Kitchen and Bath Designer
There are literally hundreds of decisions you will need to make when remodeling your kitchen or bath. These two rooms are the two workhorses of the house – when perfectly designed they are both functional and beautiful. Hiring an interior designer for your kitchen or bath design can ensure good decisions are made with the investment dollars you have for your project.
Interior Designer keep up to date on the latest goods and best practices. They are trained to understand what surfaces and decisions are called for in different architectural projects. For example, you may be thinking granite countertops, but do you know what is available in terms of solid surfaces for countertops in quartz, concrete, marble, recycled glass, butcher block, and stainless steel? Architecturally speaking, do you know what is appropriate for not dating your home? Designers have the experience to see your space finished from the inception to the end of the project. This allows you to have piece of mind that your finished remodeling project is what you originally intended. In many cases, clients spend the same investment, but the finished project suggests they spent much more. Designers know how to interpret your ideas and in some cases can suggest cost saving measures that give you the same look.
I personally don’t think every project warrants a interior designer. Some kitchen and bath projects don’t need a trained eye. In the case of going it alone – when the finished design matters – someone needs to detail out the design plan for the team. Without a design professional, areas may be overlooked and the subcontractors may make decisions for you. Unfortunately those decisions may be different than you would have made.
Our team provides a step by step process for our clients to see their kitchens and baths finished with materials, elevations and specifications. We use these elevations and specification tools to create building documents for the trades to use while bidding the project and working in the space. When all details are considered, reviewed and detailed by a design professional, the project always nets a better outcome. The bid for the project is accurate. (How can a contractor bid a job without exact specifications?) And the design work is more thoughtful and a better value.
This isn’t our comprehensive list, but is a quick reference of decisions that will need to be made, documented, selected and in some cases drawn for illustration:
Kitchen
- Space Planning, Elevations & Workspace Flow
- Cabinetry Design (Door profile, wood species (paint/stain). Hardware (location and selection), and Organizational Planning
- Surfaces: Flooring, Countertops, Millwork, Backsplash, Paint – when selecting tile the layout, grout color/size and transition pieces if they are needed
- Countertops: Solid surface or Tile? Edging detail on solid surfaces, transition design for tile
- Plumbing: Sinks, Faucets, Instant Hot, Garbage Disposal switch location and type, Garbage Disposal
- Appliances: Refrigerator, Oven (Dual or single), Stove (Rangetop, freestanding), Warming Oven, Dishwasher, Garbage Disposal, Coffee Vignette
- Electrical: Location of Recessed Cans, Flush Mounts, Pendant Lighting or Chandeliers, where and how to place outlets
- Doors, Windows and Millwork
Bathroom
- Space Planning & Shower and Vanity Elevations
- Cabinetry Design (Door profile, wood species (paint/stain). Hardware (location and selection), and Organizational Planning
- Surfaces: Flooring, Countertops, Millwork, Backsplash, Paint – when selecting tile the layout, grout color/size and transition pieces if they are needed
- Countertops: Solid surface or Tile? Edging detail on solid surfaces, transition design for tile. Location and size of niches added for shower or bath storage.
- Plumbing: sinks, toilet, tub, faucets, shower head and control position, handheld spray, body sprays
- Bath Accessories: Exact locations of mirrors, hooks, towel holders,grab bars and toilet paper holder
- Electrical: Precise location of Recessed Cans, Vanity Light, Flush Mounts, consideration of appliance garage or electrical in a cabinent for hidden appliances
- Doors, Windows and Millwork
Angela Todd
Owner & Principal Designer
Angela is the principal designer at her boutique interior design firm in Portland, Oregon. She is known for creating memorable backdrops that tell the story of fascinating and intricate lives.
