Using Semihandmade’s Custom Fronts For Your IKEA Kitchen

How Semihandmade’s custom fronts add style and save you money

You’ve decided on an IKEA kitchen and now it’s time to select the cabinets. But you’re a first-time IKEA customer and not sure which direction to gowith your remodel project. Allow us to help.

As certified design professionals, we’d like to suggest Los Angeles, CA-based Semihandmade’s custom cabinet door fronts as your first choice. Why’s that? Well, one reason is that even if you’ve been feverishly researching examples of IKEA kitchens on design Web sites like HOUZZ and Pinterest, you may not realize that cabinet fronts from third-party custom front manufacturers, like Semihandmade, work seamlessly with IKEA’s modular SEKTION cabinetry framework. Put another way, with these custom door fronts you can add personalized, one-of-a-kind style options to your IKEA kitchen (or bathroom, living room and wardrobe areas) and maybe save a few dollars for your overall budget along the way.(For reference, IKEA cabinet doors generally cost anywhere from about $70-$120 and Semihandmade doors run from about $120-$185 (this is the price for a 24×30 door across a variety of styles). [Source: https://www.chrislovesjulia.com/semihandmade-cabinets/] Keep in mind also that IKD has been recommended by The New York Times as a design resource for customers considering custom doors for their cabinets.

That said, Semihandmade’s most popular selections are its DIY Shaker styles as well as its Super Matte White Slab upper cabinet fronts and Super Matte Clay Slab lower cabinet fronts, drawer fronts and toe kicks.

IKD designer Florence, explains: “Semihandmade products are long-lasting products and the doors are thicker than IKEA’s doors. The cost is a little bit more than IKEA but not that much. It´s worth it.” She notes that customers also have the option to use Semihandmade fronts in DIY Shaker and DIY Slab styles as well. “So, customers can paint the fronts themselves and save some money. In fact, the price difference between IKEA and Semihandmade is minimal for getting a better quality front.” (Note: IKD has also been referenced by Martha Stewart Living as experts on how to reduce renovation costs).

Ultimately, IKEA customers seeking to understand the advantages of Semihandmade’s custom fronts will surely appreciate the following information to complete their IKEA kitchen.

Let’s take a look!

Quantity and Quality

Today, SHM has completed more than 20,000 projects featuring its fronts in all rooms of the home, including the kitchen, bathroom, media room, bedroom storage, and closets, among others. The company provides a variety of front options, including selections for the bathroom designed around IKEA’s GODMORGON bathroom vanity as well as fronts that pair with IKEA’s SEKTION cabinetry framework, and even for older kitchens that feature IKEA’s AKURUM kitchen system and customers who do not want to change those frames. In fact, Semihandmade will make custom fronts for the AKURUM system. “The same thing holds true with SEKTION cabinets. If the customer only wants to upgrade the fronts, they can,” Florence explains.

Custom Concepts

Of course, one of the primary reasons to consider Semihandmade is the opportunity to create a personalized look for your IKEA kitchen. “You can customize cabinets with Semihandmade, whereas with IKEA there are [style] limitations,” Florence explains.

A good example of this is the IKEA kitchen designed for IKD customer Alyx and her husband from Lake George, NY. Part of an open-concept layout in their vacation home, the kitchen features two different styles for her doors: The wall cabinets have SHM’s DIY slab doors, which they gave a dark finish; while the kitchen island uses the reclaimed wood doors from Semihandmade as a stylistic complement. (Note: This kitchen was designed with IKEA’s AKURUM cabinet system.) These choices added style, extra storage options and plenty of durable cabinets that enable the couple to entertain their family and friends worry-free.

Another example of an IKEA kitchen using Semihandmade custom fronts — this time with IKEA’s SEKTION cabinetry framework — is this natural-looking kitchen designed by IKD designer, Merari. Specifically, the layout features Semihandmade’s SM Shaker White cabinet fronts for the sink and cooktop wall areas; and Semihandmade SM Chris Loves Julia cabinet fronts for the tall cabinets. These are complemented by IKEA MAXIMERA drawers and IKEA UTRUSTA hinges — making the space stylish, efficient and ideal for cooking; something the customer loves doing in their free time. “This is a space that flows when it comes to cooking, and offers the perfect setting for a chef and the delight of diners,” she says.

Florence concludes: “Selecting Semihandmade doors really makes a huge impact on the customer’s home value too. Semihandmade is considered a high-end look for a fraction of the price and you get higher quality, more durable doors that can be customizable.”

Convenience Factor

Another key factor is the sheer convenience of Semihandmade fronts. Not only do these doors use the same hinges as IKEA doors (thereby providing seamless, easy installation)but Semihandmade can also provide custom sizes for IKD’s signature IKEA hacks — ensuring that your design fits your style and function needs exactly. For example, you may not have considered an appliance garage in your IKEA kitchen (an appliance garage is a special cabinet built to house kitchen appliances, like toasters, blenders, food processors and stand mixers). Since IKEA’s SEKTION line does not include an out-of-the-box appliance garage, our “hack” uses a tall pantry cabinet to create one and utilizes custom doors to achieve it.

And for those nervous about choosing a cabinet option other than IKEA? “They also have great chat customer service [on the Semihandmade Web site],” Florence says.

In the end, when you combine IKD’s design knowledge around the IKEA SEKTION system, along with Semihandmade’s ability to provide a curated catalog of custom doors, you’ll find that Semihandmade custom door fronts fit the needs of IKD’s customers and the designs that IKD’s design team creates for them!