Stay organized. Use a large binder with folders to keep track of paperwork, floor plans, product specifications, etc. In one section, collect photos and clippings illustrating your ideas and taste. In another keep samples, color chips, etc. This type of organization helps keep the final vision for the kitchen stay in focus.

Create a realistic time frame for the project. Many skilled professionals are required in any kitchen remodel. As part of their written estimates, you should be aware of the expected lead times. Custom cabinetry and countertops can especially require a lot of lead time.

Project yourself into the future and plan accordingly. If you plan to have this kitchen a long time, go wild and personalize the space. If you plan to sell in the near future, remain consistent with the values in the neighborhood and select a style with broad appeal. This can include planning display space in your kitchen for your favorite objects, as well as some artwork.

Bring home all samples and view them in the space. It’s especially important to be aware of differences during day and night. Sunlight and artificial light dramatically change color and texture.

Use your senses. See, touch, feel, and smell everything prior to purchasing. Don’t choose solely from a catalog or the internet because you may feel differently when you see the item in person.

For more tips and design inspiration, visit the Kitchen Views website (www.kitchenviews.com).

It’s said that lefties are better at multi-tasking and adapting. Is this because of a difference in how their minds work, or a result of learning it was necessary to adapt? Many brilliant and creative people are left-handed. But having something designed especially for a lefty makes daily tasks so much easier.

For Laura Kay, designing a new kitchen from scratch gave her the perfect opportunity to have the room designed especially for her left-handed activities. From the work flow placement of the appliances to the faucet on the kitchen sink, this room layout was planned to make her everyday chores feel like less work.

Click here to hear Laura Kay explain this herself in a video.

The Kitchen Views design team is renowned for innovative, cost-saving solutions. Call 1.508.DESIGNS (337-4467) to make an appointment with a designer in your area.

Lee Turner
Kitchen Views at National Lumber
15 Needham St, Newton, MA 02461
617-244-8020
Email: lturner@kitchenviews.com
Web: www.kitchenviews.com

Everyone wants a kitchen that will have their friends repeating “wow,” or better yet, leave them speechless. The key to achieving this is in the details. From the crown mouldings, to the selection of cabinet hardware, to the backsplash, there are many ways to add personality and charm to a kitchen.

For example, consider how many details are involved in choosing the right cabinets. There are the many choices of wood species (from alder to white oak to hundreds of exotic veneers), finishes (stains, paints, glazes, sheens), mouldings (dentil, light rail, cove, etc.), and the many various heights, depths and storage options available.

Trained kitchen designers know all the possibilities that are available, which choices are meaningful and how to put them all together to achieve a unique style. Oftentimes, the blueprints for a kitchen only provide a footprint of the layout, without any details, because the architect may not necessarily know all of the options that may be available or desired by the homeowner. This is where kitchen designers come in. Since they know all of the available options, they can work to flesh out all of the little details.

Attention to detail is exemplified in a kitchen one of our designers worked on for an oceanfront home on Cape Cod. The challenge was to design a space made an impression that would do justice to the home’s location. The homeowner wanted an efficient, beautiful, understated kitchen without making it seem like a “designer kitchen.”

Our designer’s solution was to use white Greencore cabinets by Crystal with aqua-colored decorative hardware. The hardware helped accent the oceanic theme of the space, with the walls just outside of the kitchen being painted a light blue. For the countertops, Vermont slate was used on the perimeter, and reclaimed beech wood was used for the island top. These gave a very natural feel to the space. The end result was a kitchen with an old country kitchen feel, but with outdoorsy elements that are both charming and environmentally-friendly.

When you discuss cabinet or countertop options with any of our designers, we hope that it inspires confidence, like a visit with an old friend, in your decision making process. That has always been a large part of our success. When a designer gets to know you and your individual style and viewpoint, he or she can always do a better job in making a kitchen space that you will enjoy for a lifetime.

OK, your kitchen has been designed, your order has been placed and you are anxiously awaiting your new cabinets. In the meantime, you should make sure that there is an open channel of communication between your designer and your installer.

Now sometimes the installer and designer have worked together for years and can practically finish each others’ sentences. Other times they may have never met or even spoken on the phone. Each kitchen is different, especially in New England, where some homes are quite old or have been renovated. This can mean that a design may have some quirks or unusual design elements that could surprise even a veteran installer when it is time to begin installation.

The floor plan and installation instructions should cover most if not all site issues, but nothing is better than a quick conversation between the designer and installer ahead of time. If they can touch base during the design process or while waiting for the order to arrive, it will allow the installer more time to become familiar with the design and the designer to get a better feel for how the installer works.

The initial conversation might be little more than a thirty second introduction on the phone or it could be a thirty minute strategy session on how to work around an uneven floor. Either way, once the channel of communication is open it will speed the resolution of any questions that arise once the cabinets have arrived at your home.

