Print this list off and write down the answers to the following questions.
Functionality: Before you rush to choose the latest and trendiest kitchen cabinet, think before you leap. Your first priority should be the functionality and not aesthetics. If the selected design does not fulfill the purpose then having a very attractive cabinet will prove wastage of money. First think about your requirements; how do you cook, type of meals that you mostly prepare, family members who would be using the kitchen cabinet, specific kitchen appliances that would be used, and other such considerations. During the planning stage, when you sit down with your kitchen designer then these issues must be the most important things that you need to discuss in detail.
What type of kitchen are you working towards Traditional, contemporary, country or other styles?
What do you like about your current kitchen cabinets?
What are you missing in your kitchen?
Do you want an island in your kitchen? If so do you want it to be a floating island or stationary.
Are you going to change any of your appliances?
Is there any items or appliances you would like to add to your remodeled kitchen?
Are the appliances you use most often easily available to you? If not what would make it easier to get to?
Do you need more space in your kitchen, if so how can you get what you want?
Does the traffic flow need to be changed in the kitchen? If so how could you make it better?
Are your pots, pans and other tools in easy to reach places? If not how can you make them easy reach?
Do you have your pots, pans and other tools grouped together? If not how can you put things alike with each other?
Can you keep your most used items with in eye shot, so you can find them quickly?
Do you want a spice rack to hold all your spices
Do you want shelves that are adjustable? Having adjustable shelves can help you when you are filling the cabinets with your items.
Do you want slide out storage These are nice so you don't have to bend over and stick your head inside a cabinet to find what your looking for. Instead you open your cabinet and slide out a shelve, this way you can see everything with in the cabinet.
Do you want an swing up shelves. This is a special shelf that hides inside a cabinet and when you activate it, it swings out of the cabinet and up to countertop level giving you some extra work space. These shelf's can be used for easy storage of heavy appliances such as mixers. This allowing you to store the mixer on the shelf and have it hiding in the cabinet and when your ready to use it you open the cabinet and unlock the swing up shelve to have access to your mixer.
Do you want pullout tray holders. These will help you store trays (pizza sheets etc.) along with saving you space.
Do you want a refrigerated drawers? This makes it easer for your kids to get into the refrigerator.
Do you want a basket inside a cabinet to hold small items such as cleaning sponges.
Do you want tension rods inside your cabinets? These rods help to store items such as cutting boards vertically.
Do you want to store your trash in side a cabinet?
Do you want a trash compactor hidden in the cabinets?
Do you want to have a recycle bin inside your cabinet?
You should have storage for a couple fire extinguishers for grease fires, find a good place for extinguishers.
Do you want more lighting in your kitchen. If so where at? What kind of light do you want, natural or lights?
Do you want lighting on or in your cabinets? There are many ways to illuminate your cabinets. You can have lights under your cabinets or have cove lighting (above the cabinets) Both are very nice to have. You will want to make sure you have an electrical outlet available. You may want to have one of the electrical outlets hooked up to a switch to make it easy to turn the lights on and off.
Do you want drawer liners and what type? Adhesive, Felt, Cedar, Rubber or Cork
Do you want an eating area? If you want an eating area included in your countertop you will want to make sure there is at least three and a half feet or more between where your sitting and the wall. This will allow you to have ample room to move around. Also make sure there is ample room above the sitting area. You usually want at least a foot or more above the head.
Do you want a wine storage cabinet or a bar?
Do you want a wet bar?
What height do you want your Countertops?
36" is standard height for cabinets.
42" is a good bar height.
30" is a good height for pastry prepping surface.
How deep do you want your cabinet depth?
Wall cabinets are usually about 12" deep or be made to special order to any depth and from 12" to 36" tall or custom made.
Floor cabinet are usually 24" deep but can be special ordered to any depth.
Some extra costs that could occur
Countertops
Design Fees
Dishwasher
Drywall
Dumpster fees
Electrical
Faucet
Flooring
HVAC
Lighting
Microwave
Permits
Plumbing
Refrigerator
Sink Disposal
Stove
Stove hood
Trim
How to pay for your new kitchen cabinets
Cash
Credit Card
Mortgage refinancing
Home equity loan
Home equity line of credit
Budget: Some people may consider it to be the last thing to consider; however, this is the first thing that you must be absolutely sure about. Just keep some additional amount for the cost overrun but basically if you fix the budget beforehand, it will save you a lot of trouble later on. Once the project gets going, it would be difficult for you to minimize the expenses. When planning the budget and allocating money for the kitchen cabinet, take into account additional expenses like transportation, accessories, contractor's fees, and any other associated expenses.
Consult Expert For Advice: Just after taking a look at some of the glossy interior magazines, do not think that you are capable of executing the project by your self without any professional assistance. If it involves complete remodeling of the kitchen cabinet then it is better if you consult a kitchen designer for the right advices. Such a professional is in the kitchen cabinets business doing the same thing every day so the person knows the latest innovations and trends that will make your kitchen remodeling experience truly unique and exceptional.
The professional workmanship will ensure that you get the perfect kitchen cabinet. Kitchen cabinets designed correctly not only provide the required functionality but also help enhance the value of a home.
So if you want a kitchen that looks seamless and pleasing to look at from every angle, Enter your contact information in the service request form below to start receiving cabinet quotes today! There is no fee or obligation to use this service.