When Karin’s Kitchen Met IKEA: A Renovation Love Story

When Karin Baqi and her spouse, Darren Puscas, were house-hunting in Toronto, a roomy kitchen was at the top of their wish list. Their previous kitchen could only comfortably accommodate one person at a time—"We rarely cooked together," says Karin—and also had limited storage space. (They used an entryway closet as a pantry.)

The avid home cooks moved into their 1990s semi in August 2023 af­ter falling in love with its bright and sunny eat-in kitchen. The good news? The kitchen was well maintained and had loads of storage space. The bad news? It hadn’t been updated since the house was built.

A renovation wasn’t in the budget—until IKEA stepped in. Karin and Darren, who had never taken on a ma­jor renovation project before, found the design process seamless. Prior to their three-hour in-home consultation, Karin created a Pinterest board of "eclec­tic, colourful, homey" kitchen inspira­tion, and the couple visited their local IKEA to look at cabinetry. Their con­sultant also had some smart sugges­tions, including adding an overhanging counter to transform the peninsula into a breakfast bar.

The couple are thrilled with their new kitchen—installed by IKEA kitchen services—and are excited to cook big dinners together, with family and friends gathering around the Danish teak dining set that Karin’s mom is passing down to her now that the renos are complete. They’re looking forward to everyday moments, too.

"We can’t wait to start our days with coffee at the breakfast bar," says Karin. "We’re so thankful for this kitchen."

The plans for Karin's new kitchen included SEKTION cabinet frames, MAXIMERA drawers, a KASKER custom countertop and IKEA appliances. (Product from left: ENERYDA KNOB in Black, $8; ENERYDA CUP CABINET PULL in Black, $13; BODBYN GLASS DOOR in Off-White, $79; BODBYN DOOR in Off-White, $73; BODBYN DOOR in Gray, $86; KASKER QUARTZ COUNTERTOP in White with Mineral/Glitter Effect, $65 PER SQUARE FOOT; KILSVIKEN INSET SINK, $399; TOLLSJÖN KITCHEN FAUCET in Black Polished Metal, $182.)

What Frustrates You The Most About Your Current Kitchen?

That’s one of the first things an IKEA kitchen specialist asks during a planning session, whether it’s done in-store, online or at home. (Get a free 30-minute consultation in-store; longer sessions start at $39.)

"It’s usually a lack of space or functionality," says Kristen Gal­lacher, Kitchens Business Manager at IKEA Canada who has designed countless kitchens in her 25 years with the company. You’ll also be asked a slew of other questions, from how you use your kitchen to whether you have a dog. (If you do, IKEA has some nifty storage solu­tions for their stuff.)

To make the most of your plan­ning session, "think about what you love in other people’s kitchens," says Gallacher. Bring photos, even if they’re just of a friend’s space. Or create a Pinterest board you can share with your planner.

Budget is also top of mind when discussing a kitchen reno. To reduce costs, Gallacher often suggests opting for shelves instead of drawers or looking at the wal­let-friendly KNOXHULT cabin­etry range. This year, IKEA is also lowering prices on more than 1,500 products—including the HAVSEN apron-front sink, one of Gallacher’s all-time favourite pieces.

Within 24 hours of your consulta­tion, you’ll receive a detailed kitchen design and shopping list—including appliances (yes, IKEA sells them!) and countertops. From there, you can hire IKEA’s kitchen installa­tion service to bring your dream kitchen to life. "They have speed and experience on their side," says Gallacher. "Not to mention a 95 percent satisfaction rating."

The IKEA Effect

According to IKEA’s 2023 Life at Home report, 40 percent of respondents said that having a tidy and organized home helped them feel content and at ease. Karin can attest to that. Here are five details she loves about her new kitchen.

1. The produce drawer
This clever pull-out wire shelf, which Karin's design consultant suggested, is perfect for storing root vegetables. UTRUSTA wire basket, $35.

2. The sink and colander insert
Karin opted for one large sink (with a handy colander insert!) rather than two smaller ones. KILSVIKEN inset sink, $309; NORRSJÖN colander, $30.

3. The waterfall countertop
"The peninsula extends into a waterfall—we love how it looks." KASKER quartz countertop in white with mineral/glitter effect, $65 per square foot.

4. The spice drawer
"Both Darren and I use a lot of spices," says Karin, who stores the jars in a shallow top drawer. They’re labeled and organized in alphabetical order for easy access. UPPDATERA spice rack, $4.

5. The lazy Susan
"This is one of the features we wanted the most," says Karin. "In our old kitchen, pulling things out of the back of the cupboards was hard on our backs." UTRUSTA Corner Base Cabinet Carousel, $150.

IKEA Design Advice

• Tip #1 Consider the working triangle of the kitchen—cooking, cold storage and washing. These three components must work in harmony for optimal functionality.
• Tip #2 When it comes to storage, keep items as close as possible to where you use them the most. For instance, ensure your pots, pans, utensils and spices are stored near your stove so they’re easy to access while you’re cooking.
• Tip #3 Mixing and matching cabinetry adds contrast and personality to your kitchen. Karin and Darren opted for one door style—from the BODBYN range—but the lighter uppers and darker base cabinets add dimension.
• Tip #4 Think about light sources while you design—both in terms of task lighting and the overall room. To improve the former, Karin had MITTLED kitchen countertop lighting strips installed underneath her cabinets.

3 Clever IKEA Hacks From Stylist Jenn Park Krulik

1. This cookbook stand is actually an upside-down cutting board. STOLTHET chopping board, $20.

2. Krulik created this cute coffee station by repurposing a cupboard riser. VARIERA shelf insert, $10.

3. This pretty pie stand is actually a bowl and a plate. STRIMMIG bowl, $17 for 4; STRIMMIG plate, $25 for 4.

5 Ways To Make Living Through Your Reno Less Painful

1. Be prepared: Ask your contractor if you need to cover furniture or pack up items in adjacent rooms to minimize dusting later, says IKEA Canada’s Kristen Gallacher.
2. Save your old fridge: Karin and Darren rolled theirs into the living room and used it throughout the reno. Afterwards, they donated it to Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
3. No BBQ? Buy an air fryer: "We used ours a lot to grill vegetables and cook frozen food," says Karin.
4. Vacuum on the reg: "You want to attack the dust every day," says Gallacher.
5. Keep your eyes on the prize: At the end of the process, you’ll have a kitchen you love!

^{FULL CREDITS
Creative director: Sun Ngo
Producer: Nadia Romain
Photographer: Christie Vuong
Prop and wardrobe stylist: Jenn Park Krulik
Hair and makeup stylist: Wendy Rorong
Branded content editor: Elaine Song}