10 Things To Ask A Kitchen Renovator
As a savvy client, your role in the kitchen renovation process is crucial. Knowing the right questions to ask your kitchen renovator will not only set the tone for a productive collaboration, but also ensure that your vision and needs are met.
Although it’s exciting to shop for a new kitchen, it’s also an intimidating prospect, especially if you’re still grasping the nuances of kitchen renovation. An accomplished kitchen remodeller is ready to answer questions about the customer’s lifestyle, cooking habits, and daily routines. Answering these enquiries will help conceptualise and build the kitchen of your dreams, perfectly suiting your family’s lifestyle and preferences.
Here are the ten things to ask your kitchen renovator:
1) What’s your inspiration?
Remember, you’re not just hiring a kitchen designer and renovator, you’re entering a collaborative partnership. It’s important that you feel comfortable and valued from the beginning of this creative process.
When you meet your kitchen designer for the first time, don’t hesitate to ask about his qualifications and portfolio. Understanding his past work, especially if it resonates with your style, can give you confidence in his abilities.
Ask them about the inspirations behind their kitchen themes to grasp their taste, nuances, and personalities. You can also ask them about their home kitchens and how their preferences jive with their unique lifestyles.
Although a kitchen designer conceptualises your dream kitchen, knowing their preferences will help determine which concepts work and which don’t
2) What’s currently trending?
This question will test your kitchen renovation team’s knowledge and passion for current trends and designs. A kitchen designer up to the task will satisfy customers who prefer trendy layouts and help them select colours, materials, and accessories for their dream kitchen.
Your designer should conceptualise alternative options if you’re not keen on current kitchen trends. Don’t hesitate to ask him about the strategies for designing and building a timeless kitchen that transforms your living space.
3) How many people will design my kitchen?
Nowadays, many customers ask contractors how many designers will collaborate on their kitchen plans. They want to know if one or several designers will be involved in their new kitchen.
It’s common practice for multiple designers to chime in on a specific layout or design. The strategy provides your team with fresh perspectives and ideas for your ideal kitchen. This system also ensures every nuance and detail of the layout is feasible and accurate, providing everything the client needs for his kitchen.
4) Can you meet my budget?
While it’s common for clients to keep their budget details to themselves initially, sharing it with your kitchen designer early on can be beneficial. It allows the designer to create a stunning layout that uses materials and accessories within your budget.
For instance, a quartz benchtop can mimic the lavish appearance of granite or marble at a significantly lower cost.
Your kitchen designer can also suggest cost-saving alternatives, such as a glazed accent panel instead of a full glass splashback. This strategy enhances your stove’s aesthetics without breaking the bank.
Your designer can also estimate additional components that fit your budget, including floor tops, benchtops, and sinks. Kitchen renovation is all about getting the maximum return on your investment.
5) How many design proposals and formats can you present?
Rest assured, a good designer will be able to present a range of design options for your kitchen. If you’re unsure about one design, there’s always the flexibility to tweak another to better match your preferred aesthetics. This process is about finding the perfect fit for your home, and your designer is there to guide you every step of the way.
Savvy clients prioritise design presentations, specifically computer-aided designs (CAD). These presentations feature high-quality images of your dream kitchen from various angles.
Determine if your shortlisted contractors charge clients for designs. Otherwise, you might commit to another service provider for paying a design fee.
6) What’s the project duration?
It’s imperative to check a prospective kitchen renovator’s track record. We strongly recommend knowing the company’s operations and your kitchen renovation timescale. Knowing the project duration will allow you to adjust and devise contingency plans, such as backup ovens and sinks.
Getting a heads-up from your contractor also allows you to choose the appropriate finishing touches, including lighting or wall paint. Consequently, your kitchen designer can provide an anticipated completion date.
Please remember that kitchen renovators have different timescales. Ordering materials from overseas translates to a longer completion time. Bespoke kitchen designs also take a long time to finish because of customisation, installation, and quality insurance considerations.
7) How can I increase my home value?
Meeting your unique preferences and adding value to your home are unique objectives. Although both are feasible, sacrificing specific features may be necessary to achieve the latter.
For example, you might have to sacrifice your passion for bright, red furnishings because they don’t resonate with the mass market. Your kitchen designer may suggest a subtler alternative, such as an all-white kitchen.
Conversely, a premium kitchen sound system seems appealing. However, that component makes recouping expenses after selling your home highly improbable.
A highly skilled and experienced designer will provide suggestions that increase your home value, including timeless aesthetics and features that appeal to many homeowners.
8) How do your kitchen designs stack up against the competition?
Superior kitchens feature high-quality designs and aesthetics. The companies that design and build them provide customers with outstanding service and warranties.
Your kitchen renovator will let you choose from several contemporary designs:
- Mid-range kitchen: This kitchen layout includes standard-sized cabinets that are pre-manufactured and installation-ready.
- Custom kitchen: Renovators build rigid structures with dowelled joints in this setup. Since their designs follow a precise specification, manufacturers deliver them assembled and ready for installation.
- Fully bespoke kitchens: A bespoke setup lifts restrictions on materials, carcass sizes, finishes, colours, and shapes. The designer has complete freedom and flexibility in planning the kitchen’s aesthetics. He customises the layout based on the client’s preferences, needs, and space requirements. The fully customised design ensures that clients’ kitchens stand out from other households.
9) What are my brand, range, and manufacturer selections?
For your kitchen renovation, you can choose from many cabinet, appliance, and benchtop brands. Ask your kitchen designer about the most trustworthy and cost-effective options. He can recommend the best kitchen materials and appliances that meet your unique requirements and budget.
For instance, a state-of-the-art oven suits homeowners who cook frequently. Otherwise, a kitchen designer can suggest an oven with essential functions for clients who rarely cook. They can use the extra funds for a robust splashback or higher-grade finishes.
10) How do I select the appropriate layout for my kitchen renovation?
We strongly recommend that your kitchen layout mesh seamlessly with your living space. Homeowners who want to complement their household’s aesthetics must tell their kitchen designer about their objectives. They will share ideas and collaborate toward these goals.
Clients who meet their kitchen designers outside their homes should bring kitchen photos so their contractors can assess them immediately. Your designer will use the photos as a guide and tell you what kitchen styles perfectly complement your interior.
For example, we suggest that clients with open-plan kitchens and living areas use floorings, cabinetry, and benchtops that blend flawlessly with their interiors. The symmetry among various components creates a flowing, harmonious effect.
Regardless of your kitchen renovation goals, we strongly recommend sharing your thoughts with your designer. He will use his imagination and creativity to turn the kitchen of your dreams into a reality.
We’re Queensland’s Leading Kitchen Renovator
Kitchen Builders Queensland has designed, built, and renovated innovative, state-of-the-art, and cost-effective kitchens for customers in the Gold Coast, Nerang, and surrounding areas for over 50 years. Our highly skilled and experienced team can help you conceptualise and build sleek and stylish kitchens Nerang that complement your unique lifestyle and fit your budget.
Please call us at 07 5500 4262 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. AEST, Monday through Thursday, and 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. AEST on Fridays to discuss your kitchen renovation. One of our staff members will assist you immediately.
