Kitchen Design

MagicCats

Is there a good online kitchen planner that lets you input your dimensions and then shows possible configurations? The reason I ask is that I know I will need a new kitchen sooner rather than later, but can't afford it right now. I would however like an idea of what could be fitted so I can price it up.

I know the easiest thing would be to get a salesman out from Magnet or others, but I don't have the heart to do that to just use their design. Not to mention the will to live through a hard sell.......

norhdral

What exactly would you require in your kitchen? Now a days you get new and modern Vanity Countertops making your kitchen look attractive and clean.

Jaynne

There are lots of online kitchen planners available but you have to put your units in. I found the wren one to be pretty good in terms of range of units, ease of use and being a regular UK manufacturer the design is mostly transferable to any of the other main UK sheds etc.

MagicCats

Thanks. The problem isn't so much finding a planner per se, rather knowing what units work within given space etc.

Jaynne

I guess if you can't visualise it yourself with the help of the 3D planner you probably need to get someone in from a kitchen company to do it for you.

It might help to start thinking about what you don't like about your current kitchen. Is it the look, the layout, the type of units? The wrens planner at least gives you a good idea of what units fit and can be used in your space but at some point you are probably going to have to get a kitchen planner involved unless you are confident enough to DIY it.

CKdesigner

Hi

There really isn't any design software out there that can do what I believe you are asking for. Kitchen design software is excellent for showing you a realistic picture of your new kitchen but someone has to have the idea of what to do with the space in the first place. This is what a proper kitchen designer does.

I would suggest you either search online for 'an independent kitchen designer' who will design the space for you and charge you a fee for their time. Of visit a few local independent kitchen specialists, see what their displays are like, have an honest chat with them about what you are planning to do (that you are not ready to purchase but you want the space designed) and see what they would suggest. For example I would make a visit one evening after work, not measure up but would go through some ideas and give a rough idea of how much budget I think would be needed for the job, this I would do locally free of charge. Alternatively we could measure up properly, work with the customer to create the ideal design, issue a set of 3D pictures, the full set of plans and the full list of components needed to create the design, for this service we charge a realistic fee in respect of the time taken.

I am sure others here though would have other ideas of what you could do.

CK

MagicCats

Jaynne wrote: »

I guess if you can't visualise it yourself with the help of the 3D planner you probably need to get someone in from a kitchen company to do it for you.

It might help to start thinking about what you don't like about your current kitchen. Is it the look, the layout, the type of units? The wrens planner at least gives you a good idea of what units fit and can be used in your space but at some point you are probably going to have to get a kitchen planner involved unless you are confident enough to DIY it.

I can visualise it, my problem comes from not knowing what units work together and where filler panels can be used. I guess that's where the designer comes in.

CKdesigner wrote: »

Hi

There really isn't any design software out there that can do what I believe you are asking for. Kitchen design software is excellent for showing you a realistic picture of your new kitchen but someone has to have the idea of what to do with the space in the first place. This is what a proper kitchen designer does.

I would suggest you either search online for 'an independent kitchen designer' who will design the space for you and charge you a fee for their time. Of visit a few local independent kitchen specialists, see what their displays are like, have an honest chat with them about what you are planning to do (that you are not ready to purchase but you want the space designed) and see what they would suggest. For example I would make a visit one evening after work, not measure up but would go through some ideas and give a rough idea of how much budget I think would be needed for the job, this I would do locally free of charge. Alternatively we could measure up properly, work with the customer to create the ideal design, issue a set of 3D pictures, the full set of plans and the full list of components needed to create the design, for this service we charge a realistic fee in respect of the time taken.

I am sure others here though would have other ideas of what you could do.

CK

Some good suggestions there, thanks! We have a few independents around locally so they'd be a good starting point.

cddc

Why are you looking for a design if you are not looking to buy?

Most places do not charge a fee for a home visit and a design consultation, but at the end of the day they want to sell you something..... that is after all what they are paid for not for having a chat with you and passing on design tips, even CK......

Unless you go for a sell it on the night type operation, of which there are still plenty, but less than they used to be, you will not have to suffer arm twisting sales tactics though.

What you are asking for, is someone to do something for you for nothing in return, so at least have the decency to listen to his attempt to sell it to you, (trust me, most of us will not be sorely offended if you dont buy, me included).

