Sometimes a client calls for one thing and we end up going in a whole new direction
That was the case with this particular project. The client wanted to add some kind of permanent storage on a wall where she had a rolling cart. Her kitchen is on the small side but it is also an eat-in kitchen that does double duty as a dining room, art room, and all-around storage area. She is a busy lady with a lot going on in her beautiful bungalow.
As soon as I entered I wanted to adjust the layout, it did not seem functional to me, but I wanted to know how she felt working in her kitchen because as my momma used to say “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Now, I live by those words, but I also know that “you don’t know what you don’t know.” Sometimes you have lived with something so long you don’t realize there is a better way.
Now that I have totally confused you, I’ll just say that doing any remodel is a process and requires sitting down and listening first, getting feedback and giving feedback, deciding on what is essential and knowing where to spend your money.
Let me walk you through the process in this case to demonstrate the point.
- I did my initial visit and we talked about the pros and cons between a store-bought solution and built-in cabinet.
- We talked about her storage needs and if one or two cabinets would be sufficient
- We talked about the layout and if it worked, and I offered options
- I suggested I give her a cost breakdown of adding the one run of cabinets against remodeling the entire kitchen, which would really fix her storage issue, rather than putting a band-aid on the problem
- After putting together her options, including changing the layout, she decided to change all the cabinetry in the kitchen, but keep the existing layout
- We moved forward with new kitchen cabinets and new countertops but we did not change the layout as that would push the budget up too much and her real concern was storage
And this is what I mean when I say “process.” If your designer is not digging in, listening to your concerns, giving you sound advice and walking you through the process at your speed, then they are not really doing their job. Any remodel is a big deal but kitchens are especially daunting because they are the heart of the home and used every day, so it’s important to get it right and make sure it’s done in a timely manner.
Here is the before:
And here is the after:
Added built-in storage on the right side as planned, also added a full pantry next to the refrigerator and bigger, better cabinets along the sink wall so although we did not change the layout, we added a ton more storage. New granite countertops and backsplash were also added to the project. We are still waiting on our painter but I think you can see that this kitchen not only looks beautiful but functions better for the client
