claudia pakes 8/29/22 claudia pakes 8/29/22

5 Things to Do Before Starting A Kitchen Design Project

When deciding to update your kitchen there are 5 things you should keep in mind before you embark on this journey.

So it’s time to update your kitchen. Where to start?….When deciding to update your kitchen there are 5 things you should keep in mind before you embark on this journey.

A good kitchen designer should be able to work with you to create the design that will both fit your desires and needs and that squares with your budget. Therefore, an experienced kitchen professional will be key! Here we’ll discuss 5 important things you need to determine prior to contacting your kitchen expert.

1. How much are you willing to spend?

Be honest with your designer about how much you feel comfortable spending on your kitchen design renovation. This helps your designer have a clear direction on what to recommend for your project as far as material and appliance selections go. Now, of course, you may have no clue on how much things cost these days so be open minded as your designer pro elaborates on the current cost of labor, materials and goods. This is a very important conversation to have at the very beginning to ensure a proper design is created that respects your investment level.

At CPDS we spend a considerable amount of time during our on-boarding phase to ensure we understand the scope of your project and then take the time to create a realistic investment proposal for you to approve. Then, and only then can we begin designing your perfect kitchen.

Download our Good, Better, Best kitchen budget samples list to get an idea.

2. How much time and stress are you willing to take on?

Know that kitchen renovations can take anywhere from weeks to a couple of months. Consider what your personal daily demands are and can you add a construction project to that workload?

You may realize that you are so busy with work, life and family that it would be a nightmare for you to be the point of contact for every decision and detail. Or you may decide that now is the time when you have lots of free time in your schedule and are finally ready to take on a kitchen remodel. Or you may be somewhere in between, with a semi busy schedule, but can make the time to be involved in the renovation process. Which ever of those scenarios you fit into, there’s a level of service available to you to help you as much or as little as you need.

FULL SERVICE DESIGN: Most interior designers who specialize in kitchens will offer what we call Full-Service design. This is the most comprehensive level of service to ensure that your design project is as stress free as possible, for you.

The designer takes on all the stress away by providing the design concept, layout, elevations, all material specifications and product/appliance selections. She will handle procurement of all finishes that she has specified and handle them until ready to be installed. She may even recommend a contractor if you don’t already have one. Then together with the contractor, the designer will communicate and work together to ensure that the design is implemented accordingly during the construction phase. The designer oversees all phases of the construction and if problems arise (as they always do), the designer and contractor will figure out solutions together without the need to always involve the homeowners. Of course, if it’s a situation that involves your approval to do something totally unexpected or costly then the homeowners are brought in. But, for the most part, the entire project is handed over to the designer and contractors for them to execute and make all the magic happen on your behalf so you can go about your daily life with minimal disruptions and enjoy a beautifully finished space in the end.

DESIGN-ONLY: Another level of service that might be right for you is getting all the ideas, solutions and all the design specifications from the designer in what we refer to as the Design-Only. This means, you get have a professionally designed kitchen plan and then you’re off to the races on your own. You have more time on your schedule, so you decide to take a more hands on approach - you hire the contractor, show him your design plan, he bids it, you sign on and together, you and the contractor make it happen. This type of involvement on your part requires you to be present and/or available (a lot) to the construction team to answer questions and make decisions that arise out of unexpected circumstances. Together you and the contractor will find a solution. You’ll need to be aware of all the details involved in your design to ensure that the contractor and the subs implement the design as intended.

Read more information about our Full-Service process HERE and about our Design-Only process HERE.

3. What is your design style and preferences?

Now, it’s not absolutely necessary for you to know the exact style you envision for your new kitchen. After all, that’s what designers are for. However, it is necessary for you to know at least what you don’t like so your designer can make sure to cross that off the list. It is extremely helpful to provide a collection of inspiration images from any online source like Pinterest or any print publications.

Here are some things you can think about: Do you like shiny and glossy surfaces or matte? Light and neutral colors or bold contrast? Barstools with backs or without? Casual and kid friendly or dressy and elegant?

You get the point! This should be a fun exercise so don’t let it overwhelm you. At CPDS we have a fun way of helping our clients figure this out and it’s part of our Design Development phase. This ensures we’re all on the same page and that we will deliver a design that is right for you and also compliments the architecture of your house.

Design: Grayscale Design | Photo: Carina Skrobecki

4. How do you use your kitchen?

Think about how you want this space to function for you. Do you cook alone of do you have helpers? How often do you cook? Do you bake often and need a baking station? A coffee station? Is the primary cook very tall or short? You might need taller or lower countertops to accommodate for this. Will you be doing a lot of entertaining with family and friends? Is the kitchen the primary place where the kids hangout to do homework and school projects?

As you can see there are lots of questions that are unique to you and your family’s lifestyle. A well designed kitchen should meet all your needs and it’s worth spending time thinking about all this prior to starting your kitchen design.

