At Kitchen Art Design, we like to say that the kitchen is the heart of the home. That’s why the kitchen is the first place you should start with if you are looking to do a remodel or renovation.
If you are looking to purchase new kitchen cabinets, here are some things to know before you get started:
Why Come to a Store?
Unless all you’re planning to do is paint the walls or install a new counter over your existing cabinets, don’t try to save money by skimping and trying to plan the design, layout, and cabinetry yourself. Come to a kitchen design store like Kitchen Art Design to meet with a professional kitchen designer. During the consultation, the designer will get a deep understanding of your vision, budget and schedule and create a design plan that is tailored to your needs and lifestyle. Using a professional designer will save you time, money and costly mistakes.
Kitchen Art Design Coquitlam Showroom
What to Expect at the Store
When you speak with a designer at the cabinetry store, show or tell them the look you are going for. The consultant will show you your different options in terms of materials and finishes. They will then ask for the dimensions of your kitchen and appliances to draft a preliminary design plan to generate an initial quote that will be sent shortly after. The more accurate measurements you bring, the more accurate the initial drawings will be. And in turn, it will lead to a more accurate initial price quote.
An even more accurate drawing will come a few weeks later once the design has been finalized after you decide on some of the specifics. Some examples of “specifics” would be whether you want your upper and lower cabinets to match, whether you’d like your cabinets to have any special designs and/or accessories such as glass fronts or pull-out pantry units, and whether you want your cabinets flush to the ceiling or with some space above them.
Design Studio in Kitchen Art Design Coquitlam Showroom
What to Bring with You to the Store
So now you’re ready to get started and are planning to come to visit a store like Kitchen Art Design. What should you bring with you for your preliminary design consultation?
We’d like to start this bit by emphasizing that there are no mandatory requirements for you to bring to the store, especially for your first visit. However, there are some things that you can bring to make the process easier for everyone, including yourself.
The first (and probably most important) thing that is very helpful to bring – and we also touched on above – is a floor plan showing the layout and dimensions of the space that you are looking to renovate. Some of the key measurements that are less obvious but very helpful to have are window placement, window size, and ceiling height. This is not necessarily a requirement at all for your first visit, but it is something that could save you a lot of time in the long run. Remember, the more accurate the measurements, the more accurate your initial quote will be.
Another thing that would be helpful to bring is an idea of the sizing of the appliances you will be using. Your cabinetry will be working in tandem with your appliances, so it is a huge advantage for your designer to be able to design something that pairs well with your appliances. This is not mandatory, but extremely helpful – and will result in a better final design.
The Final Decision
Your final decision will come down to three main components that have to line up: Product, Timeline, and Budget.
The product is the key element to your final decision. Not only will the cabinetry in your design be aesthetically pleasing, but they will also be practically tailored to your specific needs and lifestyle and address pain points you have had with your current kitchen. If something doesn’t look as good as you thought it would or doesn’t look exactly how you imagined it, please (please) let your Kitchen Art designer know. They are there for YOU and will do whatever needs to be done in order for you to love your finished design.
The budget is the most important component of them all. At the end of the day, if you cannot afford the product, then the project cannot proceed. It is important to let your designer know what kind of budget you are working with from your first consultation, and just as important to let them know if that budget ever changes. Design changes can always be made to fit different budgets, as long as you let your designer know.
The timeline must always be kept in mind. It is important to understand that when you are getting custom cabinetry done, the manufacturing process for your made-to-order cabinetry takes about 5-8 weeks. Making your vision a reality is also a process that can take several adjustments and redesigns, so we would recommend starting as early as possible.
Of course, if you are working with Kitchen Art Design, you will have a designer working with you and helping you through all of these components. If you ever have any concerns, a KAD designer will do whatever they can to make sure all three of these boxes are checked for you.
Ready to get started?
If you are ready to start shopping for kitchen cabinets, come visit us at Kitchen Art Design! With over 30 years of experience, we have designed kitchens inspired by the families that fill them. All our cabinetry is custom manufactured locally to fit the exact dimensions of your space, and customer satisfaction is our number one priority.
Schedule a complimentary preliminary consultation with one of our kitchen designers now!