If wishing were enough, we’d all have the kitchen of our dreams. Truth is, designing and constructing your dream kitchen takes work. In fact, the design process takes meticulous planning, creative problem-solving, and exacting installation. The best kitchen and bath companies follow this process.
Expecting to transform a kitchen in a weekend is unrealistic. Another common misconception about the design process is that good design is prohibitively expensive. Truth is, you can be unhappy with a $100,000 kitchen remodel and more than satisfied with the result of a $20,000 makeover.
It’s all in the design process and the choices you make. A good designer knows where to spend your budget to create the kitchen you envision and can afford.
Step One of Design Process: Planning
Planning begins in the showroom. It’s a great place to find ideas and learn what’s out there. You need to see and touch cabinetry, countertops, and hardware to appreciate the quality.
It’s also where you meet with a kitchen designer and start building a relationship before you begin building your kitchen. Don’t underestimate the value of working with a qualified designer. The design process entails more than simply swapping your current kitchen plan with an identical plan, only with new cabinets. We can fully customize your space keeping your vision in mind.
The design process should initially focus on your needs:
- Are you a baker? You need specialized storage, counter space, and ovens.
- Do you entertain? You need an open concept kitchen with a large island and wine fridge.
- Are you putting your house on the market? You need the biggest bang for your buck.
- Is this your forever home? You’re looking for custom options and personal flare.
What’s prompting you to remodel your kitchen? Are cabinet doors falling off their hinges? Is the space too cramped for two cooks? Is the layout awkward? The best kitchen designers begin with getting to know you and your needs.
Step Two of Design Process: Designing
Now is the time for a home visit. It’s time to take accurate measurements and see the kitchen in the context of your whole house. Once your designer knows you and the opportunities and constraints of your space, they can draw up a plan.
You’ll then be able to visualize what your new kitchen looks like thanks to computer software. You can even make changes to the design to see what different cabinet and countertop finishes would look like in your space. Taking the time to work through this design process will better ensure that you’ll be happy with the results.
Step Three of Design Process: Installation
The design process doesn’t end with a layout and a selection of cabinetry, countertops, and hardware. At LJ’s Kitchens and Interiors, we see it through to the end.
That’s why we have preferred contractors. We’re happy to work with a contractor you hire, but we’ve worked with a number of contractors and know the quality of the work they deliver. We want to ensure that the kitchen you end up with meets our standards.
Before we place an order, we’ll double-check every measurement. We personally check the order when it arrives. If anything is wrong or missing, we make it our priority to correct the situation and keep your installation on track. That’s one less headache for you.
We communicate any design changes with the contractor to avoid having to tear something out and do it over. We coordinate with all the trades involved in installing your kitchen cabinetry, appliances, flooring, dry walling, plumbing, tiling, and electrical. You have enough to do without keeping track of who needs to do what next. That’s our job.
Dotting our I’s
We take the time to get to know you. We figure out your needs and walk you—not rush you—through the design process. We do all that so the time you invest in planning, designing and installing your kitchen pays off in form, function, and ultimate satisfaction with the end result.
You can quote us on that!
How many times have you heard these expressions: “You get what you pay for” and “If you have to ask, you can’t afford it”? Don’t let your assumptions prevent you from getting the kitchen you want.
You can get a quote from any of the big box stores, but at LJ’s Kitchens and Interiors, we can give you more! We can create a kitchen design with options ranging from modest to upscale. Regardless of budget, you don’t have to sacrifice good design.
If you want great functional design, don’t put the quote before the design process! Start with great design and then get a quote that delivers it. Contact us today or stop in to LJ’s showroom and we’ll show you how the design process works best.