How a Kitchen Designer Can Keep Your Project on Schedule
by Amanda Pollard
Find out why a kitchen designer can be key to a smooth renovation
Kitchen Designers Can Find Materials
When it comes to finding the right materials for your countertop, flooring, cabinets and walls, a kitchen designer is well placed to locate the most appropriate ones for your project.
“A good kitchen designer should be an expert in material selection and knowing which combinations are most effective,” Cathy Davis of Classic Interiors says.
“They have a huge library of materials and contacts to help source the best products from reliable companies,” Diane Berry notes.
This knowledge is especially useful if you’re looking for a specialty finish — a kitchen designer should be able to find a tried-and-true expert to do the job.
When it comes to finding the right materials for your countertop, flooring, cabinets and walls, a kitchen designer is well placed to locate the most appropriate ones for your project.
“A good kitchen designer should be an expert in material selection and knowing which combinations are most effective,” Cathy Davis of Classic Interiors says.
“They have a huge library of materials and contacts to help source the best products from reliable companies,” Diane Berry notes.
This knowledge is especially useful if you’re looking for a specialty finish — a kitchen designer should be able to find a tried-and-true expert to do the job.
They Can Plan a Kitchen That Will Last
If you’re going to invest in a new kitchen, it’s important to design a space you won’t want to change too quickly. You can do this by making the most of your kitchen designer’s planning skills.
“The design needs to work not only for the physical shape of the room, but also for how the kitchen will be used by the clients,” Lottie McCrostie of Naked Kitchens says.
“If you work closely with an experienced designer, they will hold your hand through every aspect of the design, making sure nothing is missed and ensuring there’s a place for everything,” Berry says. “You don’t want to miss things and end up adapting your purchases to suit the forgotten items.”
Davis explains the process: “We’ll chat about how the client likes to cook and how they intend to use the space. From there, I can ascertain the kind of appliances, type of [countertop] and storage requirements they need.”
McCrostie emphasizes the importance of continuing the discussions throughout the planning stage. “This enables changes to be made to evolve the design,” she says. “Once the plan is finalized, the client is fully connected with the design, ensuring no changes are required to simplify the process.”
If you’re going to invest in a new kitchen, it’s important to design a space you won’t want to change too quickly. You can do this by making the most of your kitchen designer’s planning skills.
“The design needs to work not only for the physical shape of the room, but also for how the kitchen will be used by the clients,” Lottie McCrostie of Naked Kitchens says.
“If you work closely with an experienced designer, they will hold your hand through every aspect of the design, making sure nothing is missed and ensuring there’s a place for everything,” Berry says. “You don’t want to miss things and end up adapting your purchases to suit the forgotten items.”
Davis explains the process: “We’ll chat about how the client likes to cook and how they intend to use the space. From there, I can ascertain the kind of appliances, type of [countertop] and storage requirements they need.”
McCrostie emphasizes the importance of continuing the discussions throughout the planning stage. “This enables changes to be made to evolve the design,” she says. “Once the plan is finalized, the client is fully connected with the design, ensuring no changes are required to simplify the process.”
They’ll Keep Everything on Schedule
“An experienced designer can ensure the planning and manufacturing stages are managed in conjunction with their client,” McCrostie says. “And they should make them aware of lead times along the way.”
“It’s imperative that time scales are discussed at the outset, so everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet,” Davis says. “We work with the client’s builder and architect to ensure our lead times accord with the project time scale.”
“Building projects have an order,” Berry explains. “Calling out a plasterer before the electrics are first fixed, for example, is a waste of time, energy and sometimes money. So we ensure each trade knows its dates and expectation of time needed.
“We run a job making sure a day without at least one tradesman [on site] is rare,” she says. “A tiler can be preparing and tiling the floor while the plaster dries, for example.
“We have warehousing, so we make sure the goods are all in stock before we start, so the installers aren’t waiting for goods to arrive. I know some of these things sound little, but a happy tradesperson does better work and an installer waiting for their materials is like a bear with a sore head.”
“An experienced designer can ensure the planning and manufacturing stages are managed in conjunction with their client,” McCrostie says. “And they should make them aware of lead times along the way.”
“It’s imperative that time scales are discussed at the outset, so everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet,” Davis says. “We work with the client’s builder and architect to ensure our lead times accord with the project time scale.”
