I suggest next step is to check their references so you can ask 2 or 3 past clients if they would recommend the designer to a friend. Set your budget and emphasize to each the budget is firm for the project and design fees need to be included with materials and labor in the project budget.

I faced a similar choice when I was getting kitchen bids and meeting designers. I suggest what we did: we had meetings with the estimators at the designers' firms to set our budget. We did go with the design build firm (NKBA member) so all the designer's work was included in the design build firm's bid and they were the contractor, the architect and the structural engineer. We learned in these (free) meetings that we were a good fit with the firm's owners and they had excellent references. This was the most expensive way to go but in our situation at the time it was a good fit.

You didn't mention your budget or if this is your forever house. If you have budget constraints and/or will move within the next 5 or so years, the design build firm is probably not the answer. When you discuss the whole budget with the designers perhaps one will stand out as most able to work with your budget.

There is a big difference between being a member and being certified. I could become a member by filling out an application and paying the dues. *If* #3 completed an accredited interior design program s/he *may* have more educational credentials than an NKBA member who trained on the job and has a membership. In any case 1,2,or three could all design a good kitchen for you (or not).

From the NKBA website re: certification--
The AKBD academic exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions that tests both kitchen and bathroom competencies. The examination itself is divided into four (4) major content categories: 40% of the exam questions are related to Planning and Design, 22% related to Construction/Mechanical Systems, 18% to Business Management and 20% to Products/Materials. Questions are developed by the Certification Test Board. Each question is referenced to the NKBA Professional Resource Library, the primary resource for the material on the AKBD exam.

The CKD, CBD, CKE, and CBE design/practical exams are hand drafted or CAD design scenarios which must be completed within a six (6) hour time frame. These exams test practical skills in space planning, placement of fixtures, fitting knowledge, and basic presentation skills. The candidate is required to produce four (4) project documents: a floor plan, construction/mechanical plan, elevation plan, and complete an NKBA specifications form. Scoring is divided into the following content categories: Graphic and Presentation Standards = 24%; Design Solution (Planning and Safety Floor Plan) = 33%; Elevation Plan = 7%; Mechanical/Construction Plan = 13%; Specifications = 23%. The CKD and CBD design exams also serve as the credential exam for CKE and CBE certifications

Thanks for the replies. This is our "forever" house and we would like the kitchen to be as nice as possible (we are fortunate enough to have a beautiful home and property, the kitchen notwithstanding). We moved in five years ago and immediately remodeled the living and dining rooms and bedrooms. The kitchen and bathrooms are next on the list. As far as budget, something in the 75k range would be ideal (my wish list appliances are coming in a little under 20k). Having said that, if faced with the choice of a "nice" kitchen v. show stopper "magazine worthy" kitchen for a bit more, I would tend towards the latter. We are thinking we will keep the general appliance configuration to keep some of the construction costs down, but everything else is fair game (cabinets, counters, lighting, island configuration).

in the context of what you shall need, advice can be offered.

nerdy please write about your kitchen, and your needs as you perceive them now.

As Palimpsest suggested, each one can (or can not) work for you, their accredition or affiliation notwithstanding.

Therefore, I would make a choice depending on whom I like. Also, from the portfolio, try to see if any designs they did sing to you. I've had an experience choosing Architects where I interviewed a few and one person seemed really talented, but none of the houses he designed were to my liking. (Just not my style I guess). Looking back, I kept looking and that was the best decision I ever made.

If you have an uncertaintly on how much bill will rack up at an hourly rate, then just ask how many hours is a typical kitchen in your budget take to design. That might serve as a pointer to you.

Also, one way to make the design process smooth is to know what you want ahead of the designer. For example, at least preliminary choices like which materials you'd like to use etc. For this, it is helpful to maintain a stack of inspiration pictures so you can translate your taste effectively to the designers.

Hope this helps -- wish you best and looking forward to your plans and a fab space!!

