Thinking about updating your kitchen with custom cabinet doors and drawer fronts? It’s a great idea, and one we hear about often. Swapping out fronts can completely change the feel of a space, without needing to start from scratch. It’s a smart, considered way to refresh your home.

At So Watt, we design and make custom doors and drawer fronts to suit IKEA’s METOD cabinet system only.

We want to be upfront about this, because it’s one of the most common questions we receive.

Our fronts are engineered specifically for the IKEA METOD system. That means sizing, fixing points, hinge compatibility and tolerances are all designed around this system. It allows us to offer a refined, reliable product that fits beautifully, installs smoothly, and performs as intended over time.

Image: So Watt IKEA Hack fronts in Birch Ply with Cognac paint finish (uppers) and Laminex Kalamata on Birch Ply with Half-Moon integrated handles.

If your kitchen is based on another cabinet system, such as Pax or Kaboodle, unfortunately our standard fronts won’t be compatible.

We’re also often asked if we can make doors to custom measurements, or sell materials and finishes for DIY projects. While we love seeing people take on their own builds, this isn’t something we offer. We’re not a hardware store or a cut-to-size shop. We’re a furniture and joinery studio, focused on designing and crafting complete, considered pieces, where materials, proportions and construction all work together.

What if I really don't want to use IKEA cabinets?

The only alternative we offer outside of our IKEA Hack for the METOD system is bespoke joinery, where we design and build both the cabinets and the fronts as a complete package. This is a fully custom service, tailored to your space and needs, and is currently available to Sydney metro clients only. If you’re exploring a full kitchen build or custom cabinetry project, you can learn more here:

See our Project Gallery

Explore our Joinery Services

Book a Showroom Appointment

Image: a bespoke kitchen project in Newtown (Sydney) designed by Alexandra Grisedale and manufactured by So Watt. All elements of this project are highly custom.

Our approach is always led by materials and practicality. We don’t force forms that don’t make sense. Instead, we design within clear parameters so every detail feels resolved, from the way a door closes to how a surface wears over time. Working within the METOD system gives us that clarity, while still allowing plenty of room for thoughtful design.

If you already have METOD cabinets (or are planning a new IKEA kitchen), you can explore our range of doors and drawer fronts in the shop:
👉 Browse the Shop

And if you’re unsure where to start, or want to talk through your options, we’re always happy to help. Reach out through our services page or visit us in Marrickville to see finishes and profiles in person:
👉 Get in touch

Whether you’re refreshing an existing kitchen or planning something new, we’re here to help you create something considered, well-made, and built to last.