Checking Out a Designer's Kitchen Renovation Expertise
Renovators Place Columnist
Oct 08, 2009
If you're hiring a kitchen designer, pay close attention to the types of kitchen renovations he or she has completed in recent years. You'll want someone with expertise in several key areas.
Kitchen Renovation Experience
Experience is the key with any kitchen contractor, but it is absolutely crucial with a kitchen designer. This is the person who will be planning your storage space, the location of the cabinets, and whether you have a walk-in pantry or a wall unit. You want someone who has been through many kitchen renovations and has learned the inside tricks to pulling it all together.
You'll want someone has expertise in:
While many kitchen designers have educational degrees or designations, others do not. When interviewing, ask for details on their training and how that applies to their day-to-day work. By learning more about the designer's day-to-day role, you can find the right person for the job.
Experience is the key with any kitchen contractor, but it is absolutely crucial with a kitchen designer. This is the person who will be planning your storage space, the location of the cabinets, and whether you have a walk-in pantry or a wall unit. You want someone who has been through many kitchen renovations and has learned the inside tricks to pulling it all together.
You'll want someone has expertise in:
- Visualization. The designer should walk into your kitchen and start looking around and tossing out ideas. You want someone who can see beyond your old, odd-shaped kitchen and offer ideas on enhancing kitchen cabinet usage, opening up the space and improving its workflow.
- Kitchen renovation and construction oversight. He or she should be well versed in everything from the floor plan design to the structural issues the contractor will face. While a kitchen designer may not have all the technical knowledge of a contractor, he or she should know the common structural, electrical and plumbing issues contractors face in kitchen renovations. They also should be able to work around obstacles such as soffits, unusual wall placements, and budget constraints.
- Spatial planning. A kitchen designer should help make the kitchen cabinet and other storage pieces fit together. This involves maximizing cabinet storage and countertop space; aligning appliances in a functional and aesthetically pleasing way; and eliminating unused space.
- Coordinating. The designer should know how to work with the contractor and coordinate design, deliveries, and installers as needed.
- Think out of the box. Finally, a good kitchen designer should be able to make a small or unusually sized kitchen more functional, solve design problems, and work effectively with the contractor.
While many kitchen designers have educational degrees or designations, others do not. When interviewing, ask for details on their training and how that applies to their day-to-day work. By learning more about the designer's day-to-day role, you can find the right person for the job.
About the Author
Allison E. Beatty is a syndicated real estate writer who has been writing home improvement columns for 15 years.Start Your Renovation Here!
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