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Kitchen Workbook: Plan Your Space Like a Pro
Good design may be more critical in the kitchen than in any other room in the home. These tips can help make your design a successful one
Rebekah Zaveloff, owner and principal designer of KitchenLab, co-founder of Design in a Bag.com and Houzz contributor. I'm a self-professed tile nut and believer in good design for all! You can also visit me at: http://kitchenlabdesign.com and http://designinabag.com
Rebekah Zaveloff, owner and principal designer of KitchenLab, co-founder... More »
The preliminary space-planning and schematic design phase is the most important part of any kitchen remodel. A kitchen can be filled with beautiful materials and finishes, but if the layout and space don't work well, it's not a successful design. In kitchens, more than in any other room, a good space plan and flow are critical. Anyone who has tried working in a poorly designed kitchen knows this.
When working on a project that's going to include moving things, opening up walls or doing an addition, I recommend that homeowners work with a kitchen designer or other professional to develop a schematic plan and get preliminary estimates on construction costs. This is a great way to keep your eye on the budget while you finalize the design.
The alternative is to design the space down to the last detail and then get estimates on the materials and construction or send it out for bidding. The problem with the latter option is that most people become emotionally tied to the original design at this point, and it can be frustrating to rework a design due to budget.
Bigger isn't always better. I can't tell you how many times I've met with clients who told me they had abandoned a remodel years ago because they couldn't afford the design as it was planned. It took them years to get over their initial design plan and be willing to talk to another designer to investigate alternative options. Read on for some ways to avoid this.
When working on a project that's going to include moving things, opening up walls or doing an addition, I recommend that homeowners work with a kitchen designer or other professional to develop a schematic plan and get preliminary estimates on construction costs. This is a great way to keep your eye on the budget while you finalize the design.
The alternative is to design the space down to the last detail and then get estimates on the materials and construction or send it out for bidding. The problem with the latter option is that most people become emotionally tied to the original design at this point, and it can be frustrating to rework a design due to budget.
Bigger isn't always better. I can't tell you how many times I've met with clients who told me they had abandoned a remodel years ago because they couldn't afford the design as it was planned. It took them years to get over their initial design plan and be willing to talk to another designer to investigate alternative options. Read on for some ways to avoid this.
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| 1. Determine a plan for your space. Most clients start out with a wish list and a collection of inspiration images. This is a great help in getting started, but try to focus on the space plans before getting too caught up in what the kitchen is going to look like. Space plans can be rough — they're all about the best layout. You or your designer should try some different options for where the appliances will go. What's the best layout for your space? An L-shape kitchen with an island? A U-shape kitchen? Or do you have a galley kitchen? Do you have the space for an eat-in kitchen? Are you moving doors or changing windows? These plans don't have to detail where your pots, pans and silverware are going or what color the cabinets will be — not yet. |
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| 2. Get preliminary estimates. Once you have a proposed floor plan in hand (and a written scope of work), most contractors interested in the job will be willing to come over and give you a ballpark estimate. The more info you have, the more accurate the ballpark number, so if you can get your designer to do a schematic electrical and lighting plan, that's even better. All of this is subject to change, but at least you have an idea of costs before you get too emotionally committed. At this point, you can also estimate material costs such as cabinetry, countertops, tile and flooring square footage and so on. |
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3. Develop plans, elevations and 3-D drawings. Now that you've got a plan you love, let your designer really detail it out. Drawings will help you visualize what the cabinetry will look like. Note on the plans and drawings where spices, pots and pans, silverware and utensils will go.
At this stage, it's not just about the practical and functional. This is where you get to be more artistic. Cabinet design is a bit like modernist art because it's all about the rectangles and squares of cabinet doors, and the way they relate and intersect.
The proportions of doors and the scale of three doors next to each other, rather than two, make all the difference in making a kitchen look dynamic and interesting.
At this stage, it's not just about the practical and functional. This is where you get to be more artistic. Cabinet design is a bit like modernist art because it's all about the rectangles and squares of cabinet doors, and the way they relate and intersect.
The proportions of doors and the scale of three doors next to each other, rather than two, make all the difference in making a kitchen look dynamic and interesting.
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| 4. Plan materials and finishes. Now that you're working with more developed drawings, you can visualize what materials are going to go where, as well as the proportions of those materials. Most likely, there will still be a final design development period and construction documents, and then a final phase during which the drawings, specifications and scope of work are given to the contractor for final pricing. Next: When to Pick Kitchen Finishes and Fixtures More: How to Work with a Kitchen Designer How to Remodel Your Kitchen |
Ideabook updated on July 15, 2012.
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