Signature Kitchens and Baths Magazine
How to Select a Kitchen Designer That's Right for You
by Kenneth W. Peterson, CKD
copyright © 2001
This article is protected by copyright law and may not reproduced
without written consent from its author.
 The economy is suppose to be slowing up, but few in the upscale
kitchen industry have ever been busier. The better cabinet lines are
taking 2-6 months to deliver their product. Appliance and plumbing
fixture vendors are short on inventory for many popular models. And
professional kitchen dealers are constantly on the hunt for good
designers and installers to keep up with the strong demand. As a result,
the average higher end kitchen project today may take nearly nine months
from initial investigation - through the design, ordering, and
installation phases - to completion.
Indeed, in more ways than just the gestation period, creating a new
kitchen is a lot like giving birth to a baby. You want an expert coach
who cares a lot and who is there for you every step of the way ….
including the times when you may feel pain. While friends no doubt will
offer you their recommendations, here are six important criteria to help
you select the best kitchen designer for you and your project. 1.
Educational Approach It is always a good idea to interview several
candidates before you make a selection. Do it first in their place of
business. You will get a sense of their professionalism and capabilities
as well as the scope of their services and quality level of products
offered.
Most importantly, how does each kitchen designer present himself? The
best designers take an educational approach to the business of
furnishing a new kitchen. Like parents having their first child and not
knowing really what to expect, the best designers recognize that most
customers will want objective information to make intelligent decisions
for themselves. They will not only demonstrate a willingness to teach
but a willingness to incorporate your ideas into the project. Their aim
is to serve as a facilitator to help you weigh the pros and cons of
virtually every product, design concept, design detail, and service that
is considered for your kitchen project.
Moreover, the best designers have equipped their Showrooms or Studios to
function as your educational center. For example, they may have several
of the following included in their facility to empower you to make the
right choices:
- A prominent Information Center or Resource Library filled with
booklets, articles, magazines, books, and videos that are made available
for your use.
- A variety of Informational Booklets on topics such as Buying a New
Kitchen, Buying New Cabinetry, Buying New Appliances, How to Relax
During Remodeling, etc.
- A ‘Storyboard’ or 3-Ring Binder detailing with forms, sketches, and
photos the Major Steps in the Kitchen Design & Installation Process.
- A Cabinet Comparison Wall, which is a series of wall and bases
cabinets, so you can inspect the construction and cost differences
between cabinet quality grades.
- The Publication of a Kitchen Project in a Magazine which recounts the
story of a design solution for one set of customer problems and/or
challenges.
- The conducting of Consumer Seminars on various subjects throughout the
year.
2. Design Process. The best designers are trained to thoroughly
interview your project needs and desires. Many use detailed forms to
document all the pertinent data so oversights are negligible. Ask to see
how prospective designers intend to collect your project information and
make a judgment of how comprehensive their form or process is.
Ask to see how they will develop preliminary conceptual plans for your
project. The best designers should be able to show you at least one case
history where they routinely develop 2-3 layouts to satisfy the client’s
needs. Examine the breadth of solutions as well as the creativity. How
well did each conceptual plan adhere to the age-old design principle of
form following function? If the designer demonstrates a penchant for
furnishing only one layout, perhaps they lack the flexibility and
creativity your project warrants.
Also ask to see how they will help you arrive at an investment range for
your project – based upon some preliminary product preferences and
either an examination of your plans or the room to be remodeled. By all
means, if you have a budget in mind, you should share it with a
prospective kitchen designer. It’s the only way he will be able to
engineer the greatest value within the dueling constraints of project
preferences, space availability, and budget. But if you don’t have a
budget established, the best designers will use a Cost Analysis System
to interactively develop a budget range within 20-30 minutes that is
quite accurate.
 3. Experience. This is perhaps the single,
most important factor in
helping you achieve the greatest value from your kitchen project. That’s
because kitchen products are only as good as the people who know them
thoroughly, understand their applications, and have regularly ordered
and installed them. Look for designers that have been with the same firm
for a few years and have credentials to prove their expertise – like
formal training, certification, design (not sales) awards, or magazine
publication. Ask to see their portfolios to witness the range of work
they have done. What’s great about experienced designers is that they
are most capable of working with even a modest budget and a lesser
cabinet quality grade to make a project look like a million dollars!
Additionally, seek Designers who are committed to continuing education.
You want designers on your project that have received the latest
training in product knowledge, appliance technologies, design
techniques, state-of-the-art client services, and business practices.
There is so much change going on in the industry, and kitchens are so
complex, you certainly want your designer to be current. They should
have training certificates from attending educational programs and trade
shows during the most recent 12 months.
Generally speaking, you will find the most qualified designers at
independent kitchen design firms. National home center and design center
chains are notorious for high personnel turnover, which poses a serious
risk when a kitchen can take nine months from an initial needs analysis
to substantial completion. There is such an intimacy and multitude of
detail with doing new kitchens you definitely want the same designer
involved from beginning to end. Otherwise, your project is likely to be
one long nightmare! 4. Organizational Skills. Speaking of detail, how well organized are
your designer candidates? The best designers are excellent at time
management - rarely are late for appointments – and demonstrate an
uncanny ability to keep all of details of your project straight. They
take voluminous project notes at each meeting and keep neat files on
each client. Ask to see a typical file and gauge how well organized it
is. Attention to detail is paramount at every phase of the kitchen
development and installation process to ensure a successful project with
few delays. The best designers actually maintain a complete 3 ring
binder on each project with separate sections for the design development
phase, contract documentation, installation phase, change orders, etc. 5. Support Staff Services. The best designers are backed up with
additional staff that furnish critical support services such as
CAD/drafting, materials ordering, and project management. Few successful
designers can perform all of these necessary services well and still
stay current with their workload. The extra attention to detail that
these supporting services will deliver during the creative design
development, ordering process, project management, or installation
prevents mistakes, oversights, and delays. Most importantly, these
support services afford the best designers to spend more time consulting
with their clients. The net result is greater customer satisfaction
during the development phase and greater enjoyment with the finished
project, assuring you of a project as personal as your signature!
Because they are the second, most important factor in achieving genuine
customer value, you want a designer that can furnish evidence of the
following specialized services:
- A thorough Technical Check of your plans and specifications prior to
ordering by a project manager trained to pick up small errors and
oversights that only become troublesome after the installation begins.
- Written Notifications by a design assistant after the sale to remind
you of lingering selections to be made, confirm Change Orders, and
forecast the date for your Job Start.
- A review of the Cabinet Acknowledgement by either a design assistant
or project manager to eliminate ordering communication errors with the
cabinet manufacturer.
- A Pre-Job Conference wherein the support staff review the details and
schedule of your project.
- Periodic Job Site Inspections by the project manager – in addition to
the designer.
- A Project Completion Meeting with the project manager and installer to
develop the final “punchlist” with you.
6. Personality. Nine months is a long time to work with one individual.
You best find someone with whom you feel compatible. Someone you can
trust. Someone who will provide reliable follow-up. Someone who won’t
run away from a problem. Someone who is cheerful and quick at finding
good solutions. In other words, you want an expert in kitchen design
with great character. Like a doctor of design with a pleasing bedside
manner. And, of course, the best way to confirm these qualities in
someone is to check their most recent references. Ask for six names of
clients whose projects were completed in the last 3-4 months. And then
ask them lots of questions!
In conclusion, when it comes to a project as complicated and lengthy as
a kitchen, selecting the one designer who combines an educational
approach, a comprehensive design process, proven experience, great
organizational skills, and support staff services with a compatible,
pleasing personality is a sure bet. Your project is destined to be an
outstanding success!
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