Hi Nerdy,

We interviewed 3 designers for our kitchen, and faced the same issues you are considering. I agree with sue b that the best information will come from your interviews, and from talking to previous customers, and seeing each person's work. The NKBA membership and designation are helpful, but may not tell you which will be the best fit for you and your project. Do you feel more "in sync" with one of the designers than the others? If you can find "independent references" ie; people you personally know who have experience with the designers, in addition to the references given by the designer - that can be really helpful too.

The cost of design work is hard to quantify. Design/build firms are making money on all aspects of the project, so it's hard to say what the design itself cost. (and you don't have the opportunty to competitively bid the construction). Some designers get paid through cabinet sales, etc... It would be great to get an up-front package price for the design, but they don't work that way. It's hard for the designer to know how much time it will take - clients change their minds, add things to the project, etc...

I don't think the $150/hour is out of the norm for a telented, experienced designer who isn't selling cabinets, or making a construction profit. You may want to clarify if that rate applies to everything (travel time, time for their assistant to input info into the CAD program, etc...). If they have an assistant, does the assistant make the same hourly rate? My husband works in commercial real estate, and they pay architects and designers an hourly rate to design projects, then pay a flat fee for the production of permit-ready plans. We wanted that kind of arrangement, but that isn't how the residential designers work (around here anyway).

Even if a designer's hourly rate sounds good, then you need an idea of how many hours they think it will take to complete the design. Of course, they have no way of knowing for certain, but maybe they could give you an estimate, or tell you about how much similar projects have cost in the past. Also, you may want to ask the designer with the magazine-worthy kitchens approx. how much those kitchens cost - they might be beautiful, but it's easy to have a stunning kitchen on a giant budget. Make sure the designers are comfortable working in your price range.

It's kind of hard to pay thousands of dollars for intangibles like design, when you're about to spend tens of thousands on appliances, cabinets, construction, etc.. But a good design can make the difference between and o.k. kitchen and a great one.

Good Luck! Let us know what you decide.

In response to davidrol

We are a family of 4 (2 small children--toddler and infant) with a large extended family. We entertain quite a bit and the kitchen is where we spend most of our time. We currently have an in island cooktop, double wall ovens and 36 inch fridge. Our kitchen is very angular and stark and is very 1990s looking while the rest of our home is warm with a traditional feel. We want to stay within the existing footprint (the kitchen is hexagonal in shape with three sides taken up by floor to ceiling windows).
That said a new design will need to involve reconfiguring the island to turn it into a dining and cooking area (we don't want a separate table). The goal is to have the new kitchen match the rest of the house and look it has been there all along.

In our area the $150/hour seems reasonable. that will get you about 15 hours to total the $2500 that d2 will charge.
We went with a design/build firm and the designer spent way more than 15 hours with me in the design stage.
We went with a design/build firm because we were doing a major reno in our forever home. It was well worth it.
But we had also interviewed others and it came down to who did we trust to do the kind of reno that we wanted (good quality construction in an environmentally aware manner) and who we thought we could work with on a day to basis.
I also asked everyone if they thought after meeting with me, whether or not they could work with me. My DH wanted little to do with it and I made all the decisions and they had to be comfortable with that.
Actually, one of the reasons we called this firm was because they had a female project manager on staff. I figured with that, that they would be fine listening to the wife rather than the husband. There are still GC's out there who won't.

I think you might want to proceed cautiously because of the extremely unusual nature of the space.
".... want to stay within the existing footprint (the kitchen is hexagonal in shape with three sides taken up by floor to ceiling windows). ...."

I would rule out D1 and D2.

To get a handle on your requirements, in a general sense, you are welcome to post a plan here in this forum. Show the footprint and the surroundings too. Then, based on reactions from several, you can more easily direct D3, D4, and D5 or whoever you will consider hiring.

Couple of thoughts:

- The rates are not exorbitant, compared to what I was quoted
- A design/build firm presents its own pluses and minuses. The overall cost for your project could turn out much higher. And some D/B firms hear your budget is $50K, present an $85K kitchen and try to talk you into it.
- Figure out who is marking up your cabinets, and by how much. A designer who charges a separate fee or by the hour may not really be more expensive than someone who is padding your cabinetry bill, and may even have interests that are better aligned with yours, since they are not in the business to sell you more boxes