It can be exciting and daunting selecting the ideal kitchen design for your home as there are a plethora of top-notch designs available out there. These designs comprise cabinet stains, countertops, decorations, colours, along with other kitchen fixtures and fittings. If your home happens to be your permanent place of residence, then it is important to invest in your kitchen. Your designs should be tailored to suit your personality. However, it could be time-consuming, stressful, and expensive selecting the right design for your home. This is not a project you should rush into. You need to map out the various steps that will help you achieve your project goals. However, it can be difficult doing this on your own. Hence, you need the service of a kitchen designer. Areas of a kitchen design which can be effectively handled by a designer include plumbing and electrical works, kitchen layout, fittings and fixtures.
Even for a kitchen that needs to be remodelled, a kitchen designer can offer expert advice on how best it can be accomplished. This would curb the mistakes that can be made if the project was solely undertaken by you. Here are some tips that will help you create the perfect kitchen design of your dreams.
1, SEARCH FOR AN ACCREDITED AND EXPERIENCED KITCHEN DESIGNER
You can either search online for kitchen designers available in your area, or you can take a tour around your neighbourhood in search of a reputable designer. What makes a seasoned kitchen designer is the level of accreditation and experience garnered over the years. You need to find out the number of successful projects that have been completed for previous clients. That way, you are assured that your kitchen design project is in safe hands. You can check out for online reviews on their websites, check out friends that have patronized their services, and probably check out other places they have worked at. Real estate agents can also provide you with needed information on the reputation of the kitchen design firm.
Once you have handpicked some designers that meet your list, it is time to vet them. Find out if they hold certain key qualifications and certifications. For example, kitchen designers with CMKBD and NKBA certifications would be considered ideal candidates for your kitchen project due to the level of experience gathered and the rate of successful projects executed.
2, SET UP A MEETING WITH THEM
Having made your initial findings of a particular kitchen designer, it is time for you to set up the first meeting with them. Most times, it is suggested that your first meeting should be conducted physically, rather than over the phone. If this meeting requires that you meet the designer at the studio, you will need to come with your kitchen floor plan. A lot of kitchen designers offer a plethora of design options for you to choose from. This may range from appliances to flooring options.
You will have to provide the designer with information about your kitchen and your preference. This can include details about your lifestyle, cooking style, family size, accessibility needs, and speculated kitchen bills. In turn, you need to gather information from the designer such as photos of past projects, payment plans, project timeframe, and design services.
3, FIND OUT IF THE DESIGNER IS A GOOD FIT FOR YOUR KITCHEN PROJECT
Your first meeting with the designer will determine if the designer is a good fit for you or not. Also, the kitchen designer will be able to tell if you are ready to commence right away or not. The relationship built between a designer and a client is based on the following factors: honesty, respect, communication, teamwork, and trust. In a situation where you are not comfortable with a designer, then there is a reason. This can be as a result of how they respond on the phone, how responsive they are to urgent matters, how early they are to meetings, how much interest they show in the project, and their willingness to provide you with in-depth details about the project. Do they sound polite and glad to speak with you? Are they eager to walk you through the various phases of the project? These are important questions that must be asked.
4, DETERMINE THE PROJECT TERMS
A reputable kitchen designer provides you with a vast range of services that are flexible enough to cater for your needs and budget. Some designers only offer design-only services which may include elevations, working drawings with floor plans, specifications, and other renderings that can be used by building contractors or kitchen fitters to build an ideal kitchen. While other designers handle the kitchen project from concept to completion. Also, you should come to an agreement with the designer to create a scheduled payment plan. This will ease your finances and enable you to complete the project successfully.
When both parties decide to commence the project, it is vital to point out that they are at stake; the client funds and structural works are being placed on the line. So it is important that a reputable and well-experienced kitchen designer be hired for the job. On the other hand, the designer ends up placing his or her reputation on the line. A poorly constructed kitchen can mar the reputation of a designer as bad experiences tend to travel faster than notable ones. Therefore, the designer must understand the needs of the client and come up with ways to effectively meet them. This keeps the designer on his or her toes to get the job perfectly delivered. More successful completion of projects would lead to an increase in the designer’s reputation. In order for disagreements to be curbed, it is essential to establish a well-detailed contract which includes an arbitration mechanism. This is important in cases of designer-client disputes. A designer may also have a liability insurance clause that makes the client responsible for all the decisions he or she makes, despite the designer being a coach. On rare occasions, the designer may decide no longer to work for the client if there is a fringe in the working relationship. Nevertheless, having a well-seasoned designer that you can trust and count on for your kitchen project is bliss. If you would like to know more about ways you can create the ideal design for your home, please check out this link: free kitchen design service.