Custom Kitchens?

not to sound negative, but you really need to be more specific in your query

as a GC my first advice is to vet a good solid renovations contractor, seek out through friends or co-workers who have (only) good reference, preferably one that works with a kitchen designer already

i say that because, instead of going to a kitchen design shop, or a major hardware store, as they will 'assign' a contractor to you (you won't have that choice) and your costs will be much higher

for my own self, i have a designer that i work with because she has proved trust worthy, and actually has a brain in her head (some so-called designers don't) .....even still, most kithen & baths i'm able to design directly with the client, IF they have a good idea already about what they want ....in the manner i'm able to give them good advise from me about how to make that happen, in the most cost-efficient and realistic way

my best advice, which i give all clients, is to really research what they want ....i usually get them to pour over magazines and print pictures from online, of the specific kitchen/baths THEY like & want, including specific colors, appliances, fixtures, etc ....truly i am so happy when they can hand me a 'book' of pictures, outlining the top 1-2 choices of each component they want ....then i'm able to get "real" costs for them, and seek out bargains too

what ever you do, don't just go for the cheapest quote, and DONT skip over doing due-diligence of your potential contractors, and get everything in writing .....but that's all another step in the process

 

Like this?

Kai

 

+1
I'm working on a re-model and when I showed the designer some photos of ideas, things really took off and firmed up... everyone was on the same page.... my tastes and hers were very different so we are headed in the direction I wanted.
http://www.contemporist.com/ is where I start....

 

If you're doing new counters or floors, use caution when it comes to designers. They can pick really nice stuff but they don't typically understand the practicality of stone and the realistic maintanence. Stay away from anything calcite based. Marble, travertine, limestone will all etch with anything acidic like cocktails, citrus juice etc. They can be refinished back to new condition, but youre looking at $800-$1200+. On an annual or semi annual basis it can add up. Stick to granite, quartzite (natural), quartz (man made) engineered stones. Despite all the horrible information on the internet, a very small percentage of the granites available are porous, and those can be sealed permanently. The fact is most of the surfaces are in a level plying field, don't buy into the hype and nonsense of one is far better than the other etc.

 

this is where you really want to work close with a trusted general contractor ....he will be able to balance out what the designer suggets, with a dose of practical knowledge, of what works and what doesn't ....or, at least that's what i try to do for my clients

 

With respect to the good general contractors out there, most GC's dont know either. In fairness its not their job to be a stone expert. They should be able to rely on the sub. Unfortunately most stone contractors dont know either! The industry has been flooded with people that havent bothered to educate themselves. So relying on a gebneral contractor to get you what you want and need at the same time isnt fair to you or the contractor. There are many tempermental stones in the market these days and its hard to keep up. Protect your GC and protect yourself, consult directly with the stone company.

I was born into the industry and i refinish stone for a living. I see everything after the fact that the fabricators and installers dont see. I would be happy to help in any way i can. I have written articles for stone business and speak at shows so im not some schmoe off the street. I can only offer my opinion as there is more than 1 way to do things.

 

fair to say we can't be an expert on every subject, in my case, if a client wants a particular material used, then IMO it's part of my job to find out all i can about it before doing the work, but that's just me ....i also rely heavily on the guys i use for certain work that they specialize in ...when it comes to stone/counters, i use only 2 shops, because i know their work, are dependable, and i know they know their stuff ...so in turn i learn in the exchange, and that is who i go to first to consult on a material ....what i was refering to above, is to have a 3 way communication between the client, designer and GC, in my experience is a necessity ...you don't want the designer dictating to the GC apart from the client, and with some good sense, the client will trust the advice of the GC about "how" to achieve what the designer has put forth

 

I wish we had more guys like you around here. It is key to get in with a couple of guys in each trade to be able to trust and depend on to get the job done without playing any games. Same goes for us to, we need to have a few contractors we can trust. When the economy goes down, people turn into greedy animals. Its hard to find the good guys now.

I am refinishing a floor for a very wealthy client right now that built the house 1/5 years ago. The floor was installed poorly, sealed with a poor product. In turn the floor turned a dingy yellow, has horrible lips and the grout turned black.

sorry to hijack the thread. Im here if you need any advice. You can PM me for contact details.

 

sounds like you're good at your craft, and take pride ...there isn't a lot of that these days, i will go through 6-12 guys before finding a good one

 

You may have a look at the modern homes thread:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=144633

modern homes => modern kitchens

 

Some kitchens, from my experience:

In the early '90s, I designed an exceptional kitchen for a rich lady...she insisted on solid 1.5" thick matching Carrara marble slab counter tops with cutouts for undermount sinks and grooved drainage surfaces in appropriate places. Said she'd just get them refinished when they needed it.

For our previous house, we gutted the old kitchen to the studs, went with "Canac" high-end builder quality cabinets, "Silestone" countertops and full-height splashes, Subzero refrig, rest of appliances stainless KitchenAid. Floors were random-cut slate with thin cushioned underlayment. The Silestone, a manmade fine-agregate terrazzo material, was great looking and resisted stains and heat, but prone to chipping at edges.

Our current house already had a new kitchen, with SS Jennair appliances, very nice top-end Home Depot cabinets w/ glass fronts on some uppers, slate floors, and 1.5" thick solid soapstone countertops. This is an incredible material, quite beautiful and resistant to heat and stains.

We repaired/retextured/repainted all walls, replaced the old door casings and baseboards with stained oak, covered the ceiling with 1/4" T&G painted pine and added new ceiling molding, and installed handpainted tile around the sink window.

 

Engineered stone , or what designers call quartz, is usually a desired surface for modern layouts because of the consistant color. Caeserstone, silestone are a couple examples. They are good surfaces but lije rverything they have limitations. Its not whay they are cracked up tp be. The heat threshold is about 300 degrees so you have to be carefull with hot pans. Granite will take 400+.

 

We dint get much interest for soapstone out here. There are some porous soapstone-like materials out there but real soapstone is non porous. It will sscratch easily as it is soft but its very reasonable for the refinishing aince its so easy. People typically oil the soapstone every year ir so to keep the rich color. Definitely a good material.