Whether you are thinking to hire an interior designer or a kitchen designer for a kitchen renovation or a new modern kitchen design, it can be the case that you are not sure if their services are worth the price. All and all, you can plan your own kitchen and if something comes up, you can always google or youtube it. Do you really need to hire a kitchen designer?
While you can totally DIY your kitchen remodel project, there are many benefits that will make you think twice before skipping using the kitchen design services. Of course, the choice is up to you: you are the one who should budget for any expenses related to the project, including hiring a kitchen designer.
#1. You will know precisely what the project will look like before starting the remodel
Let’s admit: what we mean or say can be very different from what your spouse or a contractor imagines. Having a clear visual representation of what you actually want can be of great benefit when it comes to effective communication and it removes all the guesswork from any side.
You can make as many changes in the design as you want without financial consequences, like change orders during construction. This is a Big one: it will guarantee that what you see on the image is exactly what you are happy with, and you can show it to anyone, including the contractor.
#2. She or he will help you synchronize the expectations with the budget
We are all guilty of this: we create Pinterest boards and pin the most beautiful kitchen images there. I get it. It’s fun. However, those materials might not be possible, or even wise to choose, in your case. Kitchen designers have already done other projects, and they can sense at the first sight if a certain look is achievable with your budget or not. They will save you from heartbreak in the end by offering you beautiful but less costly alternatives.
#3. He or she will offer you options that might work best in your specific case
While planning your kitchen project reading N amount of blogs and watching videos on youtube is a lot of fun, but you might still miss some of the functionalities or aesthetic opportunities. Seeing design improvement opportunities is a skill that designers acquire through years of practice, lifelong learning, and thinking about the projects they’ve done or seen.
This is especially important if you are limited with space and every centimeter matters. Hiring a kitchen designer might be a wise decision in order to put every centimeter of your space to the best use possible.
#4. You will be able to order the right amount of materials
Having a plan and a detailed set of drawings is priceless when it comes to ordering the right amount of materials for your kitchen remodel or design project. You might think you know exactly what you need, but trust me, you are going to make more than one trip to the stores. Having a detailed plan and list of materials and quantities will surely reduce the number of trips to the material warehouse or store.
Having the list of materials and the right amounts to be ordered will ensure that you will not have to grant a huge buffer of contingency to the contractor.
#5. Having a prepared plan is like insurance for peace of mind
Having a detailed plan of exactly what you would like to see as an end result is like having an insurance package against stress and anxiety due to the unknown: knowing that by working on this plan with a professional you eliminated as much of issues as possible. On top of that, you know that you are not missing some great functional or aesthetic opportunities.
Conclusion
Hiring a kitchen designer for a kitchen remodel or design project might be a costly item in your budget, but it is very much worth it. This is especially true if you are planning a complete remodel or a new design of your kitchen. Not only he or she will help you plan the space in the best possible way and offer you smart and beautiful opportunities, but also he or she will save you money that will definitely be spent on changing orders or trips to the material stores.
Needless to mention the stress and anxiety that is eliminated from your experience by simply having a detailed project plan which you can show to everyone, including the contractors.
FAQ
Can I design my own kitchen?
While you can definitely design your own kitchen, there are a few considerations
Firstly, the software that you might want to use has a learning curve, and you must be willing to invest time to be able to model the project there. Secondly, even if you master the software, you might still miss some of the aesthetic and functional opportunities.
While planning your kitchen project might sound like a lot of fun, you might be better off having a professional adviser. Seeing design improvement opportunities is a skill that designers acquire through years of practice, lifelong learning, and thinking about the projects they’ve done or seen.
This is especially important if you are limited with space and every centimeter matters. Hiring a kitchen designer might be a wise decision in order to put every centimeter of your space to the best use possible.
How many hours does it take to design a kitchen?
There are few considerations, but on average it takes around 30-35 hours to design a kitchen. The amount of time might vary depending on the size of the kitchen, and whether or not an existing situation must be modeled precisely. Designing a completely new kitchen takes less time than planning to remodel an existing one and having to coordinate existing and new features.
What do kitchen designers do?
The kitchen designer will interview you and make sure they understand your pains and desires. You will have to describe what works in your existing kitchen and what is a real pain for you to deal with. Kitchen designer will show you reference images to understand your aesthetic preferences.
In the case of using online kitchen design services, you will have to provide precise measurements of the existing situation. If you are working with a local designer, they might come to your house to take the measurements. Online services are much cheaper, but you have to DIY a lot of things during the process.
After having a clear idea of your desires and an existing situation, the designers will create a new layout and model it in 3d. They might give you several layout options, or they might choose the one that works best according to them and save you from mental hesitation caused by multiple options.
Kitchen designers apply materials and lights in 3d. It might take several revisions to agree on the final result, and it’s OK. The point of hiring a kitchen designer is to make all changes virtually without huge financial consequences.
Once the final 3d model is approved, you will get realistic renderings, a detailed layout, and elevations with dimensions. The prices differ per package of services. Packages that provide cabinet and material lists and quantities to purchase from a supplier, might cost more than packages that only include layout, elevations, and renderings.
What it would cost to hire a kitchen designer?
The price varies wildly depending on several factors: the service package you choose, how well-established the designer is, and the geographic area. If you choose an online design package, it will cost you less compared to a full design service where the designer is responsible to source all the materials and items, and checking the quality on site.
Online design services can vary depending on the scope of work: you can have a layout plan for as low as 60USD from a designer on Fiverr and you will have to pay up to 600USD if you need layout plans + photorealistic renderings of a kitchen.
The size of the kitchen matters. A large kitchen design will cost you more compared to a smaller one.
