So difficult trying to get a kitchen planned

brucefan1962

Has anybody got some advice for me, regarding kitchen planning. I've had 5 plans from various companies, none of which seem to have used any imagination but just gone with what I had already drawn out, which was far from perfect!

I've waited a long time and spent a lot of money to be able to get a decent kitchen and just don't want to make any mistakes in the planning that I'll have to live with for the next ten years or so!

Are there such things as independent kitchen planners? The ones I've used have mostly been from major chains, and one of the plans was so bad i thought it was for a completely different room to mine. When I went back to the showroom they wouldn't let anybody else design one for me as i was now *****'s customer! Should I just plan it myself? or go with the best of a bad bunch? Any help would be much appreciated

CKdesigner

Hi

Yes its a bit 'hit & miss' going to the multiples as to whether you see a proper kitchen designer with some imagination or just a salesperson that knows how to operate a CAD system.

There are such people as independent kitchen designers, just do a google search with that term and you will find several. I know Majjie is a contributor to this forum and has her own website as an independent designer. Obviously you will have to pay for their service and expertise, much the same way as you would pay for an architect. These fees I believe go from £250 upwards, I actually know a company that charges £2,000 for this! Others charge a small retainer then you pay them a percentage of the overall job.

In fact the other half and I fairly recently decided to change the way we operate our business and have separated out the design side of the business to the supply and installation side. This way we feel the customer gets a better service and saves a lot of time and research.

Good luck

CK

KateLiana27

Go with a local independent fitter rather than the big chains. We did and couldn't have made a better choice. Not only was he a great designer, he managed the whole process meticulously to make sure the design he drew was actually how it turned out. Maybe start by asking around friends/colleagues to see if they can recommend anyone local to you?

Also, don't take your own design in! Just make a list of what you want to fit in and then they'll have free reign to design from scratch. They may be worried you'll be offended if they completely scrap your design and start again.

brucefan1962

Thank you for your help.

I'm reluctant to pay for a design, as I feel that should be part of the kitchen cost, so I think I'll have a go myself and perhaps put my plan on here for some opinions!:)

Meepster

If you aren't in too much of a rush, I could take a look at it for you.

I have a couple of other MSE'ers who I'm waiting to do designs for, but after they are done I could give you a hand.

pinkteapot

Try getting some others round and don't show them your drawings, and be as vague as you can about your own ideas. If you're looking for imagination and fresh ideas, let them see the room as a blank slate and they might come up with some things you hadn't thought of...

We recently had a fitted bedroom done and I had clear ideas about what I wanted. The designers pretty much just did what I said, with a few minor suggestions.

brucefan1962

Pinkteapot - thanks, I've just booked one to come round next week - will be vague and see if that works!

Meepster - that's very kind of you, I'd love you to take a look. - how do I get the measurements to you - a PM or post within this thread?

Meepster

Post them in this thread

brucefan1962

I'm having trouble inserting images into this thread.

I'll have another go when I get a reply in teh other thread I've started, asking how to do it!:)

brucefan1962

OK here goes:

http://s1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc425/cblake1962/

I couldn't upload the images, so the above is a link to them.

There are a couple of things to note,

1. The sink has to stay in that area for plumbing reasons

2. I'm having separate fridge and freezer, each 60cm.

Hope you can make sense of this,

Thanks,:)

googler

OP, what do you actually WANT from your new kitchen?

Once you present the designer with a blank room and a list of REQUIREMENTS, then they can design.

You've presented them with a solution, not a requirement.

Requirements can be expressed as

More drawer space
More cupboard space
More worktop
Oven at eye level
Sink at window

etc etc


The Photobucket album is a private one, and needs a password to view it.