John Allen, Showroom Manager
Kitchen Views at National Lumber
15 Needham Street, Newton, MA 02461
Phone: 617-244-8020
Email: jallen@kitchenviews.com
Web: www.kitchenviews.com

If you’d like to keep up with the blog via email, you can easily subscribe using the box at the right. Also, if you have any feedback, questions or concerns, be sure to leave a comment!

1. Find an experienced kitchen designer with whom you feel comfortable sharing your ideas, practical needs, and construction concerns. Kitchen Views designers are chosen for their expertise in project management as well as having design talent. On our website you can learn more about each of the talented people in our team and see pictures of the designers’ work. If you would like to make an appointment for a complimentary consultation, call 508.337.4467 or your nearest Kitchen Views showroom.

2. Be prepared by bringing room measurements, photos of kitchens that represent your taste & style, and an appliance “wish list” to your appointment. No artistic skill required, just a measuring tape. You can use the Measuring Guide sheet available in the Getting Started section on our website for clear instructions on how to measure a space and sketch a floor plan.

3. Offer as much information as possible about your lifestyle and budget to your designer so they can help you to make good decisions about the design and selection of products. For example, the types of meals you serve (home
cooked or take-out?), entertainment style (casseroles or caterer? frequent or occasional?), storage and display needs (Tupperware and/or Wedgewood?), and what you love and hate in your current kitchen

4. Determine what you need versus what you want. Make a “must have list” and a “wish list” to determine what is essential to those who will spend the most time in your new kitchen. Remember to include information about pets. Make added convenience a focus.

5. Give yourself enough time to enjoy the experience. Become an educated consumer and allow time to make thoughtful decisions. This will enable you to work within a comfortable budget. Late changes are likely to escalate the cost.

6. Don’t get hung up on the little things. Along the way minor details may not work out as planned due to issues you can’t control. Be creative. Work with your designer and your installer to find solutions to whatever pops up that will enhance your beautiful new kitchen.

7. Create a “temporary kitchen” in another room with your refrigerator and a place for the microwave. Gather paper plates (etc.) and groceries in the same place. You will be without your sink and possibly your stove and oven, possibly for weeks, during the installation. There are ways to get through the inconvenience — from grilling to ordering take-out. Think of it as camping, but with better sleeping arrangements.

8. During the installation, keep your designer’s phone number on speed dial and try to stay available to the installer. There will be unforeseen issues along the way that will need to be dealt with and decisions that will need to be made, sometimes quickly. It’s much better to be a part of the decision making, understanding why something needs to be done differently than planned instead of having the decision made (or not made) for you and wondering what happened after everyone is gone.

9. Patience is a virtue – a difficult concept to grasp in this day and age of well choreographed HGTV episodes. Rely on your designer and your installer to give you a realistic time table and know that unexpected problems and unforeseen roadblocks are going to happen. Stay flexible. While our professionals can give you a pretty good idea – know that there are a lot of moving targets. Things can change quickly, be prepared for the time “table” to become a time “estimate”.

10. Keep your eye on the prize – imagine waking up and walking into your beautiful new kitchen!

Kitchen Views
www.kitchenviews.com

“Cool Cabinet Options Lead to Happy Meals” with Brandy Souza

A kitchen that works around your family’s needs can make mealtime easier, which means the chicken won’t burn while you’re looking for the pot holders.

“Having an organized kitchen isn’t as hard as it may seem,” says designer Brandy Souza. “Just think of your cabinets as the foundation – everything builds on them. With the right cabinet in the right place, you move around the kitchen effortlessly.”

With today’s choices in sizes, configurations, storage solutions, materials and price points, you can make your kitchen work for you.

“Do you need a snack cabinet for the kids, or a pet cabinet to keep the kibble out of sight? A 5’2″ cook might prefer a lower island, while someone taller might want dishwasher drawers on either side of the sink. Now is the time to choose options that will make life easier,” says this family-savvy planner and mom of two toddlers.

Since budget is part of any cabinet discussion, Brandy recommends asking yourself how often you plan to make over your kitchen. If your answer to that question is ‘never again,’ choose a timeless design that won’t soon look outdated.

You’ll also need to decide between stock, custom and semi-custom cabinetry. With custom you can create any size, style or shape. “If we can draw it, they can build it,” Brandy says.

Semi-custom is not quite as flexible, but the choices are still plentiful. Stock cabinetry offers fewer options, but they are truly affordable.

“Don’t forget to think about visibility. If you have a deep cabinet you’ll want to be able to see what’s in the back to avoid turning groceries into science experiments,” Brandy warns. “Rollout trays are a great way to accomplish that, or check out the many pantry accessories that are now standard in most cabinet lines.”

For her own kitchen, Brandy has her dream cabinetry but compromised with Formica countertops while her children are small. “That way I don’t have to worry about Play-Doh and Kool-Aid. As soon as they’re older, I get my granite,” she says with a wink.

