Kitchen Appliance & Countertop Trends, Etc.




Kitchen Designs & Bath Designs for Kitchen Remodeling

Residential Kitchen Designer Bay Area

Kitchen Design Ideas - Kitchen Designs

Services & Fees

Kitchen Remodeling Steps

Kitchen Appliance & Countertop Trends, Etc.

Planning Resources - Kitchen & Bath Remodeling

Kitchen Designs San Francisco Bay Area

Residential Kitchen Designer San Francisco

 

FAQS


  • What is a Certified Kitchen or Bath Designer?

  • What geographic area do you cover?

  • How long will it take?

  • What is your style?

  • How much will the project cost?

  • What are the latest kitchen trends

    What is a Certified Kitchen or Bath Designer?

     A Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD) or Certified Bath Designer (CBD) is a professional who is qualified by education and experience to research, design, plan and supervise the installation of residential kitchens. The certified kitchen or bath designer has had to prove knowledge, technical understanding and the ability to communicate ideas though a stringent examination process. This assures the client that the individual is a competent kitchen designer.

    What geographic area do you cover?

    Most of my work is in San Francisco, the near East Bay, and the Peninsula through San Carlos. I occasionally work with clients who are farther away. I usually do the first one or two meetings face to face and often a final meeting to review detailed cabinet fittings and samples of finishes. Other communication can be done with phone, fax and email.

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    How long will it take?

    A straightforward design takes about two months. If an engineer or architect is required, it will take longer. Once the design is nearly complete, we will need to select a contractor if you haven't previously selected one. Cabinets will then need to be ordered, which can typically take anywhere from 6 to 10 weeks. Often you will wait longer for your contractor to be available. Once your project is started, it will take at least 2 months and possibly 5 months to complete.

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    What is your style?

    I work with your style and the style of your home. That said, I lean toward a craftsman style with natural materials and understated moldings where form follows function.

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    How much will the project cost?

    A good way to find out is to ask both design professionals and contractors what their average costs are running for similar projects. You should plan on having a minimum of $60,000 for your kitchen or $25,000 for your bath if you want to find a quality contractor to handle your project. The average kitchen in the Bay Area was around $65 -$70,000 in 2001. If you anticipate relocating windows or walls, you should assume the cost will be higher. I sometimes encourage people with limited budgets to consider getting certain phases of the project done by directly contracting with specialists whose phase of work can be done before or after the main project (such as electricians for service upgrades, painters or flooring people).

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    What are the latest kitchen trends?

    Cabinets: Wood cabinets remain the most popular, with special attention to the types of finishes and door styles. Glazes are popular. Oak is not as popular as it once was. Maple is used in over 40% of remodels. A recent trend is to make cabinets look more like furniture.

    Countertops: Natural stone is the #1 most popular countertop material. Most popular is granite. Limestone is also popular. Mixed materials are being done more and more, with stone on some counters, butcher block or concrete on others. There is a trend toward unusual treatments such as honing or etching granite, or staining concrete.

    Appliances: Commercial ranges are popular, as are built in refrigerators and European dishwashers. Warming drawers and convection microwave ovens that can be used as a second oven are also popular and practical.

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