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Initial Design Stage
Our initial meeting is for you to get to know me and pick my brain a little and get some idea
whether you would be comfortable working with me. If you have an
architect or builder that you have been working with, this may be a good
time for all of us to get together and review his designs. Sometimes I am
just given a set of plans and specifications to bid from. Other times, you
may want more input from me, and you may want me to draw a set of plans
for you. No doubt you have been thinking about your new kitchen for
some time, and I will ask you to share your ideas and insights. I will share
with you my feedback and offer options and more possibilities. Many times,
clients have magazine pictures, sometimes many of them. This is very
helpful. This way I can
get a clear idea of what you have in mind. Sometimes, the pictures that you
find aren't
exactly what you have in mind, but sort of. That's OK. It's a great place to
start the creativity flowing.
Many times on larger projects, there are just too many
details to discuss in one sitting, we can just schedule another appointment to continue. In the mean time, I get a chance
to get together any samples that you would like to see. Sometimes, a third
meeting is necessary. I will try to be as flexible and prompt as possible so
that we can meet on your schedule, work out all the details, and proceed
toward the goal of a beautiful kitchen and a happy client/cabinetmaker
relationship.
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Pricing Stage
Now I take all the information and
write up a proposal for you, complete with pricing. All the information will
be in an easy to understand format, and pricing will be "broken
out" by area or room. Also, if you desire several different options,
these will be priced separately as well. When I figure a bid for you, I
calculate every piece of hardwood and every hardware item, and arrive at an
exact dollar amount for your project. I do not do "ball-park"
estimates. Any changes that you make are figured in the exact same way, and you
either pay the additional or get a credit, whichever is the case.
It doesn't take long to figure pricing for a project. I
can complete a proposal in a day or two. Then I schedule a meeting with you
to present it to you, or fax it to you, or both.
Now it is decision time. Sometimes, a client will take
time to let other bidders prices roll in for comparison. Decisions are then
made based on a combination of factors: Obviously, pricing is one of the big
factors. Another biggie is how you get along with an individual and how
capable you consider him to be. If you have experienced any problems getting
together with a merchant, don't expect the situation to get better, you may
be setting yourself up for big disappointment. I know builders that take the
bids and throw out the lowest and the highest ones and accept the one in the
middle. There is no clear-cut "right way" to come to a decision, I think that "gut instinct" plays a part, too.
I believe that
there is such a thing as "too much information". Though it doesn't
make sense, trying to get
bids from too many companies tends to muddy the waters and cause
confusion.
Once you have made your decision, and notified the
cabinetmaker, (which, I hope, is me), then we get together and finalize the sale with signed documents and a
deposit check. It is the deposit that puts your project on the boards and
"gets you in line". Normally, as with any tradesman, the sooner
you can arrive at a decision and get in line, the better for you. I require a 50% deposit/first draw, and the
terms for remaining monies are stated in the proposal contract. At this
point I also take accurate measurements of the space. The drywall in the kitchen does not have to be in place for me to
take measurements. Often, I measure as soon as rough framing is in place so
that by the time your kitchen is ready for cabinets, the cabinets are
complete and ready for installation. I verify locations for all related rough plumbing and electrical
receptacles so that if anything is not in the right place, there is still time to move it.
At this point we also talk scheduling.
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Scheduling Stage
This isn't a long section, but it is
an important one. If you are working with a builder we will involve
him here and he will tell me
when he wants cabinet delivery. There are many factors involved, and only he
knows them all. If he wants some cabinets sooner then others, this would be
a good time to discuss that.
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| Design Drawing Stage
Now I take all the information
and generate the design
drawings. I do this even if you've got architectural
drawings because we need a design to work from that has exact dimensioning
for the space. During this phase, any layout or detail conflicts become
apparent and are corrected. It takes a day or two to work up the design
drawings, and then I get these to you so that you can see exactly what your
new kitchen will look like and make any final changes. I supply floor plans
and elevations of each wall of cabinetry, as well as 3D perspectives of any
area. I charge a nominal fee for this service, which I credit back to you if
you decide to let me build your cabinets.
Here
you can see a couple examples of level one cabinetry specific design drawings.
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Cabinet Construction Stage
Now I buy all the materials needed to
build your project and begin construction. All of the
cabinets are typically built in my shop, then delivered to the site and
installed. If certain areas of the house are ready for cabinets before
others, these may come first. Delivery day is a good day.
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| Installation Stage
Now comes the exciting part, both for you and for
me. This is the time when all of the cabinet pieces come together
to make impressive and beautiful rooms in your home. Depending on the scope
of the project, it may take one day to several weeks for me to complete the
installation. Many
kitchens take about a week and a half to complete. Although this phase
can't be rushed, my goal is to get your kitchen to a point where the counter
fabricators can come in and measure for counters. Then we proceed with the
installation until complete. It will take your counter fabricators a few
weeks to make your countertops at their shop, and this is the time for the
cabinet finisher to come in and finish the cabinetry.
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| Final Adjustment Stage
After the cabinet finisher is done and the
countertops have been installed, I am called in to drill for and install the cabinet door
pulls, put on door bumpers, install the adjustable shelves, and make any necessary
adjustments. Provided you have all the door pulls that you've selected on
site, this normally can be done in a day.
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