Life, Styled
You love your home, but there are some areas that are no longer working for you, if they ever did at all. You have made the big decision to renovate your kitchen, to give yourself the space you have always envisioned, but it feels overwhelming. How do you know which layout will work best for you? Which style best represents you, and what wood type will pair perfectly with certain colors? The kitchen can be a more difficult renovation because it involves multiple facets, such as plumbing and electrical. Adding in the appliances, lighting, and cabinets decisions can be enough to make your head spin. Planning is a critical part of a kitchen renovation, making it a key area of focus, which is why an experienced designer can help you accomplish your dreams on time and on budget.
What Does A Kitchen Designer Do?
Don’t let the word design fool you into thinking they just create a design for the contractor to follow. There is much more to their job description than that. They are experienced in layout, cabinet design, hardware selection, materials, colors, and more. Their job is to help guide you through the renovation process, lending you their years of design experience to create a kitchen that is perfect for you. Our designers are experts in layout and cabinet design, with a creative eye and good communication skills, both of which are essential to building a design that will last a lifetime. A good kitchen designer can take a space, mold it to your specific needs, and help you achieve the dream space you have always wanted. Their job is to guide you through the journey, making it enjoyable and with minimal stress for the whole family.
The Benefits Of Hiring A Kitchen Designer
Hiring a kitchen designer is more than just having a person help you with your selections. There are multiple benefits to having a kitchen designer, including:
- Saves money
- Less stress
- Experience
- Achieve goals
A kitchen renovation can quickly become overwhelming if you don’t have the right help because there are numerous details that go into this project, such as appliances, lighting, and even plumbing. Having someone who can help you through the remodel can make a huge difference.
Because you are paying for a design service, you may not agree that you’re saving money, but their experience means you will avoid costly mistakes and other issues that they know to avoid. Their knowledge is invaluable to you as you make your way through the renovation.
Stress is the number one killer of enthusiasm for a project. It’s easy to get discouraged and disgruntled when things don’t go right, but a designer who has completed hundreds of projects will know how to plan your renovation so that everything goes according to schedule, leaving you feeling relaxed and at ease, able to enjoy the journey.
Experience also lends itself to a quicker layout since they know what works and what doesn’t. They know what size hardware works for a particular cabinet and just how much lighting is needed for the kitchen. A designer will be able to easily tell you how your wish list can be transformed into a design and if there are any elements that will not work within the given space. They are also able to tell you which layouts work best, which, again, saves you time.
The ultimate goal is to create a design that functions and reflects your unique style, and a kitchen designer will be able to help you check off the boxes for your new space. Our dedicated team has helped so many clients accomplish their renovation goals as smoothly as possible. That is the ultimate desire for every kitchen designer: to help their clients get the space they need and still enjoy the journey. Read a few more reasons why you should hire a designer in this blog post by This Old House.
Questions To Ask Your Kitchen Designer
Questions are a vital part of a design meeting. We have a list of things that we ask when doing an initial consult meeting, such as:
- How many people will use this space?
- Do you have any pets?
- Are there any specific needs or wishes you have?
- Are the cooks left-handed or right-handed?
- Do you do a lot of baking?
- Will you need an additional prep sink?
- How about a built-in microwave or warming drawer?
- What are your style and color preferences?
- Do you want a dedicated beverage area?
We ask these questions because we want to get to know you so we can best understand how to serve you. We also understand that you may want to ask us questions, but are unsure of what to ask specifically. Here is a list of some questions you will want to ask your kitchen designer:
- Ask what other projects they have done and look at pictures.
- Have they done anything similar to what you want?
- Ask about the approximate timeline.
- Get information regarding payment schedules as well.
It is important to communicate your needs and expectations upfront so that you will know if they can meet your needs. Hiring a designer is an important decision; they are the ones who will provide you with a new kitchen layout that you can enjoy for a lifetime, so you have the right to be choosy. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
The world of design draws on multiple elements to create the perfect space for homeowners, a place that represents them and their particular style. Color plays a vital role in the design process, and its effects go beyond just adding a splash to the room. Color can affect our mood, communicate a message, lessen eye strain, and even play a part in remembering certain events. It also has the ability to influence the size of a room with certain colors, causing the area to feel larger, while other shades create a more intimate feel. Color selection can be a fun and rewarding process, plus it provides you with a great way to tell your story. More homeowners are discovering the beauty of contrasting colors, and this choice is gaining popularity in the design world. From two-toned kitchens to opposites in cabinets and tile, contrasting colors can spice up your design and make a stunning statement. Let’s explore more about what contrasting colors are and how they can help you tell your story.
Greenbrook Design While cabinet hardware is essential for functionality, it’s also a key element in the overall look and feel of your space. When selecting hardware, there’s more to consider than just appearance. How do you want your cabinets to open? Do you prefer knobs, pulls, or a combination of both? Should you go with cup pulls for a traditional touch or sleek bar pulls for a modern edge?
These decisions may seem small, but they can have a significant impact on both the usability and aesthetic of your cabinetry. Hardware serves as the finishing touch—bringing together the design while also making everyday tasks more comfortable and intuitive.
Walker Woodworking You are ready to begin your renovation, but you are unsure whether you want to go with custom or semi-custom cabinets. While custom cabinets will provide you with the exact fit you need for your space, they are at the higher end of the price range. Semi-custom cabinets tend to be a more budget-friendly alternative while still giving you the style and function needed for your space. Many homeowners are discovering the benefits of choosing semi-custom cabinets and are learning that they can still get the look they want while staying within their budget. Let’s talk more about what semi-custom cabinets are, the benefits they bring to your project, and some of the options we offer here at Greenbrook Design.
We use it every day but hardly pay any attention to it, yet it can impact the overall design of the home. We are, of course, referring to your flooring, and its importance should not be overlooked or underestimated. It is the largest design element in the home, which means it tends to serve as the foundation of the look and feel in the room. It has the ability to make or break your space and is subconsciously the first thing we notice in a room. Since it is used consistently, it must be durable and functional for the particular area, whether slip-resistant or waterproof. Flooring should also complement the overall design style you choose and be carefully considered before finalizing your choice. Here are some aspects to remember when making your selection.
The kitchen backsplash tends to be overlooked during the planning session for a renovation, but it has a big impact on the overall look of the design, and it should not be underestimated. To many, it may seem like such a small element, but it has the power to bring style, class, and protection to the heart of the home. When walking through a model home or flipping pages in an interior design magazine, the kitchen always has a backsplash that often draws our eye. Coming in multiple sizes, styles, and shades, the kitchen backsplash has come a long way from being a simple surface to creating a glamorous highlight that immediately draws the eye.
Walker Woodworking