Thanks!

Always start with a general contractor first because without his initial budget numbers you don't know where you are. Having your dream kitchen/addition designed and then finding out you can't afford to have it built is an excellent way to set money on fire. Happens here all the time.

It depends on the quality of the people involved. A good KD will have a good sense for how much various things cost such as bumping out an internal or external wall. They should also be able to help you figure out how best to meet your needs/desires and stay within or near budget.

Most design/build firms and contractors (@joseph perhaps excepted) are quite bad at kitchen design.

I'd start with a KD so that you get a better sense for exactly what kind of bumping out you might be doing and then talk to contractors or architects or design/build.

Unless the KD's kitchens are all the same design, same size and executed in substantially similar homes, I doubt they'll have a good handle on cost--especially in an environment of rapidly escalating material and labor prices-- like we're in now, for example.

The best kitchen designers in our area will gladly redesign your kitchen within the confines of the existing walls, but they won't begin the task if structural changes are involved without involving a contractor from the outset. The KD's who will are generally less experienced and have little or no reputation to put at risk.

A design build firm may be able to help you with the plans you need if your bump out is simple. They can also give you an idea of cost before you invest in an architect. However, you'll need a very thorough plan to get a good estimate which should include line items for each part of the job, both labor and materials. They usually work with kitchen cabinet showrooms for kitchen design, though some sell cabinets themselves and have a designer on hand. It depends on the company. Sometimes they are more expensive than a contractor because they add profit and overhead to all of your fixtures, which most insist on supplying.

Thank you for your help!

That's really interesting!

I work in commercial building design. I am taking a different approach which is similar to the way we design-bid-build most commercial facilities. I am drawing up my own detailed floor plans - which include taking walls down, new floor, electrical, mechanical changes. I met with two different cabinet vendors we prefer - one provided a detailed set of cabinet plans (and material list) with our input for $400. With my arch plans and the cabinet plans I can approach contractors for detailed bids. Of course each of the cabinet suppliers had a preferred kitchen contractor which helps with my bidder list. I could have hired an architect for about $1500 to do the plans as well - cheap compared to the total cost of the whole kitchen remodel. I believe having detailed plans will ensure good bids and minimize change orders later during construction.