You’ve decided to remodel your kitchen and have already scheduled your kitchen design consultation with a cabinet professional, but the preparation doesn’t end there! In order to have a successful design consultation, it’s crucial that you prepare before the meeting takes place. Here are our tips on how to best prepare for your kitchen design consultation.
Gather All of Your Ideas
It’s best to create a scrapbook or notebook of design inspiration, so you can discuss your personal style during your initial consultation. Whether you gather your ideas from books, magazines, or an online idea gallery, the consultation will run much more smoothly if you have all components of your vision and personal preferences out in front of you. Try to not pull just any image that catches your eye without understanding what you specifically liked in the image. Make a note of what captured your eye with a post-it note or mark it directly on the image. It could be that you like the cabinets, countertop, backsplash, or even the light fixture. As your inspiration grows, and your collection expands to 20+ images, it’s easy to forget what initially caught your eye.
Create a List of Questions
One of the main reasons why you want to work with a trusted cabinet professional is probably because you have many questions about the process- how long it will take and what cabinet and countertop brands will best fit your style and lifestyle? Creating a list of questions to go over with the designer before the consultation will ensure that you will hit on all of the topics you want to cover. Without a list of inquiries in front of you, it’s extremely easy for something to slip to the back of your mind and you ultimately forget to ask about it.
Write a Wish List
Although you have created a scrapbook of design inspiration, creating a wish list of must have items will help your design expert ensure that none of these items are missed when creating your kitchen design plan. Your wish list should include specific items you want to add or change about your existing kitchen. If there is anything about your current kitchen that you don’t want to change, be sure to include that in your wish list as well. The design expert you are working with will appreciate that you have everything written down!
Figure Out Your Budget
When coming up with your budget, it’s best to be honest and realistic with yourself. That way, when you meet with your design professional, he or she will not show you any ideas that you may love but are over your budget. Having a realistic budget will help you and the designer prioritize what renovations must be completed and what you can do without.
Bring Any Material Samples You Have
If you plan on keeping your wall color, flooring, backsplash, or anything else in your kitchen the same, it’s important that you have samples of everything to make sure the new items you pick out all coordinate. With these samples, your designer will be able to suggest the cabinetry and/or countertops that accommodate the current atmosphere of your space.
Schedule a Free Kitchen Design Consultation
Cabinets Direct USA offers free kitchen design consultations to homeowners in and around New Jersey. During your free kitchen design appointment, we will learn your likes, dislikes, must-haves, kitchen measurements, and budget to ensure that we create the kitchen design of your dreams. For more information, be sure to contact us or visit one of our New Jersey showrooms in Paramus, Wayne, Livingston, Toms River, or West Long Branch.