A practical, step-by-step guide based on real experience renovating a condo kitchen in downtown Ottawa using IKEA cabinets. Real costs. Real timelines. Real surprises. Everything you need to know before you start.
When most people think about an IKEA kitchen, they picture picking out cabinets and having them installed. The reality is far more involved — especially in a condo.
This guide was written during an actual IKEA kitchen renovation in a downtown Ottawa high-rise condo in early 2026. It documents every step, every vendor, every invoice, and every surprise along the way. The goal is simple: help anyone considering the same project know exactly what they are getting into.
This is not a sponsored guide. There are no affiliate links, no contractor referrals, and nothing for sale. It is an independent resource for Ottawa homeowners researching IKEA kitchen renovations.
Here is how a typical IKEA condo kitchen renovation unfolds, from first consultation to finished kitchen.
Since summer 2025, IKEA offers in-home kitchen design consultations for $199. An IKEA kitchen planner visits your home, measures the space, takes photos, and helps design your cabinet layout using the IKEA Kitchen Planner software (IKS).
If you proceed with purchasing cabinets from IKEA, the $199 consultation fee is credited back toward your cabinet purchase.
The planner will produce a detailed package including floor plans, elevation drawings, a product master list with pricing, and detailed notes about your specific kitchen.
Once your layout is finalized, IKEA prepares a master shopping list. For a mid-sized condo kitchen, this can be 30+ individual items across dozens of SKUs — frames, doors, drawers, hinges, shelves, lighting strips, filler pieces, and hardware.
IKEA may generate multiple shopping carts because some items are out of stock. You will likely be responsible for:
If you choose IKEA's installation service, a mandatory pre-installation visit is required before work begins. This costs $199 and is deducted from your total installation cost.
During this visit, the installer verifies that the kitchen plan is suitable for installation, checks for any additional work required, and confirms the space is ready for cabinets.
IKEA installs cabinets but does not perform demolition, electrical, or plumbing work. You need a general contractor (GC) for:
After demolition and preparation are complete, IKEA-contracted installers arrive to assemble and install the cabinet system. This typically takes 1–3 days depending on kitchen size and complexity.
The installers handle mounting the SEKTION frames, attaching door fronts, installing MAXIMERA drawers, adjusting UTRUSTA hinges, and fitting LED under-cabinet lighting (MITTLED strips).
Countertops are ordered through IKEA but supplied and installed by a third-party partner. This is a multi-step process:
The installation sequence for plumbing fixtures and backsplash depends on your choices:
Tile backsplashes and single-piece panel backsplashes have very different installation sequences. Discuss the order of operations with your contractor early.
Once countertops, backsplash, plumbing fixtures, lighting, and accessories are all in place, the kitchen becomes fully functional. Final touches typically include:
These are real numbers from an actual IKEA kitchen renovation in a downtown Ottawa high-rise condo, completed in early 2026. All figures are before HST unless noted.
| Category | Details | Cost (pre-tax) |
|---|---|---|
| IKEA Cabinets & Hardware | ||
| SEKTION cabinet frames | Base cabinets, wall cabinets, high cabinets (pantry) | ~$2,100 |
| SINARP door fronts (oak veneer) | All sizes from 12x10" to 24x60" — ranging $38–$178 each | ~$2,400 |
| MAXIMERA drawers | High, medium, and low drawers in various sizes | ~$850 |
| UTRUSTA hinges & shelves | Soft-close hinges, shelves, horizontal door hardware | ~$550 |
| MITTLED LED lighting | Under-cabinet light strips (12", 15", 18", 24" lengths) | ~$200 |
| NYTTIG filler pieces | Filler panels for range micro/hood area | ~$55 |
| Glass drawer sides, pull-outs | MAXIMERA glass sides, pull-out interior fittings | ~$300 |
| VRESJON stainless steel sink | 73x44 included in cabinet order (later replaced with Franke) | $559 |
| Cabinet subtotal | ~$7,000 | |
| Countertops & Backsplash (through IKEA) | ||
| LOCKEBO glass composite countertop | Custom, 1-1/8" thick, off-white/beige marble effect. ~28.5 sq ft at $80/sq ft minus IKEA Family discount | ~$1,940 |
| Countertop preparation & finishing | Undermount sink prep, polishing, hole cutting, straight edge | ~$525 |
| Countertop measurement visit | On-site templating after cabinets installed | $264 |
| Countertop installation | Professional installation of finished countertop | ~$830 |
| TARNHULT wall panel backsplash | Matching glass composite, ~24 sq ft at $80/sq ft | ~$1,650 |
| Backsplash hole cutting & install | Outlet cutouts and professional installation | ~$200 |
| Countertop & backsplash subtotal | ~$5,400 | |
| Contractor (General Contractor Quote) | ||
| Demolition | Existing kitchen, countertops, tile backsplash, appliance removal | $2,200 |
| Electrical | New layout support, arc fault breakers, dining room light rewire | $2,500 |
| Drywall patching | After electrical and demolition | $800 |
| Lighting channel | Create electrical channel for hardwired under-cabinet lighting | $1,200 |
| Plumbing | Kitchen plumbing budget for new layout | $1,000 |
| Backsplash tile installation | Install customer-supplied tile | $2,500 |
| Floor tile repair | Patch holes where old cabinet footprint differs | $500 |
| Venting hookup | Range hood venting | $250 |
| Baseboard | Supply, install, and paint | $800 |
| Contractor subtotal (kitchen only) | ~$11,750 | |
| Fixtures (Not from IKEA) | ||
| Kitchen sink | Franke Maris undermount, Fragranite, champagne — from Ottawa showroom | $710 |
| Sink strainer | Franke matching champagne strainer assembly | $74 |
| Appliances | Bosch cooktop, oven, microwave hood (customer-sourced, not IKEA) | Varies |
| Fixtures subtotal | ~$784+ | |
| Estimated Kitchen Total (before HST) | ~$25,000 | |
| With HST (13%) | ~$28,250 | |
Most people underestimate how long an IKEA kitchen renovation takes. Here is a realistic timeline based on actual experience in Ottawa.
