The Great Kitchen Renovation Debate: Indie or Ikea?

I’ve got kitchen reno on the brain.

In my own home, the kitchen is in serious need of a makeover. The circa-1992 cabinets are peeling and puckering. The equally old appliances are going kaput. (The Mister and I have been sans oven since March. It’s time for a re-do, right?) Yet, we’re unsure how to go about it: should we go ultra-mod, to jive with the rest of our decor? Or should we toe the mainstream line a little more closely? With an eye toward eventual resale, how can we create a kitchen we L-O-V-E, but, at the same time, doesn’t freak out a potential buyer?

Moreover, there’s the quality vs. price issue. We’re totally down with the funky (and ultra-cheap) kitchens Ikea offers; but do they stand up to daily use? On the other hand, there’s always HenryBuilt, a local Seattle custom cabinet builder that uses sustainable materials — and charges top dollar for them, too. Is there a happy medium? Is Ikea the way to roll, or is it worth the $$ to invest in an indie kitchen?

According to a piece at This Old House, buyers look at kitchens and baths first and foremost. What’s more, sayeth the article: “Often, minor improvements can yield major dividends. According to Remodeling magazine’s annual analysis of cost versus value, a kitchen ‘face-lift’ — painting, refinishing surfaces, and upgrading appliances — will return more than a full redesign. The key to spending less is spending it wisely.” So it sounds like we could get at least a small return on our investment, whether or not we go with the Swedish superstore or the Seattle small biz. But will our recoup be greater if we choose super-high-quality materials? Or will anyone even notice?

Per This Old House, Buyers will:

…when choosing kitchen cabinets, countertops, and flooring, aim for classic or neutral colors and styles. ‘Years ago, I had a client who wanted a purple kitchen, to match the purple grout on her fireplace,’ says Mark Scott, a remodeler in Bethesda, Maryland. Scott argued strenuously against it, but the homeowner insisted that she was planning to stay in the house for the rest of her life. If you can’t make that kind of commitment, don’t expect somebody else to pay for your unique and funky choices.

If I take this as doctrine, I guess getting those orange melamine accent cabinets is a bad idea. What do you say?

Have you seen a return on your kitchen (or other room) renovation? Alternatively, in your home search, did the newness and/or fancy-pantsiness of the kitchen or bath seal or smack down the deal? Give us your story and do good, too: anything you’ve got will help me decide my kitchen’s uncertain fate, and for that, I thank you.