Kitchen Renovation: Working with a Designer

Continuing on with our Kitchen Renovation blog series.......At this point in the process, you have some idea of what you want the kitchen to look like, and your budget is set.  Now its time to meet with a designer to put all of the pieces together.  Do a little research first....choose a designer that has similar design style to what you are looking for and ask around to friends and family to see if they have worked with anyone in the past.

via BetsyBrown Interiors

An Interior designer can help pull all of your ideas together into one cohesive design. When you first meet with the designer, bring magazine clippings or pinned pictures of styles you like. Also, be prepared to chat about how you live in the space and things you love about your existing kitchen and things you want to change.  Have some idea of the appliances you are looking at purchasing.....specific bells and whistles, and appliances that you plan on keeping.  Discussing timelines is very important at this point.  Letting your designer know if there is a holiday coming up where you are hosting company is an important factor when ordering items and hiring trades people for the project.

The first few meetings are filled with information.  Discussing layout, choosing cabinets, countertop, backsplash, flooring, sinks, faucets, appliances, hardware, storage solutions to list a few. This is when the fun begins.  Measurements are taken of the kitchen space and drawings are started.  There is usually a few drafts before the final one is chosen.

 As a designer, I would then take all of your finishes and place them into moodboard to give you an idea of how the overall design will look at the end.

Once the renovation begins, this is when your designer is invaluable.  We are there throughout the entire process, ensuring every detail is perfect!  With a designer on site during the renovation, you can trust that your initial design is carried out until the end.

Next up......layout of your kitchen.  Will you keep the existing layout or reconfigure it for a more efficient workspace?