| Phase | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Design consultation & planning | 2–4 weeks | Includes IKEA visit, design revisions, finalizing layout |
| Ordering & receiving all cabinets | 2–6 weeks | Highly variable due to stock issues; may require multiple orders |
| Pre-installation visit | 1 day | $199 mandatory visit before installation can be booked |
| Demolition & preparation | 3–7 days | Includes electrical, plumbing, and drywall patching |
| Cabinet installation | 1–3 days | IKEA-contracted installers |
| Countertop measurement | 1 day (visit) | Scheduled after cabinets are installed |
| Countertop fabrication | 2–4 weeks | This is the longest single wait in the project |
| Countertop + backsplash installation | 1–2 days | May be same day if using matching panel backsplash |
| Plumbing, finishing, touch-ups | 1–3 days | Sink hookup, faucet, baseboard, paint touch-up |
| Total (realistic) | 8–16 weeks | End to end from first consultation to finished kitchen |
Renovating a kitchen in a condo adds several layers of complexity that house owners do not face.
Most Ottawa condos require you to submit renovation plans to the condo board or property manager before any work begins. This typically includes:
Allow 1–3 weeks for approval. Some boards only meet monthly.
Condos typically restrict renovation work to specific hours — commonly 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday to Friday. Some buildings prohibit work on weekends entirely.
Demolition is the noisiest phase. Your contractor should be aware of and respect these restrictions.
Cabinet deliveries and debris removal require elevator access. Most condos require you to book the service elevator in advance. IKEA kitchen orders can arrive on multiple pallets — coordinate delivery timing with your building's management.
Plumbing work may require shutting off water to your unit or your stack. This requires coordination with building management and advance notice to affected neighbours. Some buildings only allow shutoffs during specific hours.
Many Ottawa condo buildings have concrete structural walls in the kitchen area. This affects cabinet mounting (requires concrete anchors instead of wood screws) and may require special tools. Your IKEA planner should note this.
Condos often have soffits, bulkheads, or varying ceiling heights that affect upper cabinet placement. Ceiling can drop significantly where ductwork or structural beams run.
An IKEA kitchen order can easily be 30–50 flat-pack boxes weighing hundreds of kilograms total. In a condo, you need to plan where these will be stored before and during installation. Consider your storage locker, a spare bedroom, or staggering deliveries.
Remember: cabinets need to acclimatize inside your unit for at least 72 hours before installation.
If your new cabinet layout differs from the old one (different widths, different locations), there will be exposed floor areas where old cabinets used to sit. If you are not replacing the flooring, budget for floor patching or tile repair to cover these gaps.
This is one of the most frustrating parts of the process and deserves its own section.
IKEA kitchen components (SEKTION frames, MAXIMERA drawers, specific door fronts like SINARP or ASKERSUND) frequently go in and out of stock. When your master shopping list is first created, it is common for several items to be unavailable.
What this means for you:
IKEA offers several countertop lines through their third-party fabrication partner:
Custom countertops (LOCKEBO, quartz) require the two-visit process: measurement, then installation.
Your backsplash choice significantly affects cost, timeline, and coordination:
Decide on your backsplash before countertop installation so everyone can plan the installation sequence.
IKEA handles cabinet installation, but everything else falls to your general contractor. Here is what a real contractor quote looked like for a downtown Ottawa condo kitchen renovation.
| Line Item | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Demolition of existing kitchen, countertops, tile backsplash & appliances | Supply & Install | $2,200 |
| Electrical: support new layout, arc fault breakers, dining light rewire | Supply & Install | $2,500 |
| Drywall patching after electrical and demolition | Supply & Install | $800 |
| Create electrical channel for hardwired under-cabinet lighting | Supply & Install | $1,200 |
| Plumbing budget for kitchen | Supply & Install | $1,000 |
| Install customer-supplied backsplash tile | Install only | $2,500 |
| Repair floor tile holes (where old cabinets sat) | Install only | $500 |
| Venting hookup for range hood | Install only | $250 |
| Supply and install baseboard, including painting | Supply & Install | $800 |
| Kitchen contractor total | $11,750 | |
| HST (13%) | $1,528 | |
| Kitchen contractor total with tax | $13,278 |
These are things that were surprising or that would have been useful to know beforehand, based on actual experience.
Use this checklist before starting your IKEA kitchen renovation.