“Spacious” and “eclectic” are the bywords in today’s contemporary kitchen updates.

The heart of the home has been elevated to a showplace of artistic merit as customised cabinetry, granite galore and a rich mix of woods and finishes transport the imagination into flights of fancy. Trendy updates range from the rustic to the sleek realms of high-tech design. Starring features range from stylised LED lighting, to black granite composite sinks, self-closing drawers, and faux finishes for walls and ceilings. And as to the price tag on such home-enhancing ventures?
Kitchens are like cars. It’s what you want that determines the cost … the sky’s the limit.

So how can you get your kitchen designer to find meaning in your musings? Here’s a 8-step plan that will help you get the most out of the designer-client partnership, turning your time, money, and ideas into the kitchen you’ve always wanted.

Leave time for the planning
A kitchen is the sum of many parts, not just cabinets and a faucet. Decisions must be made about layout, proportion, storage, and myriad other things. Give yourself at least six weeks just to brainstorm, discuss, plan, refine, and — just as important — compromise. You should know going in, that the design process requires numerous meetings — there’s a lot to discuss.

Start off thinking big
Details are important in any kitchen, but designers like to start with the big picture — how you use your kitchen — and let details emerge. Even if your budget will inevitably call for compromises (join the club), get your wish list on the table. It helps to think about what you don’t want, too. Make a list of things that bother you about your current kitchen — the mail piled up on the counter, the stockpot you can never reach. Designers say these negative lists are just as helpful at driving the details as having an extensive wish list.

Set the scene
To pull your dream kitchen into focus, designers recommend thinking in terms of activities. Some people envision rolling out pies with their kids; others see a big informal dinner party with guests in the kitchen. Those images could mean the difference between a low marble baking counter and a raised island bar.

Know what you need — and don’t need
There are dreams . . . and there are needs. Just as important as defining your dream is setting a bottom line — things you’d really rather not live without. But you also should know where to set the cutoff. Designers have encyclopedic knowledge of fixtures and materials, and you can get drawn in as they introduce you to the latest gadgets. Be clear about what’s an unnecessary extravagance. Some people find a 1,000 euro warming drawer very useful, others end up storing paper cups in it.

Think structure, not just finishes
Kitchen designers know about more than countertops. They are trained to know how to work with flow and traffic patterns and room proportions. They might be able to make you see a space in a whole new configuration by moving doors or walls, so you need to be open to rethinking your layout. What often keeps people from thinking about structural changes is budget concerns. But when a kitchen is already completely torn out, sometimes the added cost of moving a door or window is minimal. A kitchen designer can help you figure out the most efficient and least costly way to make footprint changes within the scope of the work you’re already planning to do — and might even save you money if a new configuration means fewer custom cabinets and odd-size appliances.

Be smart about scrapbooks
Most designers recommend clients clip photos of kitchens they like. But there’s a right way and a wrong way to do it. Collect pictures showing a range of preferences. One might have your favourite sink/island combination, even if you hate the cabinets; another could have the cabinets you’ve always wanted, but a refrigerator you don’t like. Collect photos with an eye to details like lighting, backsplashes, and hardware.
Spend money to save money
There may be times when a homeowner feels he or she has overwhelmed the designer with info. But that’s actually good — the more the designer has to go on, the better.
Which is why, if there are any parts of the design that aren’t working, speak up now — and avoid correcting a mistake down the line. It’s worth going back to the drawing board until it’s all perfect, even if it means more money in design fees. You have to feel one hundred percent well and good about every decision. If you have any hesitation, ask the designer to change it, get a variation. It might cost a couple hundred euros, but it’s worth it.

Kitchen Designers on the Costa del Sol

U.K. FITTED FURNITURE CO.
Centro Comercial Cristamar, Puerto Banus
952 818 540 or 639 865 779
www.modernhomes.co.uk

QUARTET HOME
Benalmadena-Torremolinos
Marbella-Elveria
Mijas Costa-Fuengirola
www.quartethome.com

COCINA INVITA LA CALA
Boulevar de la cala 17B, La Cala de Mijas
952 587 684
www.invita.com/lacala

NORDIC MUEBLES
ALGARROBO COSTA. Avda. de Andalucía. Torre Atalaya 2, local 8
Tel: 952 511 648
FUENGIROLA. Calle José Cubero Yiyo 3 (near the feria ground)
Tel: 951 260 360
www.nordicmuebles.com

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