kitchen designer

Whether you’re a homeowner or looking to become one, chances are you know how overwhelming choosing designs to suit your taste and lifestyle can be. Well, you’re not alone. If you’re confused and not sure what your style is read on so you know before remodeling your kitchen or bath. It will make the process much easier for you and for your designer!

Victorian – Usually characterized by steeply pitched roofs, pointed-arch windows, elaborate trim along roof edges, high dormers, lancet windows and other Gothic details. Light fixtures range from chandeliers, kerosene and electric lamps to astrals, and sconces. Cabinets are usually weathered looking and made of heavy, real wood with chrome pulls and knobs.

Modern – Modern styles change from year to year. Most recent designs include sleek, straight and clean lines. Less is more, such as less accessories, visible appliances and details. Common materials include stainless steel, marble, granite and frosted glass. Basic geometric shapes and bold, bright colors such as reds, blues and yellow, black and white are prevalent.

Contemporary - Your tastes include the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired. Your sensitivity to materials and a natural setting meets with a contemporary bent in home styles like Mission, Prairie and Arts & Crafts. When making your cabinet selection, consider birch as a clean and modern wood species. Choose details like geometric forms, art glass, contrasting textures and lines, and forged and wrought iron pulls.

Southwestern – A lot of detail and craftsmanship. Natural materials such as stucco and hand-painted fabrics are very common, as are wood, quarry tile, ceramic tile, earth tones and vibrant accessories. Colors usually reflect the nature of a desert such as warm oranges, greens, tans and browns. Southwest kitchens usually incorporate ceramic materials and terra cotta elements.

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Traditional – Plays up architectural details such as crown moldings, raised wood paneling and rich, deep colors to enhance the mood and ‘traditional’ feel. Dark stains, honey tones, semi-opaque paints, wicker baskets and oak cabinets add to the usually more formal feel than country style.

Eclectic – A mix of old and new features combined for a harmonious look.  This style is not characterized by a particular color palette, patterns, style or material but is a mix of extravagant decorations from numerous eras including hand-me-downs, second-hand items and other recyclables. Kitchens and bathrooms range from modern appliances mixed with antique decorations to the complete opposite.

Country – Rustic, weathered look creates a warm, cozy feeling in a country style home. Common colors range from muted hues to earth tones. Exposed beams, pine paneling, brick and barn boards are elements used to express this style. Fabrics and patterns are a sure way to create a ‘country’ feeling, as is the use of wallpaper and baskets.
 

PLUMNING FIXTURES FOR KITCHEN AND BATHROOM

Where to begin?

Ok, now you know your kitchen or bathroom needs remodeling, but you still don’t know where to begin! It may seem like the list of things-to-do is endless, but don’t worry, just follow the steps below and take our advice. You’ll be on your way in no time!

Decide What You Want  .What is the main purpose of remodeling your room? To add extra space, upgrade the kitchen/bathroom, improve security, make changes for health reasons, or just to improve your living space .What are your options? Is there room to expand into the back/front yard or is there enough room to redesign using the existing floor space? What are your priorities? Figure out what you what to change the most, and what can you keep or just update. Get input from all members of your household – find out their needs and wants Consider short-term and long-term implications of your renovation decisions (Will you have more/any children, how long you plan to live in this house, will your choices increase/decrease its resale value?)

Collect Ideas and Information .Read magazines and books to get an idea of the ‘look’ you want make a clip book of all the pictures and ideas that represent your taste and style .Watch related television shows and record episodes you particularly like .Visit home shows and manufacturer/supplier showrooms
Talk to relatives, friends and co-workers that have renovated. What have they learned, what would they recommend
 

Determine Your Budget  Break down your priorities and figure out what you are willing to spend the most money on What’s the total amount you are willing to spend? How much can/are you willing to borrow? 
 

CONTROL YOUR BUDGET  The most important part of any remodeling project is making sure you don’t go over your budget. Doing so can lead to settling for unexpected options, disagreements with contractors and worst case, an unfinished room. Follow these steps below to make sure you get the most for your money!

