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Set Yourself Up for Kitchen Remodel Success

One of the loves of life is as simple and easy to get to as your kitchen.  The joy of cooking special holiday meals or favorite meals together is what happiness is made of.  Who wouldn’t want to cook in the kitchen of her dreams?   But how do you get started on that dream?  What is the process?  Here are some solid tips on how to go about it.

Start by taking a look at what you already have; what is lacking; and most importantly, what you love about your current kitchen.  Flip through some magazines and cut out pages with design ideas that you like.  Think about your cooking style.  Are you a baker?  Then double ovens may be in order.  Do you cook for large groups often?  Then a six-burner cooktop may be just the ticket for you.  Need spice racks, pull-out pantries, special shelving? Compile everything you want into a concise list and don’t forget to add your “wish list” items.  Go ahead and reach for the stars.  You can work out what will fit your financial plan later.

 

 

Once you are comfortable with what you want, the next step is to consult a professional.  Ask your friends, family and neighbors who they would recommend to help you.  Referrals are the best way to ind the professionals who
will work to accomplish a full kitchen remodel.  They may include general contractors, builders, interior decorators or architects, but most assuredly a professional kitchen designer needs to be in the mix.  At this point, provide your list to everyone so they will all be on the “same page”–literally.  They will also price “apples to apples” if they all have the same information. You do not need any surprises after you hire a contractor. Use caution when a price seems too good to be true.

Through the process note the feed back you are getting from those who are seeking your business.  Are they really listening to you?  Are they innovative and creative?  Are they looking out for your best interests?  Are they offering suggestions as to better or different ways it could be done?

How about the service?  Have they returned all of your calls in a timely fashion?  When you walk into their place of business, are they there to greet you?  Do they answer the phone or do you always get voice mail?  Do they have an up-to-date and clean showroom?  The one solid piece of advice I can give you is that if they do things that displease you while you are shopping, then they’ll do them after you hire them.  Always check their references.

The beautiful part of building your kitchen today is that we are in a transitional kitchen design stage.  It is the best of all worlds, where old meets new and it’s all about you.  Clean lines and creative storage ideas are the order of the day.  Don’t forget to have fun, because designing a new kitchen and watching it come to life can be a great adventure if done right.