5. Set up a temporary kitchen during the renovation.

You will need to prepare for the disruption that will be caused by your kitchen design project. But with the right planning it is possible to still have your household function smoothly. Think about where you’d like to set up a temporary kitchen in another area of the house. This might be in the dining room, if completely separate from them kitchen. Here you can set up a hot plate, small appliances like a blender, toaster oven, crock pot etc., lots of paper plates and disposable cutlery, a few basic spices and condiments, a coffee and tea station of course. Designate a bathroom sink (or tub) as your washing station for items like pans, blender, spoons etc. This is not a fun picture I know, but it’s very helpful to have a makeshift kitchen so you don’t feel like you have to go out for every single meal for the next 8 weeks. If you have an outdoor kitchen you might decide to schedule your kitchen renovation during the warmer months to make use of the outdoor kitchen as much as possible.

The more organized you are prior to “demo” day, the less frustrating it will be to live through a kitchen remodel. It will all be worth it in the end and you will be so glad you did it!

XX,

Claudia

claudia pakes 7/7/18 claudia pakes 7/7/18

Top 10 Things To Avoid When Updating Your Living Room

We've all been there. We see the sofa of our dreams, the color is perfect, the fabric is a so soft and it's on sale! We buy it. We bring it home. It wont fit through the door! Hubby takes off the door to give you an extra inch, you angle it and strategically maneuver it through, you position it exactly where you envisioned it - Oh, wait...it's too big!

Well, it's one thing to actually realize it's too big. Most people however don't see it, and they leave it, and continue buying furniture to complete the room that is too big, too small, the wrong shape etc.

Today I'm going to share with you my top 10 tips on what to avoid when furnishing your living room - but this can easily apply for any room in your house really.

Here we go!

1. OVER-SIZED FURNITURE

Ok, you guessed it. Avoid buying furniture that is simply too big for the space. Resist the urge to buy the complete living room set that has the matching sofa and loveseat plus the matching coffee table and two side tables. Really take the time to plan out your living room layout BEFORE you buy absolutely anything. By having a floorplan you'll have a road map of what pieces you need and how big they should be. You will save yourself lots of trouble and money if you take the time to do a little planning first. It is not hard. You can do it. Simply take some graph paper and draw your room to scale. 1 square = 1 foot. Remember to include any windows, doors, fireplace and built-ins. Take note of the dimensions of the furniture you are considering and draw them into your floorplan. You will be surprised at how many times you'll have to re-consider a piece simply because it is not the right scale. And, yes, measure the width of your doors to ensure your stuff will fit :)

If you're feeling ambitious check out this post from A Beautiful Mess that walks you through how to draw a floorplan AND the furniture so you can cut it out and play house!

2. SMALL RUG

When I was a Realtor I worked with more Buyers than Sellers. So I've seen my fair share of homes. I can't tell you how many times I walked into a living room where the rug was just the wrong size - usually too small!! DO NOT DO THIS!

Most of us living in average sized homes with average sized living rooms will need an 8' x 10' or a 9' x 12', period. Do not even consider the 5' x 7' let alone the 4' x 6'. Just don't do it! A rug so small that only the coffee table goes on it, just looks bad and really serves no purpose except to draw attention to the fact that it's the wrong size. Designers always say that "a rug anchors the space" but what does that mean you ask. In my opinion, a rug in a living room should define the conversation area. If the room is particularly big and the seating arrangement is floating in the middle of the room, then having a large rug where all the legs sit on the rug will be the best option. However, in a smaller room perhaps where you do have a sofa against the wall, then having only the front legs (of the furniture pieces) on the rug is just fine. Be sure to be consistent all the way around with whatever option you choose for your situation - either all legs on the rug or just front legs on the rug. Check out this handy diagram below as a guide!

Image Source: www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com

3. PICKING PAINT COLOR FIRST

We are all guilty of this. Even I have done this! We fall in love with a paint swatch, we put it up on the walls and then design a room around that paint color! Then we end up driving ourselves nuts hunting endlessly for the right pillows, accessories and curtains that will match perfectly with that paint color. Well, I learned many, many years ago that paint color is one of the very last things one should select. There are a million and one paint color choices out there, so choosing the right shade of blue for your space AFTER everything else has been selected will not be that difficult, I promise! If you're wondering here's my process in a nutshell: I like to begin by selecting the most prominent pieces - sofa, accent chairs and fabric colors and textures. I feel that that starts to give the room it's style and direction. Then based on that I will select a casegood, coffee table, end tables and lighting. Then I focus on artwork, rugs, window treatments and accessories, and lastly paint.

4. NOT ENOUGH LIGHTING

Lighting is so often overlooked. We simply think that since we have recessed lighting in the room already that no additional lighting is needed. Wrong! In my opinion, lighting in a room is like the jewelry that completes an outfit. Having a nice prominent light fixture can add so much elegance and drama to a room. Additional floor lamps and table lamps can also add the right amount of ambient lighting and romance in the evenings when trying to keep it moody and cozy. Best of all, lighting nowadays is so gorgeous! How can one resist not to use beautiful lighting to complete a room?! I like to keep recessed lights and chandelier on dimmer switches to control the brightness. And don't forget about candles and battery operated candles as a source of lighting too. Having battery operated candles in lanterns or wall sconces set on a timer throughout your house adds such a nice ambiance in the evenings, whether you have company or not. Enjoy those little details!

