Kitchen Designer Cost

[stevenr]

Has anyone in Southern CA (or elsewhere for that matter) ever used a kitchen designer? Do you remember what you paid? What was your experience?

 

[Flyfish1]

We did in CT. Her design fee was $2500. We hired her and she did a fantastic job as did the general contractor.

 

[stevenr]

We did in CT. Her design fee was $2500. We hired her and she did a fantastic job as did the general contractor.

Thank you!

 

[Aerides]

When we remodeled, the company had a designer. I'm glad they did. We ended up with multiple layout changes I would never have imagined on my own. Far more than just getting new cabinets, etc., the whole room opened up way more. So, I highly recommend it unless you want to end up with something that looks like you've just plopped new stuff in the same place.

 

[pb4uski]

$0

When we demolished and rebuilt, the lumberyard that we bought our lumber and kitchen cabinets from provided a complimentary design with floor plans, elevations and materials takeoffs and also a kitchen designer who designed a kitchen for our space and a takeoff for the cabinets. In our case, DW had purchased floor display cabinets a couple years earlier that we uninstalled and stored in the garage during demolition and construction so she used those and we ended up buying a few matching cabinets from the same manufacturer to fill out what we needed for the new kitchen.

In Vermont in 2010/2011.

 

[Ronstar]

When we remodeled, our cabinet company had a designer. I don't know what her fee was - it was buried in the cost of the cabinets. She had a lot of good ideas, but most of them caused me to do more work on the install.

 

[COcheesehead]

$100/hour.

 

[pb4uski]

When we remodeled, our cabinet company had a designer. I don't know what her fee was - it was buried in the cost of the cabinets. She had a lot of good ideas, but most of them caused me to do more work on the install.

Glad that you mentioned that. When we renovated the kitchen in our Florida condo, the builder had a relationship with a guy who provided the cabinets and the design, cabinets and installation was included in the overall cost.

 

[jazz4cash]

We did in CT. Her design fee was $2500. We hired her and she did a fantastic job as did the general contractor.

Did she do anything beyond design like referrals or project management? What hourly rate does it equate to, or is the wrong way to think about it?

 

[Just_Steve]

The company that did our cabinets and countertops had their own designer so guess it was baked into the price.

 

[Flyfish1]

Did she do anything beyond design like referrals or project management? What hourly rate does it equate to, or is the wrong way to think about it?

Yes, she she did everything. We met with her and her design partner who recommended fabric choices and colors for the island chairs. The head designer presented us with multiple cabinet options, flooring options and appliance options across an array of price points. She was on site when the cabinets were delivered and checked every measurement. She was constantly on site when the GC was installing and verified everything was good. It was a well coordinated system and very impressive. They have done a lot of work in our neighborhood and they about clearly wanted it come out well. . Of course the cabinetry and appliances were purchased through her and she clearly profited from that as well. We went on to her hire her and her team for our master bedroom and three bathrooms.

 

[Sorcerer]

If you are buying any sort of decent kitchen cabinets, the outfit should do layouts for free. At least around where I live, they are "complimentary."

 

[Lorenzo]

A true kitchen designer would do more than lay out the cabinets, such as helping you select appliances that fit your needs/wants, lighting, flooring, etc., taking into account realities such as whether to relocate plumbing. In other words, everything but the kitchen sink ... and the kitchen sink, too!

 

[Aerides]

A true kitchen designer would do more than lay out the cabinets, such as helping you select appliances that fit your needs/wants, lighting, flooring, etc., taking into account realities such as whether to relocate plumbing. In other words, everything but the kitchen sink ... and the kitchen sink, too!

Yup. We literally moved walls, doorways, plumbing, and added lots of new lighting. But as mentioned, a full service company will come to your house with a design proposal, and will have a designer on staff. We had about 3 come through.

One made a fatal mistake with me, of a sales/pressure tactic saying something like "and this price is good for 3 days!" - to this day I wish I'd said "You can go now, and you will never hear from me again."

 

[Surewhitey]

A good designer will have much of the contractors to get the job done. I typically don't do much with them as they tend to be more demanding and "changy". If they're just working on design it's a different story.

Lots of my clients know what they want and I just add a little value to their ideas. I give them subs & don't try to make a buck on every little thing done, eg electrical, plumbing or counters.

Lately it's been laundry rooms with mud benches and cabinetry...

 

[Koolau]

DW has designed 3 of our kitchens over the years. I feel blessed that she didn't charge me a dime. All three kitchens turned out extremely well. (She did go to school in that field).