Kitchen designers/salespeople are, unless they are comission only bloodhounds, realists at the end of the day, they know that many people only want you to come up with a design and a costing of it in the first instance. I have customers who come back to me more than a year after I originally did them a plan. Most designers with the multiples operate in this way.

They hope that you will come back to them if they win your trust and that you love their design. We all know there is competition out there. We are not all timeshare sales type sharks either.


Alternatively do the honest thing as CK suggests, and get an independent designer, not a salesman, to work with you and pay him the relatively small fee that he demands for his time and knowledge.

MagicCats

cddc wrote: »

Why are you looking for a design if you are not looking to buy?

Most places do not charge a fee for a home visit and a design consultation, but at the end of the day they want to sell you something..... that is after all what they are paid for not for having a chat with you and passing on design tips, even CK......

Unless you go for a sell it on the night type operation, of which there are still plenty, but less than they used to be, you will not have to suffer arm twisting sales tactics though.

What you are asking for, is someone to do something for you for nothing in return, so at least have the decency to listen to his attempt to sell it to you, (trust me, most of us will not be sorely offended if you dont buy, me included).

Kitchen designers/salespeople are, unless they are comission only bloodhounds, realists at the end of the day, they know that many people only want you to come up with a design and a costing of it in the first instance. I have customers who come back to me more than a year after I originally did them a plan. Most designers with the multiples operate in this way.

They hope that you will come back to them if they win your trust and that you love their design. We all know there is competition out there. We are not all timeshare sales type sharks either.


Alternatively do the honest thing as CK suggests, and get an independent designer, not a salesman, to work with you and pay him the relatively small fee that he demands for his time and knowledge.

Do the honest thing?

Jesus....... Please read my opening post. I specifically stated I wouldn't be hood winking anyone into giving me a free design as I do not have the heart to waste people's time, hence my search for an online tool / guide. It was then suggested I approach and pay a designer, which if you read my last post I'm going to give some thought to.

To answer why I'm looking for a design, but not yet buying, I simply want to know a good approx cost. This will allow me to prioritise what gets done next in the house, and how I finance the kitchen.

That's surely in the spirit of MSE is it not?

I wish I'd never asked now

cddc

Well if you had at least posted a plan of the room including doors windows and obstructions, suggested what you wanted in it and given us some clues, you might of got some help in at least formulating some ideas. Myself and others often chip in with our opinions. There are plenty of other threads on here along those lines. You gave nobody anything to go on and suggested that all kitchen designers/salespeople would put the thumbscrews on you.
Seriously, we are not all like that.

Your best bet initially is to go and have it planned by someone or have a go with the online planners from Wren, Ikea or others and post the results on here. If you have no idea what you want it is hard to give you any help at all. Your original post got the response it deserved.

MagicCats

cddc wrote: »

Well if you had at least posted a plan of the room including doors windows and obstructions, suggested what you wanted in it and given us some clues, you might of got some help in at least formulating some ideas. Myself and others often chip in with our opinions. There are plenty of other threads on here along those lines. You gave nobody anything to go on and suggested that all kitchen designers/salespeople would put the thumbscrews on you.
Seriously, we are not all like that.

Your best bet initially is to go and have it planned by someone or have a go with the online planners from Wren, Ikea or others and post the results on here. If you have no idea what you want it is hard to give you any help at all. Your original post got the response it deserved.

No, the problem here is that I asked a genuine question, seeking a genuine answer. You saw the chance to jump on your high horse and did so.

Had someone suggested what you have (post up a room plan and they'd help) I would have done so. I wanted, in the first instance to do as much as I could myself before asking for help. After all, it would be better to come here with some sort of design, built on a universal planner using a unit range I understood, then ask for help. I didn't know where to look so couldn't do that.

As for labelling the designers of the industry as 'hard sellers' I was specifically referring to the large chains which if going on past experience, and the threads on this forum, does appear to be the M.O.

As for my post getting the response it deserved, well that's your opinion.

Your post is getting the response I think it deserves. I sincerely hope you don't have this sort of attitude when dealing with customers........Taking things out of context and manipulating statements to have a dig at someone.

Pathetic.