The ABCs of Remodeling a Kitchen

Where do I start?

With a plan. Kitchens are surprisingly complex. It may involve thousands of parts, the services of a dozen subcontractors, and at least as many materials suppliers. Start with magazines. Cut out every kitchen design that appeals to you. Then go find a professional kitchen design/build company. Even architects defer kitchen planning to kitchen design professionals.

How do I find a kitchen design/build firm?

Ask your friends. Or get out the yellow pages. Or go to the web. Look for someone who has been in business for a long time; they're doing something right. Do they have an MHIC license? Visit their showrooms. Are they neat and tidy, suggesting attention to detail? Are their displays up to date? But most of all, do you feel comfortable with the people? Do you feel they will give you quality products and service for a reasonable price?

Do kitchen-remodeling firms differ much?

Yes and no, but you don't want to find out the difference after the project is done. The prices usually don't vary much. Building materials supply runs at a remarkably similar gross profit margin, despite the product. The prices at a large box store are about the same as at a small design studio.

The differences will be in the number and quality of the services provided. Some just provide design and cabinet sales but no installation, and some, like Bay Kitchens, also offer turnkey services, right down to the wallpaper and paint.

Look for a guaranteed start and a guaranteed completion date in the purchase agreement. Also, look for computer aids like integrated design, scheduling, and management systems.

Finally, Does the firm try to educate you, or sell you? That's a major difference.

How long does it take to create a kitchen plan?

That depends. On how quickly you make decisions (and there are a lot). And on how busy the design firm is. And on how complex your project is. A good rule of thumb is one to three months.

With a networked computer system integrating design, estimation, accounting, and project management it can be done at light speed. But most clients prefer an iterative process where the designer proposes and the client comments, back and forth until it's right. Slow and steady wins the race is the best policy.

It can be done in a week, but a month or two or three is more typical.

What do kitchen design/build firms sell?

Everything that goes in a kitchen. Well, most everything. We don't sell toasters or tea towels, but we do sell sinks and cabinets and appliances and faucets and countertops and floors and drywall and electrical stuff. All with the designers to integrate the plan and the craftsmen to install them. Like most firms Bay Kitchens also offers a line of stock, semi-custom, and custom cabinetry to fit every budget.

How long does it take to complete an entire project?

The planning can take one to three months. Getting cabinets built can take one to three months. The actual installation of the project typically takes four or five weeks from demolition to dry paint. Best case is two months from design to completed project. A typical projects takes six months. Nine months to a year isn't unusual from start of planning to 100% completion.

Do kitchen design/build firms do room additions?

Often they can, but they usually don't. We will do almost anything inside of the existing exterior walls including changing exterior windows and doors, but draw the line at new foundations and new rooms. On such projects we can recommend other general contractors who specialize in additions, and become subcontractor to them. The kitchen design process is still the same to us and to you, but it is overlaid with a master plan.

Is there a difference at Bay Kitchens?

Yes and no. No, the prices are about the same everywhere. If the price is higher or lower, the product or service is different, like apples and oranges.

Not many other firms offer turnkey services from design to the final coat of paint, like we do. And we prefer turnkey because the only way we can guarantee a fast schedule is to control the flow of all materials and services, even things we make no money on, like appliances. It's called vertical management, and it works best for everyone.

We like controlling the horizontal and the vertical on warranty issues. If we sell it and we install it, there's no question who to call if there's a service issue. We like being the single point of contact for the client.

And we are definitely different in some respects: our professional project design, our project integration capabilities (the sink selected better fit in the sink cabinet that's been specified), our project management and schedule coordination, and the quality of our subcontractors and suppliers.

We've exceeded our customers' expectations for over 25 years. We hope you will see the difference yourself. Give us a call.