Design Your Dream Kitchen

By Paul Anater

Your dream kitchen is not out of reach. Whether your inspiration is a photo of a kitchen design from a magazine, a custom style you saw on a home tour or a renovation at a friend’s home, you can have the dream kitchen you’ve always wanted. This article will walk you through the process of getting your dream kitchen started.

Like many Tampa Bay residents whose homes were built in the 1970’s or before, your home is probably a Florida ranch style typical of that period. It’s important to realize the options available for this style of home.

Find a Trusted Specialist

Laurel Bay
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The first step towards your dream kitchen is to find a trusted kitchen remodeling specialist who stays current on the latest in cabinetry, materials and fixtures and is willing to take a personal interest in your unique needs and budget. Just as important is to choose a professional who has been in your community a long time, who offers a kitchen design showroom with a private consultation area, and whose work hours suit your schedule.

You’ll get the most realistic kitchen remodeling cost estimate when your kitchen designer spends time with you in both your home and in the showroom. The designer will listen to your ideas, try to understand your lifestyle, and review the cabinet design, materials and fixture options that match your vision. The discussion should focus on your personal taste, how much time you spend in your kitchen, your meal preparation methods, number of people who take part in meal preparation, and your budget considerations.

Understanding where value and price intersect is a skill you want from your kitchen designer. That’s why you want a kitchen designer who will ask pertinent questions – such as how long you intend to remain in your home – to be sure that cost benefit remains part of the budgeting process.

Planning

Victoria
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Planning – the most critical step – can take from 2 weeks to 6 months. Generally, the cabinets arrive six weeks after the order is placed, during which time a contractor takes about a week to remove the old kitchen and prepare the room. This is followed by the installation of the flooring moving the plumbing and completing any electrical work that may be needed. Once the cabinets are installed, the countertop templates can be created. The countertops are then ordered and custom-made, a process that usually takes from two to three weeks.

Checks and Balances

The final step is to check the references of each kitchen design you’re considering. Is the kitchen designer you selected willing to work with you every step of the way, and are you confident in his or her abilities? Ask for, and personally contact, references. If they are the happy, chances are you will be as well.

Finally, be sure your kitchen remodeler has a skilled, stable staff, a name you can trust, and a long history of doing business in your community. That means the company cares about its customers and is in business for the long term. Now you are ready to put the wheels in motion, and your dream is well on its way to coming true.

ABOUT THE WRITER
Paul Anater, a professional kitchen designer with Kuttler Kitchens, has an extensive background in home construction and renovation. His custom kitchen designs can be found in homes throughout Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.

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