Architect or kitchen designer?
Deborah Hutchinson
4 years ago
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Deborah Hutchinson
4 years agoRelated Discussions
Working out bifold sizes can any designers or architects help?
Comments (17)Hi new house It looks like you are doing a really nice project and definitely as OnePlan has suggested you really need to see a professional kitchen designer. To be honest it looks like you have left it rather late! As a professional kitchen designer I suggest you go and visit 2 or 3 independent kitchen specialists, have a chat with them, see if this is the sort of project they often do. Now this is the important bit - be honest with them, tell them you want the space designed properly then get the design costed by 2 or 3 other suppliers. If they are sensible then they will suggest you pay a reasonable fee to cover their time and advice, and you get a design that's right for you and can get like for like costings - well as much as you can. You will also save a lot of time and repeating processes. In fact I had a customer in last week, they are building a beautiful German timber frame home, very modern, and they said money is tight for the internals so want to get several costings for the kitchen and other rooms. I suggested we design the space for them for a reasonable fee, they get all the alternative costs they want and then hopefully they will come back to us in the end so they will get their design fee back on the order. They emailed me yesterday and are coming in this afternoon with their house plans to discuss their requirements! New house where abouts are you in the UK? I might be able to suggest / recommend someone or company. CK...See MoreDo I need an architect or a builder with design skills?
Comments (5)Hiring an architect may seem like an unnecessary expense, however, the right one can help you avoid hidden costs in the future and get the most out of your budget. For starters, an architect is best able to assess your space and get it working hardest for you. They’ll also give you an accurate understanding on the scope of work needed, so you can better plan out your finances. Not only this, they know the ins and outs of planning, meaning if you need it, they’ll be able to sort this for you ahead of time. Saving you time and money. If you’re removing a chimney breast, you’ll probably need a structural engineer. Again, an architect will be able to refer you to the best one for the project. Also, depending on your chimney, you could impact on a party wall. This could require its own set of planning, or even the recommendation of a good party wall surveyor. No matter the professional, at Resi, we try our best to put you in touch with the right people for the job. From CCTV surveyors, all the way to builders. If you’re still unsure about whether or not an architect is right for your project, feel free to book in a free advice call with our team: https://resi.co.uk/advice_calls/new...See MoreArchitect or designer
Comments (6)There are different types of Architects and different types of Designers. I would talk to a few people and get their rates along with idea of how they work. Some will see their job in a very practical way, at the other end of the scale sometimes Designers can be all about the look without due consideration for the way you will be living the space. An Architect might well have ideas about how to arrange the main structure and windows, doors etc. more usefully than the current plan. That's not to say that a Designer wouldn't also look at that but most of them, I suspect, would just work with the proposal you have for the building. Small changes might make a big difference though. Anyone will be happy to talk on the phone. Some will charge for a consultation and others won't, some might decide about that whilst you are telling them about the project!! If the consultation fee isn't huge it might be worth talking to one or two 'onsite'. Fees can vary a huge amount, as can the experience, knowledge and qualifications of the person you are dealing with. We tend to expect these things to be on proportion to each other but very often they are not at all. I recall speaking to a winner of 'Best in Show' at the Chelsea Flower Show who said that after winning he found that one client had gone to someone else, believing that he would be too expensive and actually paid more than he would have charged. That was for a garden design of course but the two scenarios are becoming increasingly similar. It is worth asking about insurance. A professional should carry Professional Indemnity Insurance. Everyone tends to assume that all professionals do. Unfortunately this is not the case. It pleases me when clients ask about this....See MoreArchitect or interior designer for full refurb?
Comments (13)That’s just what I’m saying .... I wouldn’t let my builder choose my taps. Some choices need to be made solely by you because everyone’s opinion is different. I presume you’ve already chose a builder from what you’ve said. There are builders out there who work as Project Manager too. My husband does it and is currently doing something very similar to what you describe His current Contract is around £80k so a lot or work involved with walls coming down, RSJs going in, flooring, new kitchen. He has advised his customer and led them in the right direction but personal choices such as light fittings and kitchen fascias have been made by them. In short what I’m saying is you choose your more personal items and let the builder offer his experience for the construction side of things....See MoreDual Designs
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