Kitchen designer

[memenee]

I have a contractor that I LOVE. He has done quite a few things in our house. He’s really great. However, he just does what you tell him. Which has been fine for the other projects but I want him to do our kitchen next and I don’t quite trust me to guide the project. I’d love to hire and expert to create the plan (a kitchen designer or the like) and have him execute.

So my question is - how do I find the kitchen designer? The only ones I’ve seen work for contractors or cabinet manufacturers.

[aprilsails]

So yes most of them are tied to cabinet installers/manufacturers. However, if you know where you want to buy your cabinets, it makes it pretty easy.

My friend worked at Home Depot as a kitchen designer when she was fresh out of the local architectural tech program. They can order custom cabinets from a selection of manufacturers, so that is another avenue to pursue.

[penguingrrl]

I would ask around locally for an independent designer who specializes in spacial planning. My mom is an interior designer who does this (she’ll see a client through the decorating end, but she really is more about moving walls and designing functional spaces) mostly works by referrals and basically doesn’t advertise because she’s generally busy, so she doesn’t need to. She doesn’t work for/with any specific companies and many of the cabinet makers and such she works with are sole proprietors like herself whose long term quality she can vouch for.

[mrsukyankee]

Yeah, we went with a kitchen designer who works with a specific brand because we wanted that brand - we went to four kitchen stores, all had their own designer and brand, and had them do a work-up (which was free). We then worked with the one we chose on the design.

We're using the same people again once we buy this darn house to redo the kitchen.

[memenee]

penguingrrl I need you mom!

[memenee]

*your

[penguingrrl]

Dec 15, 2019 5:55:32 GMT -5 memenee said:

penguingrrl I need you mom!

She’s the best! My house wouldn’t look nearly as put together without her! You aren’t in central NJ by any chance are you?

[memenee]

Dec 15, 2019 9:08:53 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

Dec 15, 2019 5:55:32 GMT -5 memenee said:

penguingrrl I need you mom!

She’s the best! My house wouldn’t look nearly as put together without her! You aren’t in central NJ by any chance are you?

Omg, close! Yes! What counties does she work in?

[penguingrrl]

Dec 15, 2019 18:00:03 GMT -5 memenee said:

Dec 15, 2019 9:08:53 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

She’s the best! My house wouldn’t look nearly as put together without her! You aren’t in central NJ by any chance are you?

Omg, close! Yes! What counties does she work in?

She’s mostly in Monmouth, where are you?

[memenee]

Dec 15, 2019 20:31:06 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

Dec 15, 2019 18:00:03 GMT -5 memenee said:

Omg, close! Yes! What counties does she work in?

She’s mostly in Monmouth, where are you?

Union County 😭

[penguingrrl]

Dec 15, 2019 20:41:43 GMT -5 memenee said:

Dec 15, 2019 20:31:06 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

She’s mostly in Monmouth, where are you?

Union County 😭

Boo, sorry! That’s a bit far for her!

[memenee]

Dec 15, 2019 20:53:23 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

Dec 15, 2019 20:41:43 GMT -5 memenee said:

Union County 😭

Boo, sorry! That’s a bit far for her!

I’m so disappointed I really thought we were on to something here! Does she have any colleagues in my area she’d recommend?

[bullygirl979]

We asked for recommendations and then met with several companies. Most were nixed fairly easily as their designs were just meh. The company we ended up going with we chose as we loved their design and how they operate.

[penguingrrl]

Dec 16, 2019 9:28:04 GMT -5 memenee said:

Dec 15, 2019 20:53:23 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

Boo, sorry! That’s a bit far for her!

I’m so disappointed I really thought we were on to something here! Does she have any colleagues in my area she’d recommend?

I’m so sorry, I don’t think she knows too many colleagues who aren’t hyper local.

But I can tell you a lot of her business comes from people asking for refs on local FB pages. Any time people ask several former clients chime in to rave about her (and the same for a few of her talented colleagues). Look for someone that way, and definitely ask if they’ll post or pm pics of their project.

[Susie]

My FIL is a professional kitchen & bath designer.  He's a member of NKBA.  Try a search on nkba.org for professionals in your area and get a feel for where they work.

ETA:  He designed our full bath reno and it was super helpful to have input from a pro.  I can choose finishes myself (although he had useful advice on that too), but where layout changes are concerned it's really good to have input from someone who does this every day.