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Know
your Budget...
A room can be designed so many different ways,
each with a different price tag... Your budget helps your
designer design appropriately. There's nothing worse
than falling in love with a design that's too costly for
your budget!
Know your Style… It's
helpful to sit down with family members involved in the
process, and get an idea of what each of you would like in
your new kitchen. If you talk about this before you
meet your designer, it could save some embarrassing
moments... Trust me on this one! I always
suggest to visit the magazine rack, or online pictures to get
an idea of your individual tastes. If I'm your
designer, I certainly will help merge the two styles, if
they differ greatly - I've had some pretty wild taste
differences, and have always been able to mix them
into a workable, and attractive space.
Google images is great!
See the cabinet lines we offer!
Know your Cabinet... Along with
style, the cabinet type is important, since it is completely
linked with the overall price of your cabinetry.
here are the two different types of cabinetry you will be thinking about.
Full Custom Cabinets - Custom cabinets should be made with an All
Plywood construction - Higher end custom cabinets will
have the standard 3/4 plywood construction, with solid
wood doors and blum soft close runners. Veneering only
on contemporary cabinet looks.
Omega Cabinet line fits this bill.
Some custom shops will provide you with 1/4 - 3/8" plywood
sides... looks like wood when you look inside... It's just
less substantial. Price tag tells all... There
is no such thing as an inexpensive 3/4" all plywood cabinet.
Semi-Custom
Cabinets. Ok, so you don't need
to gaze at all wood interiors, another option is semi-custom
cabinets.
Wellborn Cabinets are a great midline
semi-custom cabinet company. Frames and Doors are solid
wood, except on a few entry level doors they provide,
Cabinet sides are made of a
industrial grade furniture board with Medium Density
Fiberboard backs. - This in industry standard for
Semi-Custom cabinet companies. They are very sturdy with a
melamine protective surface that is easy to clean. Doors
and frames will be solid wood. Completely upgradable
in all areas. You control the final price.
Pick a Designer...
Find a shop where you like the
cabinets, and the
designer makes you feel welcome, and
comfortable. View their portfolio... make sure they know their
stuff! They should listen to what your wants and needs
are. Very important. Do you Like
bouncing from shop to shop comparing design
notes... Bad form. Designers are paid when they sell a
job. Going from shop to shop gathering ideas... is really
asking all of those designers to work for free... We just
can't afford that!
Why not try a free lance designer? paid by the hour
to hash out ideas... then take that design to all of
the shops to price... if you feel the urge to get around.
The design process
"Time Frame" is
different with every client.
Some clients know exactly what
they want, while others require many appointments to arrive
at the perfect space. You set the pace. Keep in
mind the delivery time frame of the cabinet line you are
interested in, as well as, the complexity of the remodel
itself. If you have a limited time frame - the more
prepared you are, the faster the design process.
Working with your own Contractor
is
quite common when many projects are simultaneously in action
in a single household. Remember contractors really
aren't designers... When you have hired your own
contractor, please complete the design process first, before
you have plumbing or wiring installed. The contractor
will need a rough idea of where to bring in the electricity
etc...Be sure to make an appointment with all parties to
determine the next step.
You want to avoid your contractor making decisions that
limit the final design. If everyone works as a
team, with your best interests at heart, then everyone will
be satisfied, and you will have a wonderful final product
without costly re-do's. :)
Why not just design, and install my kitchen
cabinets myself? There
is such a difference between kitchens designed by the DIY’er and
professionals. It's seen in overall layout, and in the
details.
When someone has designed hundreds of kitchens… they'll have ideas the average, very capable, web educated, individual
can’t come up with. They've seen almost all worst case
scenarios, and know how to fix them... Saving you days, and months
of anguish - which is what you would do trying to figure
the next step on your own.
What about purchasing your cabinets online?
If you make a mistake,
odds are you will, you are financially responsible!
There is no such thing as an inexpensive mistake in
kitchens!
Designing and installing your own kitchen is like cutting your own
hair – The only difference is … If you don’t like the results…Your
new kitchen won’t grow back in 6 weeks! :)
Remodeling your kitchen should be fun, exciting project. It
will be a comfort to know you
made your kitchen the best it can be, without the complications and
regrets, you certainly can have designing and installing it yourself.
(804)784-2283 FAX
(804) 784-2279
e-mail
us at
ACWkitchens@aol.com
Off
288 & Broad Street
By Appointment
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