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aloha2009

IKEA's Metod line

aloha2009
10 years ago

I'm so confused and haven't been able to get information about this change that seems to be happening in Europe and that is likely to come to the U.S. The information that I have found, is in other languages that I am unfamiliar.

I'm getting the feeling that IKEA is skimpy on the info because the old Akurum cabinets aren't compatible with the Metod and they are nervous if this gets out, sales may slow to a halt until the change is in effect.

I want the ability to change out my doors maybe in 10 years for a new look, and want to know that new doors will fit.

I'd also prefer a 33" cabinet that without butchering up a cabinet and fronts, IKEA currently doesn't have. The little info I have read said that cabinet sizes will increase and that's a good thing.

If you know what's going on, please share with the rest of us.

Comments (20)

  • writersblock (9b/10a)
    10 years ago

    >The information that I have found, is in other languages that I am unfamiliar.

    You can use google translate on the Swedish pages.

    The cabinet size thing is not going to be reliable, though, for the US. In the past they've offered metric sizing in Europe and inches in the US. If you've read the threads over at ikeafans, you'll see that a few people say they've been told that Metod isn't coming to the US, but it's entirely possible that that's because we're going to be getting a different version of the same thing, like the way Europe had Faktum and the US Akurum with the present line.

    EDIT The big problem is that whatever they do here will need to accommodate US appliance sizes.

    This post was edited by writersblock on Tue, Sep 24, 13 at 20:34

  • PRO
    modern life interiors
    10 years ago

    bump

  • robo (z6a)
    10 years ago

    I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that the new doors will NOT fit the akurum line.

    From the thread I listed below from Ikeafans.

    'The new Metod kitchen system is based on a completely new platform/grid, which is not compatible with Factum ( Akurum ).'

    I also think I remember reading that the metod rollout is going slower than planned and arrival date in North America isn't planned until 2015.

    Custom cab companies like Scherrs can make doors to order if you want to swap doors out in time.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Metod thread on Ikeafans

  • robo (z6a)
    10 years ago

    Also, I agree about the 33" cabinet! A lot of ikeafans do manage to fit a slightly large sink in a 30" sink cabinet.

  • aloha2009
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Writer'sblock, I didn't know about google.translate. That opens the door to much more information.

    Appliance sizes are an issue but I'm sure they were also in the countries that it has been rolled out in. Though GW gets others from other countries from time to time, it definitely is predominately from the U.S. ... perhaps we are too conservative and with large kitchen that they have a hard identifying with this forum.

    I'm not afraid of positive change...more possibilities, but as others have said, will the quality suffer.

  • writersblock (9b/10a)
    10 years ago

    >Appliance sizes are an issue but I'm sure they were also in the countries that it has been rolled out in

    ? Not sure how metric sizing would be a problem in the rest of the world where appliances are metric, too. As a matter of fact, ikea is a major appliance dealer in most of the world, with very cool things like pan-sensing induction and integrated fridges at many price points.

    Believe me, if I could get those appliances here I'd have them in a heartbeat. But ikea chases the bottom of the bottom end in US appliances, as someone pointed out at ikeafans.

    But there is no getting away from the fact that any line of kitchen cabinets sold in the US is going to have to deal with unpleasant facts of life like the 30" OTR microwave.

    BTW, the first hints that Metod might come to the US indicated that it would be 2015 before it did, and the rollout elsewhere appears to be going on schedule, so I'm not sure about the comment earlier in this thread that they're behind. They've certainly hugely expanded their offerings from what they started with in places where it's already available.

    Personally, I love the new door styles and extra options for glass doors and short cabinets and additional drawers, but I'd want a good hard look at these in person, and a report from some experienced installers before getting enthusiastic about them. And I would anticipate even more pushback from counter installers due to the metal braces.

  • aloha2009
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Anyone hear of anything new about the Metod?

  • writersblock (9b/10a)
    10 years ago

    Still lots of conflicting information. Someone posted this today over at ikeafans:

    specialists at Ikea Schaumburg told me that yes, Akurum will be abandoned by the end of 2014 and replaced with a new non-metric (Metod-like) cabinet line called "Sektion". The only thing they were not sure about was the spelling.

    while others have been told no, nothing like that is coming, so your guess is as good anyone's.

    This post was edited by writersblock on Sun, Mar 2, 14 at 21:39

  • lyfia
    10 years ago

    I can translate from Swedish if you need anything specific that google translate doesn't do a good job with.

  • feisty68
    10 years ago

    We had a sale on AKARUM in January and another one now, here in Canada. Yep, they've got to be discontinuing.

    Love the METOD look that incorporates square doors and a more modular design.

    But I'm thinking I'll be getting a deal on the last of the AKARUM boxes when I buy within the next month. They are so cheap that I won't even be able to qualify for the sale. (I'm getting custom doors).

  • nosoccermom
    10 years ago

    I was just looking at the new doors on the German IKEA site, including:
    Fagerland, Solid Pine

    Norje, Oak Veneer


    Applad in grey

  • nosoccermom
    10 years ago

    double post

    This post was edited by nosoccermom on Mon, Mar 3, 14 at 12:28

  • scrappy25
    10 years ago

    No need for translations other than converting metric measurements. Ikea Egypt is written in English and has the Metod cabinets.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Ikea Egypt kitchen website

  • nosoccermom
    10 years ago

    But we still don't know whether the new system will be in metric or US standard, or do we?

    Link below to UK site, with some info about how to deal with previous system

    Here is a link that might be useful: IKEA UK

    This post was edited by nosoccermom on Tue, Mar 4, 14 at 12:01

  • practigal
    9 years ago

    The release date for sektion in the US on 2/2/15. There is another post about how it is getting hard to get akurum pieces....last call.....

  • eam44
    9 years ago

    The reason I ran up to MI this week to buy some Akurum boxes is that the Metod line will be 1/2" MDF, not 3/4" like the Akurum line. In images it looks really thin. Having seen 1/2" plywood boxes and found them disappointing, I opted for the 3/4" material instead. I know I'll miss out on the pretty new drawers and the heightened modularity, not to mention the fact that my drawer glides and hinges may no longer be manufactured after this year, but I want the cabinets to feel solid and to last. Here's hoping.

  • jdesign_gw
    9 years ago

    Don't think you are correct about the 1/2" boxes. It doesn't make sense. Making them stable would be too hard and the cost savings wouldn't be that much. The UK site says 18 mm which is a hair under 3/4" but that's European board. I'm sure the ones for the US market which are made here will use the 3/4" . The biggest different I see is the size increments.

  • eam44
    9 years ago

    That's good to know j. I hope the US line is sturdy and the new cabs just as stable as the Akurum line. A difference of 10 mm is a difference of 0.04", so going from 19 mm to 18mm would mean changing from 0.75" to 0.7". And if that's just in Europe so much the better.

  • jdesign_gw
    9 years ago

    Don't know if I understand your math but 1mm thinner is like 1/16" . Don't think Ikea would go through the trouble changing their whole kitchen line to make something that would fall apart on people. Looks like they are using a metal brace across the front to hold the cabinet together which looks a little cheap but may in fact be as strong as the MDF strip with the one cam lock that they use now. I guess we'll know in February. There are UK site where people talk about the difference but again they do make it a little different for the US market.

  • cjaneg
    9 years ago

    Looks like IKEA is sticking us with inches here in Canada, for some reason.