Kitchen, Bath & Interior Design Advice

I’ll bet this is a major dilemma for most people who are considering the idea of doing a new or existing home renovation.  Don’t feel you are alone, you’re not!  This is perhaps one of the most stressful events in a person’s life listed as #2 just under the death of a family member.  The confusion and process is monumental, and the questioning of oneself follows suit.  This is why it is so important to find a helpmate, an advocate, a guide, a visionary, an expert, rather, someone who is most commonly known as a “professional designer”.  The right designer will give you the help you need to carry you through the entire difficult process ahead.

So, what is the next step?  How do I go about finding the appropriate design professional that will be the right fit for me?  First, and probably the easiest way to start, is ask your friends, your relatives, and your neighbors who have used someone they like, or have heard about a designer from someone they know from a past successfully completed design project.  This is, obviously, the best use of a “word of mouth recommendation”.  Keep in mind, people love to talk about their experiences whether they are good or bad, they keep talking.  This will give you a very good idea if the designer will fit your needs and if you will be compatible.  The next place to look is on the Internet.  This option is more time consuming, but detailed navigation throughout specific resources will eventually lead you to a web site that just seems to click with your visual senses.  Making inquiries and receiving fast direct and concise responses will lead you to a sense of a good fit.  There are usually phone numbers on the sites that will accord you personal contact with the designers or company principals who will explain the processes by which they conduct their business.  You will usually be able to tell, right away, if the person is someone you want to continue discussing your needs, and or someone you will want to make plans to meet for an initial consultation.

Once you have made contact with a professional designer, of your liking, the next step is the initial consultation, the first meeting face to face where you will begin discussing your project needs, wants and desires.  This meeting is very important, for you, because it will set the stage for the basic planning of the home or room or specific space you are considering as well as feeling out your perspective designer.  You will give the designer the information she, or he, needs to begin the process for your project.  You will be asked many questions such as your life style, desired style of the interior space, color, furnishings (existing or new), lighting requirements, time frame, your budget and choices of how you want to work with the designer. 

How you work with the designer will vary depending your needs and requirements for completiion.  Some designers work hourly for the designing and product selections.  Some may work on a prior retainer (refunded upon the balance due at completion) along with a percentage of the total cost.  Others may give you their discounts from their suppliers and charge you a percentage of the total cost.  In some cases there may be a combination of some or all of the above.  It is basically your decision as to how you want to work.  A good professional will be flexible enough to give you (their client) the option of deciding the best way to fit your needs.  Remember, you are the boss!  it is you who hire the professional and it is their responsibility to make sure you are ultimately satisfied and happy with the outcome.  Don’t forget you will be the person talking to your family, friends and neighbors recommending them to another person planning another future new home construction or home renovation project.  Good luck in your quest!  If you have any more specific questions, please feel free to contact us on this blog!

Lighting a kitchen is just as important as the lighting throughout the rest of your home, perhaps more important!  In today’s world the kitchen is the heart of the house.  People always seem to congregate in the kitchen, no matter if you are just cooking dinner for your family on a daily basis or entertaining a large group, as in a birthday or holiday party.  Therefore, the lighting has to fit the space in order to accommodate any specific need you may have.

Keep in mind all the uses of your kitchen space.  The first type of lighting is known as general light or ambient light, which would usually consist of some type of centrally located ceiling mounted fixture or a group of high hats. No matter which type you choose all would be specified, specifically, depending on the size of the space and generally switched by a dimmer to allow more flexibility of light for need, theme or mood.  The second type of light is called task lighting, which is used to illuminate the countertop spaces or other working areas.  The third and most decorative type is called accent lighting.  This type of ligthing gives the most color, form and texture to the space.  It accentuates and marries all the components in the kitchen such as the cabinetry, tile on the floor, backsplash and countertop materials as well as the appliances.  All of the three main types of lighting are to be used in conjunction with one another in a process called layering in order to achieve a harmonious balance of light throughout your kitchen.

Keep in mind there are many other aspects to be considered in choosing the proper lighting for the kitchen space, so it is wise to consult a professional designer who will guide and instruct you throughout the process.