Precision Kitchen Assembly for Florida Homes

Many builders in Florida also install IKEA or custom kitchens – ensuring perfect fit and function.

The heart of the home beats in the kitchen – especially if you like to cook often. The focal point of our dream kitchen is the large kitchen island with induction cooktop and sink, topped with a robust natural granite countertop. White high-gloss fronts make the kitchen modern, glass wall unit doors liven things up and the petrol-colored drawers of the island and the shiny glass tile backsplash bring the Florida colors into the home.

Right from the start, we wanted to look at the water when cooking. Because we cook almost every day and always have water in the canal. That’s why we wanted the stove to fit into the kitchen island, which is not standard. During the kitchen construction, this posed a challenge for the Ikea kitchen builder when installing the extractor hood, because our ceiling is 12 feet (3.7 meters) high.

How we came to the Ikea kitchen, which is rather unusual in Florida, we have already explained in the Colorsession described. Our kitchen planning called for: short distances, easy-care materials, quiet appliances – and an extractor hood with exhaust air to the outside. Otherwise, the smell of food in the air-conditioned rooms would spread into the bedroom.

Kitchen with cooktop in the island

The layout is based on an open kitchen with the island as a work and communication zone. The walking distances between the sink, cooktop and fridge are deliberately kept short; 100 to 110 cm aisle width around the island works well for two people. High wall units create storage space without dust edges. A walk-in pantry accommodates provisions and small appliances. Granite for the worktops is tough enough for everyday use. The glass tile mirror as a rear wall with sealed joints can be cleaned quickly.

Americans here in Florida rarely cook and prefer to go to restaurants or bring fast food home. We like it fresh and enjoy cooking. That’s why everything in our kitchen is technically designed for practicality : Induction for fast heat with little waste heat, oven at a comfortable height, quiet dishwasher. The hood runs directly outside with a short, smooth exhaust air duct – including a backflow flap. The fridge has a water and ice maker. For electrical planning, there are separate circuits for cooktop, oven and work sockets as well as GFCI/AFCI to code.

Sufficient light in the new kitchen

Three lighting levels do Thomas Edison proud: ceiling spotlights for ambient lighting, under-cabinet lighting for the work surfaces and lights in the extractor hood for the cooktop. Sockets are positioned along the work zones – where the blender, coffee and other appliances are operated.

First came the basic installation with fixed positions for electricity, water, waste water and exhaust air. Then came the drywall construction and paint, after which our builder took over the assembly of the carcasses and appliances in his role as Ikea kitchen builder. This was followed by measuring, production and installation of the countertop, then the back wall, fine electrics and sanitary connections. This kitchen is an experience kitchen and works really well. It is also our favorite meeting place.

The kitchen assembly was somewhat surreal. As die-hard Ikea kitchen fitters, we couldn’t even imagine that it was like witchcraft for the American, who tends to get the complete cabinets delivered. As our “Ikea kitchen builder” was also breaking new ground with this modular kitchen, we had to dismantle various drawers and other parts again and then assemble them properly. But all in all, compared to the otherwise overpriced wooden cupboard kitchens from the Americans, this was justifiable.