“Building projects have an order,” Berry explains. “Calling out a plasterer before the electrics are first fixed, for example, is a waste of time, energy and sometimes money. So we ensure each trade knows its dates and expectation of time needed.
“We run a job making sure a day without at least one tradesman [on site] is rare,” she says. “A tiler can be preparing and tiling the floor while the plaster dries, for example.
“We have warehousing, so we make sure the goods are all in stock before we start, so the installers aren’t waiting for goods to arrive. I know some of these things sound little, but a happy tradesperson does better work and an installer waiting for their materials is like a bear with a sore head.”
They Coordinate With Other Professionals
If you’re redesigning your kitchen as part of a larger project, it’s essential that your kitchen designer works in line with any architect, builder or interior designer you’ve hired.
“I often meet with my clients over a coffee in one of our showrooms to discuss their architectural plans in detail before we consider the kitchen design,” Davis says. “I need to understand the architect’s vision and style, so I can ensure the kitchen we create is appropriate for the space.”
The same goes for interior designers, she adds. “It’s important to make sure the interior designer has the same vision to ensure the finishing touches and soft furnishings in the living space complement the kitchen perfectly.”
Berry notes that a kitchen designer will have a list of trusted subcontractors and can bring in the right person for a job.
If you’re redesigning your kitchen as part of a larger project, it’s essential that your kitchen designer works in line with any architect, builder or interior designer you’ve hired.
“I often meet with my clients over a coffee in one of our showrooms to discuss their architectural plans in detail before we consider the kitchen design,” Davis says. “I need to understand the architect’s vision and style, so I can ensure the kitchen we create is appropriate for the space.”
The same goes for interior designers, she adds. “It’s important to make sure the interior designer has the same vision to ensure the finishing touches and soft furnishings in the living space complement the kitchen perfectly.”
Berry notes that a kitchen designer will have a list of trusted subcontractors and can bring in the right person for a job.
They Know Where to Spend and Where to Save
“Sometimes the simple details are expensive; at other times, a design change can save so much money,” Berry says. “Always be open and honest with your designer about money. We have the knowledge and tricks to create the wow without a wow price tag.”
“I always advise my clients to spend the majority of the kitchen budget on the cabinetry and doors, as these get the most use,” Davis says. “The kitchen cabinets especially, although not necessarily seen, take the weight of the [countertop] and need to stay rigid for many years, so the doors stay aligned. I use the analogy of a car: You don’t see the chassis, but it needs to be high-quality to ensure a great vehicle.
“Where I often suggest clients can save money is on the appliances. We only sell quality brands, which means their entry-level products are still excellent quality, using the same components as the more expensive models. The difference is often in the features available, so I have a good chat with my clients to work out what features they can live without to help them choose the best-value appliances for their budget.”
McCrostie offers another tip: “Where a kitchen is totally custom, wider drawer stacks can be designed into the plan to reduce the overall number of cabinets, as drawers are more expensive than cupboards.”
“Sometimes the simple details are expensive; at other times, a design change can save so much money,” Berry says. “Always be open and honest with your designer about money. We have the knowledge and tricks to create the wow without a wow price tag.”
“I always advise my clients to spend the majority of the kitchen budget on the cabinetry and doors, as these get the most use,” Davis says. “The kitchen cabinets especially, although not necessarily seen, take the weight of the [countertop] and need to stay rigid for many years, so the doors stay aligned. I use the analogy of a car: You don’t see the chassis, but it needs to be high-quality to ensure a great vehicle.
“Where I often suggest clients can save money is on the appliances. We only sell quality brands, which means their entry-level products are still excellent quality, using the same components as the more expensive models. The difference is often in the features available, so I have a good chat with my clients to work out what features they can live without to help them choose the best-value appliances for their budget.”
McCrostie offers another tip: “Where a kitchen is totally custom, wider drawer stacks can be designed into the plan to reduce the overall number of cabinets, as drawers are more expensive than cupboards.”
Ready to speak with a designer about your kitchen? Give Cabinet-S-Top a call at 330-239-3630. Showroom located at 1977 Medina Road, Medina, OH 44256.
www.cabinet-s-top.com
www.cabinet-s-top.com
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete