Yes, that's an option too. Thank you! The only real bid I've gotten back I don't like the layout, and she charges 20% on top of the cabinet, install, and counter prices. Is that normal?

I use a graph downloaded from the internet, then open in Paint.

We weren't charged 20%. We hired a general contractor, and the KD.

Unless the kitchen is completely unusable, it might be best to live with it for several months. That will give you a better idea of how your family uses the kitchen and surrounding rooms, as well as determine what works in the existing kitchen and what is a total bust. The kind and knowledgeable folks here can help you come up with a design that will meet your goals - but I would say that you may not have a solid grasp of those goals until you actually move in and use the kitchen.

You may also find other things in the house that require more immediate attention in terms of both time and funds.

I acted as my own general contractor (GC) for our kitchen remodel, and it worked out fine - but I am very detail-oriented, and I allowed a lot of extra time in the schedule to make sure I could get the subs on site in the correct order.

Good luck with your move!

Thank you annkh! Very good points. We do plan on giving the home some time before we tear right in.

After years of working in our kitchen, I knew that the basic layout worked well. So, when our first KD thought we should rearrange all of our appliances, I said, NO WAY.