Kitchens of the World

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Selecting a kitchen designer Your best bet is to locate a designer with credentials. The National Kitchen and Bath Association offers a list of professionals in your area here: NKBA Here you can find nationally certified designers for kitchen and bath. Remodeling a kitchen? What can you expect? If you are remodeling a kitchen, and you are using custom cabinetry, expect to leave a deposit with your design firm. There are two popular formats followed by most companies. They are 50/40/10 and 40/50/10. What does that mean to you? It means that you will be expected to leave a 50% deposit when ordering, 40% payment when the cabinetry is delivered and 10% on completion or substantial completion. The term substantial completion is something you should understand. Many companies will expect the final payment on substantial completion. This means that the project is substantially complete, possibly missing a knob or a piece of molding. It is unfair to hold back thousands of dollars for a small item. However, if the company is not reliable, this payment system can cause undue heartache for the consumer. Since the company has received virtually all of their funds, there is no monetary incentive for them to return. This is why it is important for you to make sure you are dealing with a company with a good reputation. How can you determine if the company has a good reputation? The first place to look is their relationship with NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association). Members are supposed to keep to the standards of the NKBA. Secondly, look at your local BBB for advise. Most importantly, talk to your friends. If you know of someone who has had a kitchen remodel, ask them about their experience. Lastly, use your "gut" feelings! If you feel uncomfortable at all during the initial presentation, do not go forward. What should you expect before you make a buying decision? You should expect to see a designers portfolio. The portfolio should have before and after pictures, floor plans, letters from past clients. If the designer does not have a portfolio, we suggest you move on. Your designer should be able to give you a clear vision of what he or she can do for you as well as a price range for the project. Giving the designer a budget is the best way for you to lead your designer toward the best products and design for you. What you should NOT expect before making a buying decision. You should not expect to receive drawings. Sadly, the kitchen industry has lagged many of the professional industries such as architects. You would never expect an architect to produce drawings prior to engaging him or her in the form of payment. If your designer is a good designer, he or she should not be expected to work for free. What do you need to know in order to make a buying decision? Interestingly enough, making a buying decision is easy if you have the answers to all the questions required to make that decision. Often, designers fail to offer all the answers. This is why it can be frustrating for you, the consumer, to make an educated choice. Here is what you should look for.

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