Let These 6 Unique IKEA Kitchens Inspire Your Next Reno

IKEA kitchens are one of the most approachable and cost effective resources for all things kitchen reno-related. Anyone who’s ever undergone a renovation knows that coming in at or under budget often takes a good deal of creativity, and if IKEA cabinets are anything, they are flexible to the needs of their specific user. Though you could try your hand at one the many DIY IKEA hacks, you don’t even need to be particularly handy to create a chic kitchen from budget-friendly IKEA cabinets, and the six Clever-featured kitchens below prove exactly that. Whether you’re going for a rustic-inspired space, or you’re the most fervent maximalist, IKEA kitchens can chameleon their way in.

After a decade of renting locations for shoots, Ashleigh Amoroso wanted to establish a studio of her own. The food photographer, whose clients include Magnolia, Target, and Patrón Tequila, searched all over Austin for a commercially-zoned kitchen with natural light, historic charm, and a reasonable price tag. The best option she could find was a loft 45 minutes from the city center.

On the very day Ashleigh was going to purchase the inconveniently-located property, her friend—vintage dealer Claire Brody—posted about looking for partners to invest in and sign a lease on a 1870 building in the heart of downtown Austin. Ashleigh and fellow photographer Jenna McElroy signed on immediately, and the three women couldn’t believe their good luck. 

With original longleaf pine floors and tall, arched windows, Ashleigh’s designated rooms had the beautiful and historic bones she’d been seeking. The layout was ideal for her, too, with a prep kitchen adjacent to the main studio. The only drawback was a series of mirrors glued to one wall, which Ashleigh and her husband managed to conceal with a false wall and a coat of limewash.