Everything You Need To Know About Kitchens

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We have often heard  expressions like “the kitchen is the heart of the home “or “ the kitchen sells the home “, although this can not be discounted it does come close to the truth when certain details have been taken into account.

What we do know is that the kitchen is a crucial part of the home . It reflects how we live , who we are and it forms an integral part of our lives. A kitchen should be  aesthetically pleasing but also functional, stylish but not  that fashionable that it becomes prehistoric within a few years ( a note of caution : ‘’ for an idea ever to be fashionable is ominous since it must afterward be old fashioned – Gerge Santayana .” )

Those that ever have had a badly planned kitchen on the other hand , can fully apprehend  how serious a place of discomfort and inconvenience a kitchen can be , like a door opening the wrong way ,doors where there should be drawers or what was once a fashionable colour seems dowdy a few years later.

The primary function of our articles is to provide the reader with a resource to explore functional and inventive ways to creating there dream kitchen. We will show you how to get the kitchen to work for you, the way you cook and the way you live.

We will help you from start to finish , from the planning stage to the installation of your kitchen.

Renovating , remodeling or installing new kitchens is not child’s play. It will  most probably be the most expensive renovation or remodel you will ever undertake. So choose carefully.

Who is suitable  or qualified for the job ?

That would depend upon what type of work is been done. If you are planning a significant amount of structural changes then an architect would be your best choice , the architect would at some time in the future contact a specialised kitchen designer to complete a kitchen design according to the structural changes made between yourself and the architect..

If you are installing a new kitchen or replacing an existing one without structural changes then a qualified kitchen designer will suffice. A one week certificate in design and 3 years experience does not necessarily qualify one as a certified or qualified designer , remember this is your home  and your money. Most kitchen designers work for a specific kitchen manufacturing company and will look after there employers interest  .There primary task is to sell there product . Make sure you find a  designer that has your interests at heart . It is your right to ask how qualified the designer is after all ,it is your investment and money. Due to the cost of design software and a fact that  most clients would like to shop  around, kitchen company’s do not give out there designs  unless a substantial deposit is paid  to secure a purchase order. Normally at least  5-10 per cent of the quote which is non refundable if you choose to go with someone else. This is understandable as a lot of money has been invested in software , training and time spent consulting and designing the actual  kitchen .

Some kitchen manufactures will offer to do the plumbing and electrical work for stoves , taps and sinks.

Make sure that any changes made with plumbing and electrical work is done by a certified electrician or plumber and not the kitchen company unless they have a certified artisan in- house or subcontracting it out to a  suitably  qualified person or company.

Remodeling and building contractors :

A lot of building contractors also do kitchens , please make sure they have there own manufacturing plant and designers as most of the time this work is sub -contracted out and you could probably make a saving going directly to a kitchen designer.
If on the other hand there is a lot of structural work like breaking walls , plastering , electrical , tiling and plumbing then a good contractor would be a good idea as they would supervise the whole job alleviating you from that job and saving you the stress.  You can still specify to the contractor who you want to use for the kitchen design and or manufacture of your kitchen.

An independent qualified kitchen designer : 

Using an independent designer is sometimes the  way to go if your looking for “ Your Special Kitchen ‘ . These people work for you , design what you want and then you are able to shop around without any pressure . Many independents also provide a project management service and alleviate the stress from  what can be a very stress full time. However this does extra and if you find the right designer from a kitchen company it will  be a free service .Shop around and find a designer you can work with.

An  interior designer :

Using an interior designer is another way to go, these designers are specialists in there fields and would normally be consulted when a complete home needs to be decorated or redone. This is normally an expensive route ,however if you know or have an idea what you need or  you intend just replacing or installing a new kitchen , consult a kitchen design specialist.

A sensible budget:

The part where reality sets in.

It would be silly to go through all the excitement and effort just to find out later that the only thing you can afford is the stove.

Its great to dream  and dreams often become your reality but a sensible working budget will give  you a realistic perspective  and  determine a true reflection on what you can and cannot afford.

To get a proper budget you need to understand exactly what your options are.

You need to understand why certain companies are more expensive than others . What cabinet construction methods  are used and why it influences price . What makes some cabinets more expensive than others and the influence of accessories on price  . What are your options are in respect of internal accessories like pull out drawers and there influence on price.

It is imperative that you gain as much information as possible so that a calculable and informative decision  can be made.

You should do an assessment of your existing kitchen . Do an analysis of what works or does not work for you. What would you like to keep , what must be trashed. ( We will get into detail on how to approach  this.)

You need to do a lot of research like reading our articles , collecting photos and visiting kitchen companies that have showrooms. Ask a lot of questions, do not be afraid to question anything.

The Inconvenience Factor

Take into account that there will be a fair amount of noise , dust and strangers in your home .There is  a high probability  that your kitchen will not be in use for a period of time.

This upheaval could be a week or a few weeks depending upon the scale of the project and you will need to have a contingency plan available to eliminate some of the stress.

The advice would be to include where you will be eating during this time – eating out is never a bad idea but  does cost more. You could however dedicate a separate room for cooking,  crockery , cooking utensils, cleaning materials and obviously a place for the fridge. All the rest needs to packaged and stored somewhere.

You will need to talk to the whole family with the emphasis on the person doing most of the cooking. You and your family need to discuss what is involved and this should prepare the family enough to lessen the stress.

A hint  – let your family meet the persons who will working on your premises before the time ( this will help prevent any strangers from entering your home.

Counter Tops

A kitchen work surface needs to be tough and resilient, yet appealing to the eye. It makes a personal statement about the owner.

Black Pearl Kitchens are proud installers of the following counter tops.

Granite Tops

Engineered Stone Tops

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