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News Flash!
News Flash!
The night before my friend/client called me in a panic. She's building a big beautiful new house in prestigious Clark Summit, PA. Her contractor told her he needed her design choices for her new kitchen and he needs them ASAP. She thought this would be an easy fun project to design herself, but when she started going to kitchen centers she was disappointed in the choices on display. When she went to the internet she was overwhelmed, confused, and flooded with a continuing sea of choices and products.
...How do I know what's best? I thought I knew what I wanted, but now I'm confused. How do I figure out what this is all going to costs? How do I choose ? Where do I start?...These were all panicked questions pouring out of her. In her distraught, panicked state how could I do anything but offer my help? As a friend I think she felt uncomfortable asking me for my professional help, but I reassured her she's not the only one who feels overwhelmed by all the options out there, that's why there are professionals to help you make sense of it all.
Over the course of the next few months I thought it might be fun for readers to follow along in this kitchen adventure. In my friends case, she is building a new home and the exterior of the house is all ready completed and the interior studded, the electrical and plumbing work are done, the dry wall is going up and the contractor is ready for the next phase. Now you can she why my friend is in a state of panic because normally by now not only would you have these things picked out, they'd also be ordered and on their way.
What is your particular taste?
This will reflect the architectural style of your home, whether it's Contemporary, Colonial, Spanish, etc.
How much you want to spend?
Why am I planning to invest in a new kitchen? Is this new kitchen to represent an investment in the home I plan to stay in for a while or am I just looking to make it better for resale?
If I'm building a new home, how much of the budget should I spend on the kitchen? Is the price included in the total cost of the construction? How much flexibility do I have with the kitchen's design, layout and material choices?
How much do my favorite kitchen products and materials cost?
Does the cost of my dream kitchen exceed my realistic budget?
If so what less expensive products could I substitute if I need to lower my costs?
How much do I want to budget for the cabinets, which typically account for almost half the budget for a new kitchen?
Do I plan on doing any of the work myself?
Should I hire a designer?
What shape, style and size do you want your kitchen to be?
This is usually determined by your cooking style, how many chefs you have in your household, and traffic patterns.
