Kitchen

Reply to: Hi Dreamojean, It is very difficult to ascertain what is a reasonable price for a kitchen designer. A good kitchen designer should be a good listener and not have an agenda. I remember back when I was designing kitchens, I was certain that my customers had no idea how much time and effort went into my designs. I know my customers were very happy, and grateful, but if they knew the hours that went into the designs, I know they would have found it hard to believe. I charged between $1000 and $4000 for my design work - based on the size and scope of the project. There is no way I would have the stamina to do that work now. My days consisted of meeting with customers during the day and doing designs at night. My nights rarely ended before 2am. I worked 7 days a week at least 12 hours to 16 hours per day and made less than virtually anyone else working those kind of hours. If I had been in that business for the money, I would not have lasted more than a year. I did it because I loved what I did and found great satisfaction by designing kitchens that made sense for the homeowner(s). I used to get so frustrated when I saw glamorous kitchens that were impossible to work in. Often cooktops would be flanked with columns on either side that made cooking a real chore. Back in the day, there were very few designers that I felt were good at all. Here are some key thoughts that you might consider when looking for a good kitchen designer. First, the designer must know his or her way around a kitchen. They must cook! Theory is one thing, practical knowledge is a must. Secondly, he or she must understand ergonomics. Placement and flow are key. Thirdly, the designer must be a good listener and take notes. Lastly, the designer must love what they do. I loved what I did, and when it became a chore, I left the business. That happened right at the time another doorway opened for me. Long story, but I ended up designing and manufacturing custom copper and stainless steel sinks. That has been my passion now for 15 years. The same principles apply in sink design. Drain location is key, depth of bowl is key, etc. I hope this long winded answer is of some assistance to you. Best of luck in your venture. Feel free to contact me if you have questions. Dino (dino@rachiele.com)

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Reply to: Sorry to all who were waiting for responses. My email wasn't sending me notifications. We paid our KD a flat rate. I want to say $700, but I'm honestly no longer sure and can't be bothered to look up the cancelled check. Ironically, we got her name from our architect, though she wasn't familiar with him or his work. She did have "professional discount" offers available at certain retailers (counters and plumbing fixtures), but we went elsewhere in both cases as we got better deals. Someone contacted me directly for more info on little decisions/tips she made that made a difference. Here's a huge one that my husband just reminded me of. She had drawn out detailed cabinet designs, most especially in a critical corner with range on one side and sink/trash on the other with a corner cabinet pull out between. Due to her double checking, she discovered that the cabinet maker was building the wrong size trash cabinet for what we had ordered. She called on one day to let us know she'd discovered the problem, and 2 days later when we met her, she had 3 sketches of how we could solve it. She was thoughtful about ergonomics, encouraging us to plan storage to minimize lifting heavy things as much as possible. She encouraged us, as she walked us through our layout, to think beyond the sippy cups and plastic toddler dishes that were part of our immediate life to the next phase, and how our storage needs might change. Very detail oriented in a way our architect certainly was not!

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