends in further labor and materials prices to repair, we’ll pay for it.

2016:
I discovered 5 issues after I purchased IKEA’s service which can be vital for IKD clients to know.

Navigating IKEA’s Kitchen Planning Service Promotions

My “native” IKEA is an hour away. I like visiting IKEA, however that’s about 100 miles roundtrip. I make that journey possibly a few occasions a 12 months for a brand new bookcase or one thing.

Nonetheless, making the drive is healthier than ready on the telephone with IKEA.

I drove to IKEA a couple of week earlier than the sale was introduced. Though I talked to the gross sales man for some time, he by no means talked about something concerning the IKEA kitchen sale (which was only some days away).

The sale affords a 15 p.c refund on kitchens that value greater than $4,000 and would have been good to know.

2023 Replace:
In line with one IKEA consultant, most associates aren’t advised about the IKEA gross sales greater than every week prematurely and are instructed to maintain it beneath wraps. That means, if any stock modifications they usually should amend the sale it doesn’t require fielding a bunch of disillusioned clients. So, except you’re very charming, you continue to shouldn’t count on a heads up with regards to IKEA gross sales (regardless of how a lot you propose to spend on a brand new kitchen).

Nonetheless, lately, a real IKEA Kitchen Sale is uncommon. You’re extra more likely to discover a sale that simply options sure cupboard fronts, counter tops, or equipment.

The 4-Hour IKEA House Planning Service Expertise

2016:
The IKEA workers particular person mentioned the four-hour appointment can be spent like this:

• Two hours to measure my kitchen
• Two hours to plan my kitchen

My fiancée and I’ve a big kitchen, so two hours of measuring time sounded good. However solely two hours for planning? I knew we’d have plenty of questions and concepts to bounce round. I had thought 4 hours can be sufficient time, however now I wasn’t so positive.

Would 4 hours be sufficient time to design the kitchen we deliberate to make use of for the subsequent 20 years?

2023 Replace:
When requested what would occur if somebody wanted greater than 90 minutes to design their dream kitchen, the IKEA affiliate truly laughed – good-naturedly, after all. So, no, the design appointments are literally shorter in 2023, however you may at all times make one other free appointment when you have further questions and concepts.

A part of the rationale the affiliate discovered the preliminary query humorous is due to the next level: You’re anticipated to do loads of homework earlier than the appointment.

Understanding the Positive Print and Homework for IKEA’s Service

2016:
IKEA is fairly clear on what it would and received’t do on your kitchen design. They don’t offer you a kitchen design like IKD will; they offer you a “kitchen cupboard format.” There’s a extremely massive distinction between these two issues.

I used to be additionally stunned at how a lot written homework I needed to do. Among the questionnaire gadgets have been subjects I wished to go over with the planning man’s assist, not work out by myself.

2023 Replace:
Whereas the exhausting copy not often makes an look, the pre-appointment guidelines nonetheless applies. It is best to know every little thing about your kitchen, from measurements and electrical places to the kind of door fronts and {hardware} you need earlier than displaying up on your IKEA planning appointment.

IKP = IKEA Kitchen Planning Service

IKD additionally has a pre-design type, however we’re completely happy to reply questions and work via it with you with out the strain of a time restrict.

Pricing Construction of IKEA’s Planning Service

2016:
The IKEA workers particular person then requested for my tackle and knowledgeable me the cost can be $249. I assumed it was $199?

The gross sales man defined that the service begins at $199. As a result of I lived farther away, it was $249.

After all, in IKEA’s eyes, that doesn’t actually matter. Proper now, they’re providing the deal that when you purchase that service after which purchase your kitchen earlier than August 1, 2016, they’ll refund you the price of the service – even when it prices greater than $199.

I discovered throughout my appointment that IKEA makes these worth determinations based mostly on zones. However the man who got here to my home truly lived shut by. So why did it value extra?

2023 Replace:
IKEA has a number of appointment choices now, and when you put them collectively you get virtually the identical service you’d with IKD. You can begin with a 30-minute plan session appointment and schedule a 90-minute planning appointment from there. You can too schedule a 30-minute plan verification session the place you evaluation revisions or double examine a plan you’ve put collectively your self on the house planner (a service we provide at a reduction). These companies are free via IKEA.

IKEA even affords a brand new inside design service for $99/room. This consists of three digital appointments with an expert designer.

IKD’s course of is all-inclusive and at all times has the identical workforce. As one Houzz reviewer particulars, IKD’s founder, Mike, answered their preliminary questions; design coordinator Florence onboarded the client and dealt with questions and issues all through the method; {and professional} kitchen designer Javier created their new, stunning kitchen design.

It’s vital to notice that IKD’s designs are at all times dealt with by licensed design professionals. IKEA’s inside design service does use skilled designers, however the different companies are offered by educated IKEA workers who know IKEA however don’t essentially perceive all of the design pitfalls IKD offers with day by day.

There may be additionally the truth that these appointments require figuring out what you need from IKEA (and solely IKEA) and coping with a number of completely different planners and designers all through the method. You know the way annoying it’s once you go to the physician, and it’s important to clarify why you’re there to the receptionist, the nurse, after which the physician? If there’s a follow-up appointment concerned, you’ll in all probability have to elucidate all of it once more.

IKEA’s system is like that, however for inside design.

With IKD, our design coordinator and one assigned skilled designer/IKEA knowledgeable handles your design from begin to end. You need to use the distributors you need to customise your kitchen, and there’s no nickel-and-diming.

If You Don’t Have Wi-Fi, Your Kitchen Planning Will Be Executed With out You

2016:
The gross sales man requested if I’d have Wi-Fi obtainable for the house planning coworker to make use of. I mentioned sure, however what would occur if I didn’t?

Principally, the IKEA planner would come and take measurements, then take notes on what I wished – however he’d must ship me my design. The one means for IKEA to design my kitchen was via the IKEA House Planner app.

I puzzled if different clients have been okay with settling for that. I arrange my appointment for every week later.

High 5 Classes From IKEA’s In-Particular person House Planning Service

It positive appeared suspicious that no one talked about the sale. I imply, doesn’t the sale make individuals need to purchase?

If two of the 4 planning hours are spent on measurements, how a lot design assist are you actually getting?

Should you don’t do your homework, you’re simply consuming into these 4 hours much more – and there’s a lot of homework.

I wasn’t precisely thrilled that it value me an additional $50 for the service as a result of I stay an hour away, though IKEA’s service particular person was shut by.

The Wi-Fi factor is vital. Even when you have Wi-Fi, like I do, what if it’s not working that day? I’d really feel ripped off if I couldn’t even sit subsequent to somebody whereas they designed my kitchen.

How Was IKEA’s Planning Service?

To date, I haven’t been impressed. The man I talked to was very hands-off and he didn’t precisely encourage confidence. Subsequent week, I’ll write about how the service truly went.