Nº198/Hiring a Designer for Your Kitchen Remodeling Project

The kitchen is probably one of the most important and complicated rooms (besides the bathroom) to design or remodel in a home. Few rooms see so much activity and also challenge designers with such an array of practical, technological, and aesthetic considerations. A new kitchen can be an excellent investment in most homes, which is why it must be well designed, or it can become a financial liability. Whether it is a remodel or a completely new kitchen in a new home, designing a kitchen that is functional, aesthetically pleasing, and within your budget is not an easy task.

Because kitchen design can be so highly specialized and complex, it is a good idea to hire an independent kitchen designer before hiring a general contractor. Contractors tend to lack the sufficient design experience and creativity needed for good kitchen design.

Kitchen designers understand how a kitchen works. They can analyze the family's lifestyle and interests in cooking and entertainment. They can ask questions, discuss needs and goals, appliance integration, and budget, and consider ideas that the contractor or family members might not be able to come up with. By bringing in the kitchen designer early in the project, it is possible to keep costs down considerably.

The kitchen designer, while not having experience in engineering details, can nevertheless assist with layout, choice of materials, and how the room will look and function. Because it is so easy to become overwhelmed by the number of available choices when it comes to design elements, the kitchen designer is needed to help the homeowner when looking at design options such as appliances, cabinetry, countertops, and flooring. The certified kitchen designer is trained to take your concept and turn it into a workable vision. They can coordinate materials and color to the best effect and define the best space usage, as well as assist in other aspects of the kitchen design project, such as electrical, plumbing, structural, flooring, appliances, and tile.

In hiring a kitchen designer, it is important to look for one who is certified. To receive certification, the kitchen designer must have seven years of hands-on experience, as well as course instruction in room layout, storage planning, cabinet installation, and lighting design. The designer must pass a series of tests administered by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). As members of the NKBA, kitchen designers keep up with all of the latest design trends, as well as the most recent developments in materials and techniques. They can draw up fully developed plans in compliance with the NKBA's kitchen planning standards.

Most kitchen designers will either be affiliated with a showroom or have an extensive portfolio to show off their work. They can manage an entire remodeling project, or just provide design services. They have the ability to create a warm, pleasant, interesting kitchen design and, at the same time, solve problems having to do with storage capacity, accessibility, functionality, ventilation, and lighting.

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Please feel free to contact us through our website or by phone to schedule a consultation. We would love to hear more about your project and discuss how we can help.

Additionally, remember to check out our shop for an exquisite selection of decorations that can enhance the look and feel of your space. We have everything you need, from lighting to accessories, to create a beautiful and functional environment.

Thank you again for considering ARCHDEKOR®. We look forward to working with you and bringing your design dreams to life!