KITCHEN CONFIDENCE
How to be sure you are choosing the right approach to your renovation project
Kitchens are among the most popular renovation projects. Roughly 2 million kitchens were remodeled in 2017, costing 140% more than in 1995, the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University calculates in its 2019 Improving America’s Housing report.
A minor revamp of a 200square-foot kitchen amounts to $22,000 on average, per Remodeling Magazine’s cost-vs.-value analysis. An upscale renovation can surpass $130,000. The National Kitchen and Bath Association puts the average cost of a kitchen remodel, regardless of dimensions, at $34,000.
Given the amount of money homeowners spend on kitchen remodels, picking the approach that works best for you is key. Budgets, timelines and your willingness to do the work yourself will dictate the method you choose. Here are six ways to go about it.
1. A design-build firm
Design-build firms are one-stop shops. Staffed with designers and craftsmen, these companies handle everything from inception to completion.
Handling projects inhouse, design-build companies have a level of accountability that is rare in the fragmented remodeling industry.
“We are uniquely situated as design-build to put the project together in a cohesive manner,” said Elle Hunter, Case Design’s director of project development.
Design-build companies handle alterations to plumbing and electrical systems and modifications to loadbearing walls, services that designers and even some general contractors often outsource.
A common concern with design-build companies is that they focus too much on the overall project and not the finer aspects of the design.
This approach is best for homeowners who seek reliability and clarity in the remodeling process but lack the time to oversee it themselves.
2. Kitchen designer
Because it is their specialty, kitchen designers bring a high level of expertise and personalization to the project.
“You do a kitchen once or twice in your life and it is a whole lot of money,” said Susan Serra, designer and owner of New York-based Susan Serra Associates. “I think (you) should go and interview professionals and go to one who does it every day.”
Kitchen designers parse clients’ habits of cooking and entertaining, their needs and wants, their homes’ constraints and possibilities. They maximize the space’s efficiency and functionality.
The benefit designers bring to a project is their knowledge of the latest trends and materials. The downside is that some designers associate with a select few brands and manufacturers, which could curtail choices. Another drawback is a designer only designs the kitchen. You still need to hire a contractor to carry out the design.
This approach is best for homeowners who may have a vision for their kitchen but struggle to translate it into the architecture of their home. 3. General contractor
Homeowners who know exactly what they want may prefer to go with a general contractor. “We can just build things off a photo,” said Claud Fatu, owner of New York City-based Fatu Construction. “There is no designer involved. The functionality of it falls back on us.”
Homeowners who hire a designer and a contractor incur markups and potentially higher costs.
A contractor also may have relationships with vendors and can pass along discounts to a homeowner on cabinets, materials and finishes.
A disadvantage is that they are in such demand that it can be challenging to find a reliable contractor who does quality work.
This approach is best for