Bob Russo, Kitchen Views at National Lumber, Newton, MA

This article is from our Magazine’s Premiere issue, Fall 2008:

“Look outside the box – literally! No one says you have to use a wall cabinet on the wall,” says designer Bob Russo. He knows that innovative ideas can make any budget go further, whether you’re spending $3,000 or $30,000.

“If you know the ins and outs of cabinetry construction, you can use them in different ways,” he says, excitedly drawing an example. “Say you need a 12″ base cabinet for a narrow passageway. Don’t pay extra to modify a base cabinet, which is 24″ deep, use a wall cabinet, which is already 12″ deep and therefore costs less.”

With 33 years in the business, Bob has a long history of helping homeowners create their dream not only on paper, but within their budget.

“One customer came to me frustrated because she wanted an island in her new kitchen. Her architect, contractor and designer told her it would be too costly – her kitchen was too small and they’d have to knock out a wall or add on. By moving things around, I found a way to make it work without changing the project scope,” he says modestly.

One of Bob’s favorite budget exercises is to split your wish list into two columns: “must have” and “nice to have.” By helping people prioritize, he can figure out how to help them save money and still have an amazing looking kitchen.

“For example, you can use detailed cabinets with a rich finish for an island with a complementary but simpler look on the periphery. Or, use the new Formica that looks like granite instead of paying for stone. We have a full palette of options and even a few tricks,” he reveals.

Another way Bob helps homeowners is by showing them the pros and cons of different options so they can make informed decisions.

“When you’ve crossed as many bumps in the road as I have, you know how to find a way around them,” says this veteran designer and Air Force Vet. “I like to do everything I can to exceed my customer’s expectations.”

Bob Russo, ACSD/PKBP
Kitchen Views at National Lumber
15 Needham St. Newton, MA 02461
Phone: 617-244-8020
Email: brusso@kitchenviews.com
Web: www.kitchenviews.com

This kitchen designed by Amy Mood was planned with kid-friendliness in mind, and with functionality to grow with the family.

Kitchen Views designer Amy Mood says there are a few things that can make a kitchen child-friendly:

1. For little kids the height of the seating area is key. Don’t leave them out of the action with tall stools they can’t easily climb up.
2. Countertop corners should be rounded to prevent injuries during collisions. At particular ages, a sharp corner on a counter is right at eye level.
3. Built-in step stools can be concealed under cabinets, but they’ll be put to such good use (as playsink or stove, drawing surface, etc.) that you’ll rarely find them concealed.
4. Safety latches are getting more attractive all the time. The latest use magnets with special keys that need only be waved in front of hidden locks to release them.
5. The new induction cooktops that heat only magnetic pots and pans but otherwise do not produce heat are probably the best solution to the age-old challenge of keeping children from attempting to imitate Julia Child without supervision. They’ve been popular in Europe for years but are only just catching on in the United States.

While tailoring a kitchen to children can make sense at times, there’s something important to remember: Kids are going to get bigger really fast.

Jamie Thibeault, Kitchen Designer, Mansfield, MA

“Finding Mr. or Mrs. Right” (A Kitchen Designer, that is!)

The relationship between kitchen designer and homeowner is like a marriage. You’ll spend a lot of time together, revealing intimate details of your home life and sharing your most hopeful kitchen dreams. If the chemistry works, the result can be a creative, beautiful experience. If not… a possible disaster.

So how do you find an expert kitchen designer who knows his or her way around the project and can help guide you through the entire process, from choosing cabinets to finding a builder? Take some advice from designer Jamie Thibeault, who knows his way around construction sites.

“Ask friends and family who they used for kitchen design and if they would use him or her again. Then ask those designers for other references you can speak with. If they can’t give you any, that’s a red flag. Ask to see other projects, one in progress, which will show you how things are going at a job site, and one from five years ago so you can see how it’s holding up,” says this straight-talking designer.

The next step is to do a gut check for chemistry.

“See if there’s a connection when you speak with them, and make sure they’re really listening to what you’re asking. Ask yourself if you feel they’ll be there for you every step of the way. Anyone can sell you a cabinet. You want more than that, you want a designer who understands your point of view.”

Ask about their background too – many of the best designers have an abundance of experience in the construction trades, architectural or engineering firms. For example, Jamie is a Master electrician who filled in designing kitchens when his wife went on maternity leave 18 years ago. He fell in love with the job and today he works closely with builders and contractors on all kinds of kitchens, from custom homes to multiple-lot subdivisions.

“Knowing my way around construction projects and time-frames definitely gives me insider knowledge that is helpful when planning kitchens,” he says.

Another way to evaluate a designer is to look at project photos. The bonus: you might pick up a few new ideas for your own project along the way!

Jamie Thibeault
Kitchen Views at National Lumber
71 Maple St, Mansfield, MA 02048
Phone: 508-339-8020
www.kitchenviews.com