Make sure you visit a showroom and see exactly what you are buying and check out the quality for yourself.
It is recommended to have a retailer visit your home before accepting a quote for the design and installation of the room. Once they have completed a survey, you should get a full quote for the project. Most deposits don’t exceed more than 25% of the total contract value. Try to get a written schedule of payments upfront so there are no misunderstandings along the way. It’s best to wait until all your goods are delivered before you pay in full. Companies that ask you to make a full payment ahead of delivery have your money – but you don’t have your appliances. Be aware of everything in a written contract before you sign it. Some ‘Terms and Conditions’ have expensive cancellation fines.
 

REMODELING GUIDE .Most of your remodeling budget will likely go towards the things you just can’t live without such as a sink, dishwasher and refrigerator. Therefore, selecting quality appliances that will give you the most for your money is essential! With the abundance of brands, styles, colors and technologically advanced machines, it’s hard to weed out the good and the bad and pick what’s best for you. Luckily, we put together a few guidelines to make this process much easier!

Dishwasher – Look for brands with low energy consumption, a delay timer and an economy cycle or half-load button, all which will result in saving water, and saving money.  
Refrigerator – One feature worth paying for is a new design to prevent frost build-up. By circulating air inside the freezer compartment rather than using a defroster, you can say goodbye to freezer burn! 
Sink – Materials include stainless steal, which can withstand more abrasions, is hygienic and trendy, and fireclay and ceramic which are more traditional for their solidity and wide-range of colors.
Oven – Multi-functional ovens may be worth the investment. Traditional cooking and fan assisted cooking and grilling is increasingly popular.  The combination also provides cooks with more options such as browning and thawing.    
Range – Ranges are either free-standing or built-in. Picking one out depends on the design of your kitchen and the features you want. Worthwhile accessories include a cooker hood, splash back, grill, griddle plates, rotisserie, wok burner and fish-kettle burner. 
Tap – A cost-efficient option is the three-way or tri-flow taps which takes away the need for bottled water or other purification system. New models also offer dual-flow for hot and cold filtered water.   
Countertops – Formica and Corian are some of the most common surfacing materials, however new trends such as CaesarStone®, a non-porous heat and chip resistant stone.  
Flooring – The cost of installing can be as much as the material and harder options such as tile can be tiresome to stand on too long. Softer, more absorbent materials include cork, carpet or vinyl and most of the time, are much cheaper.
 

MANAGE YOUR PROJECTDON’T do it yourself. Remodeling a bedroom, dining room or family room is very different than taking on the challenge of a kitchen or bathroom. A specialized designer should be brought in to figure logistics, suggest proper materials and make a functional and cost efficient room that specifically reflects your taste, style and personality. This is NOT a do-it-yourself project!

DO think of resale value. You may be happier than ever in your home from the location to the neighbors, to the town and your property, you may think you’ve settled for good – but don’t be too sure! Sometimes being too ‘unique’ means regrets down the road, so especially for your first remodeling project, we suggest sticking to the basics and put thought into what others would like about your kitchen, as much as you. Someone else might own it one day and you’ll want to make sure you get your moneys worth!

DON’T overspend! Set a budget at the beginning of your project including room for additional charges, and don’t go over that amount - no matter what! Be proactive and figure out what you want during the months leading up to the renovation. If you want more than you can have, make a conscious decision to pick one or the other based on necessity and future projects, if one can or can’t be added down the road. 

DO pick a qualified professional. Choose several designers in your area; meet with each of them and trade ideas and suggestions. Make sure they’re qualified; ask to see past projects and/or a portfolio and discuss your budget.  It’s also a good idea to ask for references and checkout their showroom or store if possible. Pick the designer that satisfies your taste and style most. You should never be persuaded to do anything you don’t like or that’s too high-end for your budget. A good designer will work closely with you until your dream home comes true!