5. TOO TRENDY

Don't get too caught up in the trends! If not done right they can make your room look chintzy or like a furniture showroom. This beautiful and luxurious room is perfect for a Z Gallerie, marketing campaign but too trendy for anyone to implement in their home. Once this glam style goes out of style, then you'll have to replace everything!

A classic, timeless look, with some personal pieces, whether vintage family heirlooms or unique items from your travels, mixed with a few trendy touches is a much fresher approach. You will also end up saving money in the long run. Aim for making your key pieces - sofa, dining table, buffet, casegoods, even a rug - of good quality and classic in style. To add a trendy touch you can select smaller, less expensive pieces like an accent chair in a fun print, or a unique coffee table, an eye catching chandelier or even use an inexpensive rug that makes a statement. Your accessories should be a mixture of classic, personal pieces that tell a story about you, your family and your travels or interests, mixed with a few stylish pieces to keep your room (or entire house) looking updated and in vogue.

6. FURNITURE TOO FAR AWAY FROM EACH OTHER

This is one of my biggest pet peeves! Just because there are walls in a room it doesn't mean that you have to put all your furniture against them! This room below has many things wrong with. Let's not go there. Let's stick to avoiding placing furniture against the walls...

If you a *blessed* with a large room, use a rug to anchor the space and create a wonderfully intimate conversation area. Place a console table behind the sofa to act as your "wall" and define the space if the space needs it.

In a smaller space where furniture must be placed against the wall, be strategic in the placing or your sofa by selecting the right scale for the wall and the room. Avoid having the sofa and love seat combo in a small space, instead opt for the sofa and one or two accent chairs and even some fun stools/ottomans for extra seating without taking up too much valuable space.

7. ANGLING ALL SEATING TO TV

Ok, this one might actually be my biggest pet peeve! This clearly defines the room as a TV watching room. Instead go for the room that says, "this is a fun room for gathering, for conversing with friends, for playing board games, for curling up on the sofa on cold, chilly nights" you get the idea. Give your room a personality that is inviting and cozy, taking the focus away from the big elephant in the room - the TV. Oh, that brings up another point. The size of the TV...hmmm, this one is a little tricky for us ladies to win. The men seem to always want the biggest TV they can find. That's true in my case. My husband would not let that one go and having to deal with a 50" screen in the living room in no easy task. My advice on that is to make the room as pretty as possible, hopefully all the prettiness distracts from the black whole in the wall! Story of my life!

What I love about this room below is that even though there is a pretty large TV in the room, you still have a sofa facing the fireplace, taking away from the importance of TV watching and thus subconsciously giving importance to conversation and gathering. And see, all the prettiness makes you ignore the TV for a bit!

8. DRAPERY PLACEMENT

I know we've all been "taught" (by HGTV) to place the rod as high as it can go. But I don't always like this look. Sometimes it works and other times it doesn't! I almost always prefer to divide the space between the top of the window frame and the ceiling (or crown moulding) AND if space permits I like to extend the brackets several inches (about 10”) beyond the window frame, covering just a bit of the window frame. This allows light to still enter the room and gives the illusion that the window is much bigger.

Use this diagram to guide you:

9. ART TOO HIGH OR TOO SMALL

Well this one can be easy to mess up but also easy to fix. Surely you've heard that art should be placed at eye level. Well, eye level for me may not be eye level to you. Most often, I see art that has been placed way too high rather than too low. It's best to aim at placing the center of the artwork around 58-60" high. I also often see art that is just too small for the space. The image below shows art that is too high with a small, teeny tiny piece sitting up there all alone on a big wall with a big sofa... Avoid that please!

Take into consideration the size of the wall and the size of the object directly below it. For example, if you have a console table directly below the art piece, I like to keep the art work a few inches smaller than the width of the table. If you have a sofa directly below the artwork on a large wall with tall ceilings for example, then you can select an over sized art piece to make a statement. If your artwork is slightly smaller than you wish It was, a nice trick is to add sconces on either side of the art piece to visually fill in the space.

10. TOO MANY SMALL ACCESSORIES

Lots of small accessories of the same scale and height in a room look like dandruff sprinkled throughout. I love using varying scales and heights of accessories to create interest. A good trick is to place smaller accessories on books to give them the height they need next to a bigger object. Also try to stick to grouping of odd numbers, 3 or 5 objects together will look better than 2 or 4.

If you follow these simple simple rules you will look like a pro and will avoid making costly (and embarrassing) mistakes ;). But, most important of all, have fun when decorating your space. Always make it personal to you, your family and your lifestyle. That's what makes homes so unique and interesting!

XO,

5 Things to Do Before Starting A Kitchen Design Project

Claudia

Top 10 Things To Avoid When Updating Your Living Room

Claudia

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