Before your hire a designer or contractor to renovate your kitchen, take the time to go over every detail with him or her. After all, you will need to live with the changes you make in your kitchen for many years, and want to ensure that it looks good while still being functional. Note a few important questions to ask the kitchen designer before work ever begins.
1. What are some "green" options?
If you're very eco-conscious, be sure you've gone over every environmentally friendly option you have. This might mean salvaged pieces, recycled wood for cabinets, cabinets and floors made from bamboo, which is very sustainable and easy to grow, and other such choices. Avoid materials that involve disrupting the environment for harvesting, such as granite and slate, and opt for poured concrete, which is made from materials that are very easy to harvest. Your contractor should be able to offer you many such options and choices for your kitchen.
2. Do they charge a measuring fee?
If you're simply having new cabinets installed, ask if the contractor charges a measuring fee. In some cases they may tack on this extra fee if they need to recheck your measurements; you may be able to avoid it by simply telling them the size of cabinets you need, but be sure you know how to accurately measure. In some cases it can be good to pay this added fee just to know you get the right size cabinets that fit your space.
3. Can they do major renovations or just light remodeling?
Some kitchen renovation contractors will only make light renovations to your existing space, meaning they won't necessarily be able to change where the walls are located or even pull out existing walls to open up the space. They may simply replace countertops and cabinets and install new flooring. If you want to actually change the footprint of your kitchen or have larger appliances installed, be sure the contractor can offer this type of major remodeling work and isn't expecting to simply change your cabinetry.
4. Can they match surfaces in other areas of the home?
You may want your kitchen countertops to match the bathroom vanity or to ensure both areas have the same flooring and tile. Be sure to ask if they extend their work to other areas of the home, as a kitchen specialist may not work in bathrooms or they may not be able to get the same type of tile or flooring as you have currently.
Share25 September 2015
The kitchen is the most used room in my home, and in the past, I found it could get messy and chaotic very quickly. Trying to cook dinner when you can't find an essential appliance or see past the clutter on the counter is no fun. I realised I enjoyed my time in the kitchen more and was more productive when my kitchen was organised and laid out in a way that optimised functionality. I changed my kitchen cleaning and organising routine, decluttered, got rid of appliances I don't use and moved things around to ensure frequently used items were easy to reach. I started this blog to share my tips for creating a kitchen that's enjoyable to use, and I post about ways you can optimise the space you have. I hope you find my posts useful.
