Kitchen design of the week
HOW TO CHOOSE A KITCHEN SPECIALIST
Try googling kitchen designers and you’ll get over 15 million listings—so many names, so little time.
To find a specialist who is right for you, you’ve got to do your homework. Ask friends, relatives— there’s nothing like word-of-mouth from satisfied customers. If you’ve moved to a new state and don’t know anyone, then study websites/yellow pages for local kitchen designers and visit their showrooms.
How do you tell a professional from a salesman ? Look at their portfolios and ask for customer referrals from photographs that you find appealing. Clients happy with their results will be thrilled to showoff their kitchens and a professional designer will have phone numbers. Scam artists may have wonderful pictures of dream kitchens but they will NOT have actual customers to go with these photographs.
Do you feel comfortable with the designer? If the rapport between you isn’t good, don’t expect your new kitchen to be either—go with gut instinct. Get three-to-four references and check them out.
Get information about a kitchen specialist’s reputation. Ask to see professional certification and state licenses.
Though Internet prices may seem lower, do you really know from whom you’re buying? Will they be there if a part is missing or if you have a problem? Websites can be extremely attractive but did they actually design those gorgeous kitchens or download pictures from other sources. Also, reputable manufacturers sell to authorized dealers with actual showrooms.
Get bids from several kitchen designers. If their price ranges are in the same ball park, you can be assured that they are honest…if one of the bids is too low, do NOT do business with him/her—in the long run you will wind up paying way too much for a substandard job.
If you cannot understand your designer/contractor do NOT hire that person. Residential construction can easily be explained to the lay person. Clear communication and interaction with the design professional is crucial. A kitchen specialist understands all the intricacies and hidden booby traps that can undermine any project. Once your kitchen is under way, the designer will effectively communicate with vendors, installers, contractors and, most importantly, you.
After Before
Location: Manhattan NYC Cabinets : Custom
Countertop : Granite .
Backsplash: Ceramic tile.
Redesigning a 1920s kitchen
This pre-war kitchen was so cramped and inefficient; the client was barely motivated to make a cup of coffee in it. The client wanted a new kitchen that would also reflect the architectural style of his 1920s apartment. The budget did not include the expense of knocking down walls, so we moved the doorway instead, which became the key to the renovation. Centering the doorway on the tiled wall created more of a balance in the room and allowed the new refrigerator to fit neatly behind the passage that extends from the doorway. Without changing the layout, the out-of-date appliances and plumbing fixtures were removed and replaced with stainless steel models. This kitchen features custom, yellow-painted cabinetry with custom glass-pane doors, similar to the kitchen’s original style. The counters are honed black granite that contrasts with the 3×6-inch ceramic white tiles on the walls. Lighter colors on walls and ceiling draw the eye upward making the room appear larger.
Location: Loft midtown Manhattan
Designer: Urban Homes kitchen showroom NYC
Cabinets : Luxor
Countertop : stainless steal / stone.
Backsplash: 1” x 1” stone.
“Originally a textile factory built 120 years ago, the building was converted to residential several years ago. The original kitchen had four walls and a door. The client wanted a more contemporary, open feel, so we removed one wall, opening the space toward a living room 
with a sitting area perfect for entertaining. With a more open flow, we concentrated on getting the maximum space. We used two levelsof cabinetry that reached 9 1/2 feet. The white cabinets and commercial lighting add brightness and whiteness, which opens it up. Because there is so much cabinetry, we used frosted glass to further emphasize the open look and to provide a break in the white. The client wanted stone countertops, but based on the amount shecooks and entertains, stainless steel was a more practical choice. Stone was used in the peninsula with bar sink, under which additional
