kitchen designer

Interview your prospective designers
Make sure you are dealing with a designer and not a cabinet salesmen. Look for staff consists of designers with design background and extensive porfolio. Look for designers who are members of the National Kitchen and Bath Association. Designers who are members of the National Kitchen and Bath Association often have Bachelor of  Art degrees in Interior Design and Interior Architecture or Associate of Arts degrees.
The best way to ensure a quality choice when selecting a kitchen or bath designer is to visit several showrooms and ask to speak to staff designers.  Have them show you actual project folders they have worked on, with information on prices for each. The information presented, the way it is presented, the way it was collected and filed away, and the personality traits of the individual designer will tell you a great deal about their interest in their clients.
Ask how your project will be designed and which software will be used. At Urban Homes we use a state of the art CAD (Computer Aided Design) program enables you to see your remodeling as a fully rendered 3-D drawing
Ask for qualifications - how much experience they have and what references they can provide
Hire someone you feel comfortable with. You’ll be spending time together for the next several months (at least), and not all of it will be fun. Like any relationship, it requires mutual respect
 

Why hire a kitchen designer?

While there are many remodeling companies and contractors that do excellent work remodeling kitchens they usually lack the design experience and creativity that separates your new kitchen from that of the Urban Homes.By hiring a professional kitchen designer with years of experience you will eliminate design mistakes which will assure you of a well designed kitchen for years to come.

Who should design your new kitchen?

A kitchen designer who is not tied to one design style and who wants to listen to your needs, wants and wishes. A designer who will work with you through the design process and is not afraid to offer suggestions on styles and materials that will work with your home and lifestyle. You want someone who has learned from their years of experience and who works hard to keep up with the latest kitchen design trends and products.
How to work with a kitchen designer

Ask your designer some basic questions: What is the process that leads to a final set of plans? What does she expect from you? What doesn’t she do? Why not? Is she willing to recommend contractors and suppliers? (The answer is usually yes.)
Be sure to tell your designer what your budget is; costs can range from a few thousand to a few hundred thousand dollars. Your designer can’t give good advice if she doesn’t know your budget. 
Show her what you like - pictures are the greatest shortcut there is.                                                  
Be prepared to change your mind. You’re bound to learn things you don’t know - and things you don’t want to know, like how  much some things really cost and how long the job may really take.
Be prepared to change your tastes. Designers come into your project with a fresh viewpoint and (hopefully) a lot of knowledge; until you start writing checks, let yourself play around with ideas.
Take your time. Nothing about this process is fast, from design to completion. The more legwork and study you do,  the better (and less expensive) it will be in the end.
Put function over form. If the kitchen doesn’t work well for you, you won’t care how pretty it is when you have to avoid obstacles simply to boil water.
Expect to get several drafts of a plan. The number of drafts should be determined, at least roughly, before you sign a contract.
Expect to get plans that contain both a “plan view” (looking from the ceiling down), and “elevations” (looking straight on). Plans should include locations of doors and windows. You can’t get prices for the work without a plan.
Once you have a plan, stick with it. Every change - even a minor one - is an expense and a delay.

Our Kitchen Design Philosophy

Our kitchen design philosophy is to first and foremost listen to you and your family. We want to find what your likes and dislikes are and listen to your ideas. When we are certain we have a good understanding of what you are looking for we will give you our recommendations on design, materials and etc.

We want to consider how your family lives day to day, how much you entertain, how you use your kitchen and other factors to create an environment you will enjoy working in.

For as long as I can remember I have enjoyed cooking especially cooking for more than one or two people. For many years my cooking environment was less than ideal. You know what is like, when you don’t have what you need where you really need it.  It seems that what you do need is always on the other side of the room because that cabinet is the only one where it will fit! This can be so frustrating when you are rushing around the kitchen putting the final touches on the meal you are preparing.

The point we are attempting to make is we will consider all aspects in   the designing of your kitchen because when you remodel your kitchen it not just what the cabinets and counters look like. It is also having what you need where you need it or want it! In addition to having a great looking kitchen you want a functional kitchen. A functional kitchen is one that was designed with your needs and style of cooking in mind.

We will keep working until we find the right combination of style versus function that will achieve your goals while designing your dream kitchen. Remember this is not about selling you on an idea this is about considering your ideas and dreams then using our expertise and experience to meld it all into a beautiful kitchen for you and your family to enjoy for years to come.
Often independent designers are not associated with any company. We are able to design and advise our clients on products that are absolutely the best ones for their project and budget.

Derek Zylewicz

 Derek Zylewicz is the president of Urban Home a New York City kitchen & Bath showroom ,