Kitchen Design Checklist
What to have in place when meeting with a Kitchen Designer
Time is so valuable today. No one wants to nor has the time to make multiple trips to the showroom. We want your experience to be fun, not stressful. Preparation is key! Here are the five things you should have before coming into the showroom to maximize your time. A “wants” and “needs” list is a great way to start. Identify things you feel are necessary vs accessories that you can live without if cuts need to be made. Walk through your current kitchen and notice what you like and dislike. This will give you an idea of what you are looking for in your new kitchen.
1. APPLIANCES
Sounds odd to start with this? With all the decisions to be made? Not at all! Your entire kitchen design is hingent upon the appliances you pick. Does a double oven suite you and your family? Do you want a decorative all wood hood or stainless steel? Microwave in a base cabinet? Yes, they make that now! Appliances can cost as much as a small kitchen, so it is important to know what you want in order to budget your kitchen correctly.
2. INSPIRATION
The internet is a great place to start to find your inspiration. Websites and social media have endless pictures. This will help narrow down the style you prefer.
3. FLOOR PLAN
Are you happy with your current floor plan? A kitchen remodel used to be taking down cabinets and reinstalling new ones. Now it has taken on a whole new meaning. Imagine taking down walls, opening up spaces and adding cabinets to places you didn’t think possible.
These are questions to ask yourself:
- Do you like the flow of your kitchen?
- Do you have enough counter space?
- Do you have ample storage?
We will need a rough drawing of the room outline, floor plan, and measurements
- Doors and windows as well as their location on the wall
- Ceiling height
- The sink and stove location (if they’re staying in the current location)
Below is a rough idea of what your drawing should look like.
4. HOW MUCH ARE YOU WILLING TO SPEND?
This is where the “wants” and “needs” lists is going to help with decisions. Have a realistic budget of what you’re looking to spend. We can provide a beautiful kitchen with just about any budget…within reason.
5. HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE DESIGNER
This first meeting is like an interview and you’re the interviewer. You’re trusting this person to design your kitchen to last the next 20+ years. It makes sense to have some questions for us. Below is a list of questions to start:
- What is your design process? How many revisions do you typically do?
- How long will it take to finish the drawings?
- What does your warranty cover? For how long?
We appreciate all questions and look forward to answering all them to the best of our ability.
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