The majority of homeowners will only purchase one new kitchen during their lifetime.  Because the kitchen is the heart of a house, it is extremely important that this room fulfills the specialized needs of the individuals who use it.  Since most parents work, the kitchen is the one place where families can actually get together—it has become not only a space for nourishment but the center where family life takes place. 

A well-designed kitchen is considered to be the best return on your investment. Kitchen specialists will custom design your space whereas the home improvement center wants to fill up your space.  Home improvement center personnel are basically salespeople, trained to get you to buy more than you’ll need. Home improvement centers are too diversified and don’t usually carry high-end products which, in the long run, will last longer than cheaper goods—remember the adage, “You get what you pay for!”  Kitchen designers will save time by narrowing selections to fit your personal style and will save you money through professional discounts.  A kitchen specialist will design a plan to fit your budget—the better the plan, the easier to keep costs low.  The designer is always up on the latest trends, especially energy-efficient products.

 Kitchen specialists have their own work crews or employ only those that deliver customer satisfaction. Numerous home improvement centers will subcontract a job which means they have no control over the work being done in your home.  Because of heavy workloads, subcontractors often sell these jobs to unknowns.  Thus you’ll have to deal with strangers who are basically concerned with getting paid as opposed to giving you quality work, which could cost you more down the line.

 We’ve all heard homeowner horror stories.  A woman, with toddler and infant, decided to redo her kitchen.  Since her husband was the sole breadwinner, they had a strict budget and went to a home improvement center.  She was told that they could remodel her kitchen in three weeks.  Everything was going well until the appliances arrived—none of which fit into their respective spaces.  Four months and two contractors later, the job was finally completed but, due to faulty wiring, the kitchen caught fire.  The home improvement salesperson never thought to include a fire extinguisher.  The couple ran out of money and their kitchen is still not finished.

 Problems can arise in any renovation but a kitchen specialist is prepared to deal with practical solutions.  Home improvement centers are corporations and their employees are not trained to think outside the box.  Because specialists are focused only on your kitchen, you can be assured that they will get the job done right the first time—giving you value that lasts for years.

 Whether you are fixing a snack or creating a five-course dinner, your kitchen should be a delectable place, fragrant with savory memories, not one which leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

Try googling kitchen designers and you’ll get over 7 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.

Unless you’re a designer yourself, you’ll need to hire one.
Kitchens are far and away the most complicated room in any house;
a good guide is worth more than money.
Steps: 
1.   Take some time to educate yourself and refine your tastes. 
2.   Learn what goes into a kitchen. Research magazines, books, television shows and Web sites.  
3.   Learn as much as you can first. The more you know, the easier the process will be. 
4.   Ask for referrals from friends, contractors and craftspeople.  
5.   Look for designers among the following groups (listed in no special order): kitchen cabinet showrooms, architects, interior designers, kitchen design companies, design/build general contractors and local cabinetmakers.  
6.   Ask for qualifications - how much experience they have and what references they can provide.
7.   Ask to see photographs. You can gather a lot of information just by looking.  
8.   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.   
9.   Be prepared to pay well for a design, from several hundred dollars (for minimal plans and no follow-through) to several thousand dollars, depending on the scope of the project. As with anything else, you often get what you pay for. 
10.   Pay separately for the design. Many designers work in showrooms; if you want to commit to buying the cabinets from them, fine, but if you have a separate contract for design, you can go somewhere else later if you want to.  
  
Tips: 
 
Many local schools offer classes on kitchen building and remodeling. These can be a great introduction to the process. 
  When interviewing designers, ask the following: how long you are in the kitchen and bathroom business?  What are the payment arrangements? How many drafts of a plan will they provide? ( ask to see) Do they use sub contractor or the own employees ?  Will they help pick out appliances, floors, countertops, plumbing fixtures, wallpaper? Will they supply electrical, plumbing and lighting plans?
  
Warnings: 
 
If a designer - or anyone, for that matter - tells you the process is easy, stress-free and will be complete in two weeks, they’re either lying or stupid. Or both. Don’t hire that person.