It is often said that the kitchen is the heart of any home. After all, at the end of the workday, we spend hours in the kitchen with the food preparation, eating and the kids doing homework – its where we live.
But if you are deciding to renovate your kitchen, a lot of pressure can be involved when it comes to finding the right kitchen designer.
This is especially the case when design mistakes can end up being costly, and not many of us know the ins and outs of all the design elements when it comes to a great kitchen. We speak to kitchen designer,The Wood Works, who explain how to choose a kitchen designer for you.
Examine their previous work
Not everyone has the same tastes, so a well-meaning recommendation from a friend or family member could lead you to hire somebody who does not quite fulfill your kitchen dreams. The best thing you can do is ask the designer to see their portfolio, or if they would be willing to provide references from previous clients, as it can give you a better understanding of their style and how they approach different jobs.
Set your budget
Be honest with yourself about what you can actually afford to spend on designing a brand new kitchen, as this can also help your designer in terms of making decisions about what should be invested in and where to cut costs. It easy to get caught up in the excitement of creating a new kitchen and seeing all the catalogs featuring gadgets and functions, but you should try to remain realistic and only invest in things that you think will actually be worth it and that you will use.
A very good designer can help you get your dream kitchen and keep it within budget. Costs can easily overrun so keeping within this is key.
Get the designer to visit your property
It is recommended that you only agree with a quote for the kitchen design and installation once the designer has actually looked at the place. This will also show their level of commitment, especially if they start taking measurements and visualizing the potential. With different software, they should be able to construct a virtual model of your kitchen too.
Ask what is included in the cost
It is important that you verify with your kitchen designer from the very start exactly what is included in the cost to avoid potential misunderstandings. This refers to designs, materials, installation, cleaning, and VAT.
In addition as a rule of thumb, you should usually pay a deposit that is around 25% of the total contract value but no more than this, as well as establishing a written schedule from the beginning about further payments.
Check their credentials
Whichever kitchen design company you decide to pursue, you should always make sure that they are fully certified, as ending up with a dodgy designer could quickly lead the kitchen renovations to become a costly nightmare to sort out. See if they are a registered business, are part of a governing body and have independent reviews from the likes of Trustpilot.
Think carefully
Another thing to be aware of when choosing a kitchen designer is that you must make sure that you only sign a contract that you are willing to honor and follow through. This is because many kitchen design companies will have expensive cancellation clauses in the terms and conditions of the agreement that will be signed by you and them.
