3 Simple Steps to a New Kitchen!
When you spend time in your kitchen, does it function the way you need it to? Are there things that come up over and over again that drive you a little batty?
Have you decided that you want to renovate your kitchen, but you don’t know where to start? Our process is super simple – 3 simple steps, all in the comfort of your own home. No need to spend your free time going to multiple suppliers, trying to ensure all the pieces work together.
1 The first step is booking an initial consultation at your home with all the deciding members of the household.
I help you by asking you the questions about your space that you may not think of yourself. I will work with you to determine exactly what you need in your beautiful new kitchen. I will make sure it functions just the way you need, so you can easily do all of the things you love.
2 The second step is a site visit in your home. I’ll bring along one of our trusted contractors and one of our amazing CAD technicians.
At this appointment we take precise measurements of your space, and I will go over more specifics about style to ensure we are all on the same page.
3 The third step is the presentation appointment. This is where I present your plans, all the selections and all of the costs involved.
You will get to see all of the design samples in your home, allowing you to visualize how the space will flow with the other areas of your home. Deposits are collected for the contractor (to secure a start date) as well as for the materials (allowing us to order everything for you and have it delivered on the first day of construction).
Here is a case study showing our steps in action!
My clients came to me with a dilemma. They love to entertain, but their kitchen’s layout wasn’t great for large gatherings. They also needed more storage for large items.
During the first consultation, we determined that the peninsula had to go. They also wanted to make better use of the bar area in the dining room, and to increase the lighting considerably. They wanted a craftsman feel, which was in keeping with the rest of their home and their dining room furniture.
The result is a much more open kitchen that is better suited for a crowd, big or small. By extending the cabinets to the ceiling, I eliminated the gap at the top that collects dust, and provided much needed storage for items that aren’t used very often. We were able to add a broom closet to the right of the fridge, keeping the broom and cleaning supplies close at hand. Under cabinet lighting and pot lights were added to provide great task lighting.
During the initial in-home consultation, I noticed that there was a small sofa in the dining room. I asked if it was used, and the answer was a resounding yes. Apparently their little dog would often sit there to watch the squirrels through the patio door. So cute! It also provided a spot for a teenager to hang out and chat with someone in the kitchen.
With that in mind, I knew that I needed to find a way to incorporate a bench. The solution was a custom buffet cabinet and bench combo. The roll out drawers in the cabinet are for extra dishes, and the granite top provides a great spot for crock pots during big events – I made sure to include a plug up there to plug it in. The bench is built right in, and the drawer beneath it provides a spot for dog food, toys, treats and leashes. There’s a place for everything!
The bar is my favourite part of this transformation (I’m not sure what that says about me?). The addition of the wine fridge and the cabinet with glass shelves and lighting, I made the bar into the star of the kitchen. It’s the perfect spot for an evening cocktail.
Here is what the client had to say about our process:
We had our kitchen and two bathrooms renovated, which could have been a very exhausting and stressful experience. Natalie got to know us and our taste, then guided us step by step through the process. Natalie visited the site frequently and communicated with us via email/text and telephone with updates. Natalie was always a professional and easy to work with, displaying flexibility, knowledge and understanding of our needs. We are very happy with our kitchen and bathrooms makeovers and would recommend her in a heartbeat.