The Do-It-Yourself Kitchen Planner

Not everyone wants a designer to help them plan a space. Many people depend on their contractor to plan a kitchen layout. It's been done for years, and some contractor's have become very good at it. Mostly though, what ends up happening is a push to get the client going, after all, time is money, and I repeatedly hear comments about how they wished this or that, was different. Kitchen planning analyzes the space based on function, traffic flow, clearances for door openings, space needs for particular appliances, lighting and aesthetics. I have seen many "napkin plans" that entire kitchens were built around. It's a matter of value and priority.

In interviewing cabinetmakers always review project examples of their work and make a critical review of certain elements:

Craftsmanship
A broad term, but here are some pointers:
First, check the cabinet doors to make sure that they hang straight across the top and bottom of the cabinet. If doors are not level across the tops and bottoms, this indicates a lack of experience. Also check the distance between the doors and the frames if the doors are inset. Acceptable tolerances are no more than 1/8". I've seen doors with as much as 1/2" between them. This is a big red flag!

Next, check the joinery. Understand that joinery directly relates to budget. Someone spending $200-400 per linear foot isn't likely to have dovetail joined drawers. You will probably be looking at nailed end drawers and doors. Which brings up a good point - review kitchens in the budget you want to spend.

You'll also want to look at the mouldings and trimwork - do the mouldings show signs of lazy installation - splits around nails, cracks and crevices at intersecting mouldings? Do the kitchen cabinets have a large number of filler pieces in between cabinet joints? This indicates improper fitting.

And finally, look at the finish. Finishing cabinets is as much an art as building them. Is the finish smooth, even and free from brush hairs or bubbles in the coating?

Work Ethic
Next, you'll want to match your contract to the work ethic you expect. Be upfront with your contractor and let him or her know what you expect. If working late or weekends doesn't fit in with your family life, let them know. Realize though, that not all work goes on in your home. Most cabinetmakers will build and finish cabinets offsite and bring them for installation. Therefore, it is frustrating for some home owners to not see the work that is occurring as they feel nothing is happening with their project. That is typically not the case.

Client Relations
Every jobsite problem begins with poor client relations. The number one reason for this includes dispute over changes. When a client adds a cabinet space, changes a cabinet design, adds pullouts, trays, drawers, adds or switches appliances in the midst of construction, this constitutes a change in the scope of work and you should expect an additional bill for the added work. That is why careful planning upfront is so important.

Have a written agreement with your contractor and agree on certain conditions:

• Design solution
• Price
• Timeline
• Problem Resolution
• Job Conditions (daily clean-up, project area isolation, worker access to other areas in the home, etc.)
• Process for Change Orders

Realize there is no perfect project... let me say that again ... no perfect project. All construction projects are going to have challenges and problems. It is how they are resolved that is important. Many cabinetmakers are cabinetmakers because they like the craft, not because of the people. I have heard countless stories of cabinetmakers yelling at their clients, walking off jobs, refusing to finish projects, etc. due to a dispute.

If these are issues and items you don't want to be involved with, it may be best to hire a general contractor or project manager to handle the day-to-day process and manage the schedule of the project. As a designer and project manager, I employ these guidelines on every job. Essentially, when I use a sub on a project, I have put my backing into him or her because the person commits to the level of quality I want to back with the qualities that I look for in a subcontractor. Those qualities include a matched level of craftsmanship with the project budget, committed work ethic, honesty and integrity, and the ability to work with my clients on a professional level.