At this point, you’ve already done a lot of work, gathering ideas and organizing them into must-haves and like-to-haves. (If you haven’t, please read Step 1 & Step 2 in this series.) Now, it’s time to find the professionals who can turn your ideas and lists into reality. That means, you must find the right designer and renovator.
Perfect Kitchen Plans: Step 3 – Find the Right Designer and Renovator
Hiring the right designer is extremely important, as you aren’t really buying a kitchen layout, but rather an individual’s expertise. In other words, a prospective designer will not draw the plans and then let you decide if you’re going to buy them. Often, deposits are required, and once plans are drawn, full payment is expected. Because of this, you must trust that the relationship is going to work and that you’ll end up with the plans you envisioned. (Sounds a little like getting married, huh?!)
So, how do you find a designer you can trust? Well, many in this industry believe the best thing to do is find a renovator first. I know that might sound out of sequence. But a renovator you trust can guide you through the entire process–from designing plans to remodeling the kitchen.
The renovator you hire should be able to give you the names of qualified designers with whom he/she has worked. Here are some questions (along with an explanation about why you should ask them) that will help you find the right designer.
Question: How do you start the design process?
- Reason to Ask: Find out if the designer uses a systematic method to draw out your needs and desires. If the beginning is a blank sheet of paper, it’s not a good sign.
Question: How many meetings/drafts/revisions will it take?
- Reason to Ask: You need to know the designer’s process and feel comfortable that you can obtain the kitchen plans you desire within the schedule the designer proposes.
Question: What if I hate the design?
- Reason to Ask: This is a legitimate question. If the answer is, “You won’t,” then the designer is unrealistic and might try to “sell” you on his/her creation if he/she comes up with something you really don’t like. Further, it’s not uncommon for the first draft of a one-of-a-kind design to be something the client doesn’t like, simply because there was an unspoken element nobody knew to bring up until it was put on paper. You want the designer to answer with something like, “It’s totally OK if you don’t like the first draft. We’ll learn a great deal about what you do want from that exercise. It’s just part of the process.”
Question: What do you, the designer, do to keep the design efficient? In other words, how do I know I’ll be able to utilize this plan within my budget?
- Reason to Ask: This is a tough question for many designers to answer. Many have no experience renovating, so they don’t have a feel for how much it costs to remodel. Because of this, more conscientious designers get feedback from their clients (both renovators and homeowners). They do this to find out how the execution of their plans actually went, and they use that information to adjust their design practices. Some designers will tell you they don’t worry about designing for building efficiency, and that it’s up to the builder/renovator to worry about that. This is a half-truth. While it is up to the renovator to operate efficiently, if he/she is building a design he/she didn’t create, then that part of it is out of the renovator’s hands.
Question: How do I pay?
- Reason to Ask: This is a logistical question; therefore, the designer should have no problem answering clearly and in detail.
Question: May I see some of your work?
- Reason to Ask: The designer should expect this question and be very willing to show you examples of his/her work. Often, they will show beautiful photos of completed kitchens. Why do they show gorgeous pics? So you’ll fall in love with a look. Don’t be fooled by your emotional reaction to the pretty picture, however. Always ask to see kitchen plans. See if you can understand architectural renderings created because this is what you will be reviewing once the process starts.
The Design-Renovate Advantage
With Elements Design Build LLC, when you find the renovator, you also find a designer with over 25 years’ experience. Because we are a design-build firm, we not only renovate your kitchen, but design the perfect kitchen plans, as well. This allows us to really get to know our clients’ wants and needs. Plus, we can discuss your budget from the beginning, designing a kitchen that will fit within your financial constraints. This way, you don’t design what you believe is the perfect kitchen only to find out you can’t afford to build it.
We would love the opportunity to chat with you about your remodeling project. Please, contact us to schedule a meeting!
Read the complete “How to Design the Perfect Kitchen” Series by clicking here…
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