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Getting
Started/Educating Cabinets, countertops, appliances, ventilation, sinks, faucets, backsplash, work triangle, flooring, lighting, hardware, function, features, esthetics, accessories, specifications, details, details, details…STOP!!! Before you start pulling out your hair you must remember that the kitchen is the hub of activity in most homes as well as the most complex room in you home, therefore you must allocate more time and research into the planning for this room than any other. If you approach the planning haphazardly, the process will take much more time and you may not get the desired results. Proper planning requires homework, starting with notes and pages of magazines cutout or indexed. An important thing to remember, is any visual aids that you can compile will help you communicate better with your design professional. Now the most important step in achieving your dream kitchen is choosing a design professional. Key factors include; Designers who are not only experienced, but ones affiliated with the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), they are current with the industry and attend seminars and workshops on an ongoing basis. There is also a national certification called the Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD) which is acquired by meeting criteria such as, length of time in the industry, and extensive training & testing. Once the CKD certification is realized, Ongoing Professional Development points must be earned through continuing education in order to maintain the CKD certification. The kitchen designer, along with a network of industry professionals which they have assembled, will be your guide in navigating the planning process.
The kitchen showroom is also a key factor as this becomes a major visual aid in the planning process. A showroom should show a range of products to meet your budget. Cabinetry and countertops should be the primary focus of a showroom with many design ideas being shown as well as a wide array of features and accessories. The showroom should act as a guide, not only to view styles, woods, finishes, mouldings and details, but also as an aid with respect to spacial considerations, clearances, work areas, design heights, and sizes. Last but not least, seek out references. Now you may have noticed that I used the term, seek out. Remember, nobody gives out bad references and also they are only as good as the firms integrity. Your best reference is one you find on your own. Ask family, friends, coworkers, and more than likely if the dealer has been around for a length of time they will at least know somebody who had work done by the firm. Now I don't mean to say that the references handed out by the firm don't have value, they do if you ask questions that are probing and solicit more than a yes/no answer. For instance, ask how the firm handled any problems, questions or concerns that arose during the project. Expediency and the end result should be main factors in rating how the firm addressed these issues. Remember, a kitchen is a complex project therefore questions at the very least are to be expected. In summary, chose the firm wisely after doing a little homework and your experience will be much more pleasant with the result being a Magnificent Kitchen. David R. Bartlett, |
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Center of Framingham, Inc. |
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