Choosing a kitchen designer in Ottawa is one of the most important steps of your kitchen remodeling project because their designs are the foundation on which the whole rest of the project is built. The choices you and your kitchen designer make will affect your general quality of life for years to come. There aren’t many days you don’t have to spend at least a little time in the kitchen, after all. You want that time to be enjoyable!
If you are a first-time remodeler or have never used a kitchen designer on a remodeling project, you might not know what to look for in a good kitchen designer. Most people don’t think too much about kitchen design until a big project is right there staring them in the face and there is a lot to consider when making such an important decision.
Luckily, selecting a kitchen designer not as scary as it seems if you simply learn a little about the core attributes embodied by great kitchen designers. Here is a list of 6 essential qualities to look out for when you’re searching for the perfect designer.
They Have Solid Expertise In Kitchen Remodel Planning
The best kitchens start out with the best plans. Your kitchen designer should have a solid plan thrown together that covers every aspect of your project. Make sure they have extensive experience in planning not only the layout and materials but also the aesthetic aspects of the project.
Having a well-thought-out plan before beginning work will go a long way toward ensuring that your project is smooth sailing by ensuring you stay on-budget, start with everything you need, and better track the progress of the work.
When you interview a designer, look for signs of creativity in their previous work and pay special attention to examples that seem to mesh with your vision for your kitchen more than others. Ask how these kitchens were planned and why. If they offer thought-out reasons why certain things where done a certain way instead of just giving the impression they were winging it, it’s a good sign that you’ve found a keeper!
They Seem Knowledgeable About Modern Kitchen Designs And Trends
If a designer’s previous work shows signs of being outdated or too old-school, chances are they aren’t as diligent about their work as they could be and 
won’t be able to properly plan a kitchen using modern design solutions. This lack of industry know-how will negatively impact important aspects of your kitchen like aesthetics and efficiency. Kitchen design is an evolving industry and a designer who stays on top of trends and innovations is one who takes their job seriously.
Chances are, you aren’t looking for a designer for your project because you want a kitchen with an avocado and earth-tone motif that looks like it jumped out of the pages of a home and garden magazine from the early 70’s. You’re probably looking for something more modern, efficient, and way easier on the eyes than that!
They Know How To Maximize Efficiency And Functionality
When you get right down to it, a kitchen is a place where you do work. This means you want a kitchen that allows you to work as efficiently and effectively as possible. You’ll want ample storage space, easy access to that storage space from your work areas, and sinks and counters with easy access to your fridge and dry food storage. Everything you need to cook or wash dishes should be no more than a few steps from any of the major zones of activity in your kitchen.
A good designer will go out of their way to make efficient use of every inch of your kitchen so that you can work without being slowed down by things like a poorly located trash bins or a counter that blocks your way to a crucial area of the kitchen.
They Listen To Your Ideas And Incorporate Them Into The Plan
A good kitchen designer is one who helps make your vision of your ideal kitchen come to life in a way that helps you work and socialize in your kitchen as comfortably as possible. This means they will have to pay careful attention to your ideas and wishes when you are communicating them or you will end up with the someone else’s ideal kitchen, not your own!
When you interview a prospective designer, make sure they aren’t talking over you or being dismissive of your wishes. Ask how they will incorporate your idea into their plans.
They Actually Visit Your Home And Take Measurements
You’d be surprised how many lower-end designers actually start making a plan before they ever even lay eyes on the actual kitchen they are redesigning. One of the first things a good kitchen designer will do is visit your home to take measurements and start gathering inspiration for designs. They will take some time to look for any potential roadblocks to the success of the project and start making plans on how to get through them.
This is also a crucial step in the design process because, without an accurate idea of the space’s dimensions and at least an idea of how the kitchen will be designed, there is no way to possibly formulate an accurate estimate.
For your part, you should take this time to observe the behavior of your designer while they are going about their business. The best designers are designers because they love the work! If your prospective designer seems animated and bubbling over with ideas, chances are they are passionate about what they do and will design the best kitchen possible.
They Are Members Of Prominent Industry Associations
One of the best ways to separate the wheat from the chaff when you are selecting a kitchen designer is to check if they are members of prominent, legitimate business associations. This shows that your designer is serious about their work enough to be involved with the industry as a whole and not some fly-by-night organization that operates out of the back of a shady van.
Make sure your prospective designer is at least in good standing with the Better Business Bureau and give bonus points for being members of industry-specific organizations like the Greater Ottawa Home Builder’s Association or the National Kitchen & Bath Association.
Final Takeaway
In the end, if you can find a kitchen designer that gives you a good gut feeling and manages to embody the qualities mentioned above, it’s a safe bet you’ve found a real treasure, the perfect kitchen designer!