The question “bespoke kitchen or IKEA” doesn’t have a single answer - and anyone who gives you one without knowing your flat isn’t advising you fairly. A modular system and bespoke carpentry solve different problems and suit different situations. The difference lies mainly in dimensions, carcass construction, and what happens if something breaks in a few years.
When a modular system makes sense
A modular kitchen works on standardised carcass dimensions - typically multiples of 20 or 40 cm in width. If your space has a regular layout, standard ceiling height and straight walls, a modular system is a fast and affordable solution. Another strength is the availability of spare parts - if a hinge or drawer runner breaks after a few years, you can buy the exact same part.
The weakness is with non-standard spaces: as soon as a room is sloped, has a column in the middle, or you need a kitchen fitted “to the millimetre” because of a window or door, a modular system resorts to filler strips and compromises in the layout.
When a bespoke carpenter makes sense
Bespoke carpentry makes carcasses to the exact dimensions of the room - no standard increments, no filler strips. It pays off wherever a modular system hits its limits:
- Non-standard dimensions. Sloping ceilings, attics, non-standard alcoves, a kitchen built around a chimney or load-bearing column.
- Higher carcass quality. A carpenter can use thicker material, stronger joints (tongue-and-groove) and tailor the construction to a specific load - a heavy stone worktop, a built-in oven sized to fit an alcove exactly.
- Service and adjustments. The carpenter who made the kitchen can later adjust, extend or repair it precisely according to the original construction - without having to buy an entire new module.
What “bespoke” means with IKEA
A key misunderstanding: companies offering “bespoke IKEA kitchens” usually don’t mean carpentry manufacturing. It’s what’s known as a conversion - the company takes standard IKEA carcasses and makes its own doors, overhangs or plinth adjustments for them. The result can look like a bespoke kitchen, but the carcass construction stays modular with all its limits and advantages. For a flat with a regular layout, it’s a reasonable compromise between the price of a modular system and the look of carpentry work.
Hybrid solutions - combining both approaches
Between a purely modular system and full carpentry manufacturing, there’s a third path: standard carcasses combined with a custom worktop, a non-standard plinth, or a layout adjustment in just part of the kitchen (for example by a window or in a corner). This combination makes sense where most of the space is regular but one or two spots need an individual solution. It sits between the two extremes on price and is a good compromise if a purely modular solution doesn’t fit but a full carpentry order is over budget.
Installation and lifespan
A modular system is designed so that even an experienced DIYer can assemble it, which lowers installation costs. A carpentry-built kitchen is installed exclusively by the supplier - the construction is often not standardised and requires an exact on-site survey. In terms of lifespan, well-executed carpentry work generally lasts longer because it accounts for the specific household’s use from the design stage onward, whereas a modular system is built for universal use.
The price of both approaches
A modular system works out cheaper on carcasses, but add the cost of overhangs, custom doors and installation if you go the “conversion” route. Bespoke carpentry starts higher - indicatively from 150 thousand crowns without appliances, because every piece is handled individually. You’ll find a detailed price breakdown in our article on bespoke kitchen pricing.
What to do with a kitchen you’ve outgrown
Families change, cooking habits change, appliances become outdated faster than carcasses. With a modular system, extending or rebuilding typically means replacing the entire module, because parts bought later may not match the manufacturer’s current range. With a carpentry-built kitchen, if the workshop is still operating, it’s realistic to have just the affected part extended or adjusted - one of the arguments for why bespoke carpentry pays off in the long run for housing you plan to stay in.
How to decide
Ask yourself practical questions: Does your space have a regular layout and standard dimensions? A modular system is enough. Do you need a kitchen fitted exactly to a non-standard space, or do you want the certainty that the same workshop will repair or extend it in a few years? A carpenter is worth it. Both paths can lead to a good result - the only bad decision is one that ignores the dimensions of your flat.
If you’re heading towards a carpenter, also read how to choose a kitchen manufacturer and what to ask them before signing a quotation.