If you are looking to remodel or redesign your kitchen, then you want to be sure you are using an experienced company that has a process in place to make your design, supply and installation go as smoothly as possible to minimise the disruption to your household.
Here at Bathrooms Direct and Kitchens, we have over 30 years of experience in fitting kitchens and have refined our processes to ensure we make the entire project as easy as possible for our customers and that they end up with a finished room they are happy with for years to come.
So, what steps should you take when redesigning your kitchen?
Step One – Find a reputable kitchen design and installation company
Finding a company you can trust with an excellent reputation is essential to the success of your kitchen project. Even if you are not planning a full remodel, you do not want to waste your hard-earned time and money on poor service and results. We would always recommend reading customer reviews and testimonials and speaking to any companies themselves to find one that would work best for you.
At Bathrooms Direct and Kitchens, we have a wonderful showroom to display our design and installation skills, which allows our customers to browse and get ideas and inspiration for the kitchen design stage of the process. Our friendly members of staff are always on hand, and if you haven’t got the time to visit our showroom, we can bring samples and brochures to you.
Step Two – Home survey
If you are wanting a bespoke design for your kitchen, especially if you are planning to change the layout, then a home survey should always be carried out before getting a quote. This enables all critical measurements to be taken and your space to be planned out efficiently and incorporates any practical requirements, such as kitchen islands, cooking space and worktop space.
We like to go meet our customers and have a chat about what they want from their kitchen. This can include fixtures and fittings, storage space or what appliances they need. This part of the process is key to meeting any customer brief and ensures we get the design and layout right on the first couple of tries.
Step Three – Design
For any bespoke kitchen installation, the design is the most critical step. The kitchen is the heart of the home and where we spend much of our time, which means you have to be comfortable and enjoy the space you have created.
Our design service is free of charge, and we strongly encourage everyone considering a renovation or remodel to take advantage of this. We work on all the information our customers have supplied to create a few different layouts and designs and have software to enable our customers to realise the full potential of their kitchen space. Once you have chosen your design, we offer at least one 3D colour drawing to make sure you are happy with your plan.
Communication is vital at this stage, if you are not happy with your design, not just from us but from any company, you should not be afraid to make alterations. Most reputable businesses will not have a problem and we want you to be happy with your design and product decisions!
Step Four – Quotes
Once you get your quote, you need to make sure it is within your agreed budget. If any changes need to be made to make it within more affordable parameters, then most companies should be able to accommodate your requests. Before going ahead with any installation, you want to be happy with your quote and ensure that you can afford it. We would always recommend factoring in a little extra just in case anything goes wrong on the day of installation, especially if you are having essential plumbing or electrical work carried out to accommodate new appliances or layout changes.
Here at Bathrooms Direct and Kitchens, we have certain company aims. We want your kitchen to look fantastic, we want it to last, we want it to be easily maintained without issue and we want to make sure you feel like you’ve got the best value without compromising on the quality of the products. We understand that there may be changes or alterations to the quote to adapt the design or to alter the cost – we are happy to spend as long as is necessary to ensure you are getting the exact room that you want. There are many different products to consider, and we will help guide you through the huge array of choices available today, so please speak to us if you have any concerns.
Step Five – Installation date
When you are happy with your quote and your design, you should discuss installation dates with your supplier. These can vary wildly depending on the time of year, the size of the company and when you want your new kitchen. As the kitchen is a key requirement for many households, you want to arrange a date that will minimise the disruption to your life!
We like to arrange a showroom meeting at this stage, which allows us to discuss the plan in detail and look at installation dates that work for our client. These are usually one to three months in advance, but we always try to accommodate kitchen projects much sooner if needed.
Step Six – Kitchen delivery and installation
If everything goes to plan, then your kitchen installers should arrive on site on the day you agreed. You should always pre-warn them of any access issues as this can affect how long it takes. If there are any problems during the fitting then the installers should discuss with you, good communication can make the process so much easier for everyone involved!
If you are simply paying for a kitchen to be installed and not designed, then you may have your kitchen cabinets etc beforehand. Please check that all your goods do not have any damage and are safely stored until your installation date.
We usually deliver the same day installation begins, unless there is a good reason not to. Throughout any kitchen installation process, we like to stay on hand to answer any queries from our clients or to do any errand running. We try to be as accurate as possible on materials as it reduces waste, reduces cost, and reduces downtime for the installers. Always discuss with your installers what they plan to do with the waste from your old kitchen. You may need to hire a skip or arrange council collections of larger items.
Our recommended installers come with decades of experience within the construction industry from plumbing, building, electrics, joinery, and plastering, so we can be sure every part of your new kitchen is taken care of. As part of our service, all workmanship is guaranteed for one year from the date of completion. Additionally, all our tradespeople have public liability insurance in the unlikely event of an accident. We have over 30 years of experience in designing and supplying quality products across North Yorkshire and The Dales that not only look fantastic but are practical to use in everyday life. If you need any help or advice on kitchen design, please do not hesitate to contact us. We can talk you through our process and discuss your individual needs and requirements. Visit our showroom or call us on 01677 425788.