Kitchen design is a very particular skill and not something that anybody can just turn their hand to like that. Indeed, it’s one of those things that a lot of people like to think that they would be good at, but, the reality is that when it comes down to it, there are certain things that only an experienced professional will know how to get right. Of course, you will have decided that you want a new kitchen because you have something very particular in your mind’s eye. You can see the colours, the layout, the flooring, the copper pans hanging over the cooker and your jars of dry goods and preserves decoratively dotted around the shelves. 

When you close your eyes, it looks truly wonderful. It’s warm and inviting, and you complete the fantasy by envisioning all those wonderful home cooked meals that you bring steaming out of the oven, and the smiles of your friends whom you have suitably impressed with your brand new kitchen design.

Now open your eyes and take a look around at your existing kitchen – where on earth do you start with it all?

Will you really be able to fit your 240cm high double-door fridge by the back window and still leave room for the breakfast bar? And do the colours orange and green really complement each other under UV light? Hmm. The chances are you won’t be able to answer these questions (or others like them) with any degree of confidence and certainty on your own.

When making decisions of this scale (that is to say, something that you are probably going to spend quite a lot of money on and will have to live with), it always helps to have someone off of whom you can bounce ideas. And, it makes sense that the person in question be a professional with suitable experience, who will not only be able to interpret your ideas into practical terms, but will also have suggestions, contacts and access to technology and a knowledge base that will help you realise your dream kitchen at a price that will hopefully be pleasing to you.

When To Consider Hiring In A Professional Kitchen Designer

It may be the case that it’s not a whole new kitchen that you want, but rather just a bit of a facelift and spruce up around the edges where you have let things go for too long. If this is you, then you might think that you would be able to get away without hiring in the professional help of a kitchen designer. Well, in the end, that will depend on the size of the job that you want done.

If it’s just a new range of kitchen cupboards that you’re after, then you can probably head online or down to your local kitchen store and pick out the ones that you want without the need of going to the fuss of acquiring professional help to make the decision. But if you’re looking to do a bit more than just that – say, have the new cupboards, but also new surfaces and a possibly a new floor – then the decisions can start to feel a little overwhelming, and so now is the time to seek out a little extra help.

The Knowledge

Kitchen designers will have access to a lot more resources than the average homeowner who’s looking to have some work done on their kitchen. For instance, if you want something completely modern, then it is your kitchen designer’s job to know what’s currently trending, and other exciting new innovations that will most likely be fashionable in the upcoming future. They will also have the scoop on all the building codes, new materials that are coming through, and any of the latest and greatest technological innovations that are just arriving on the market. 

What is more, their expertise will enable them to tell you immediately if your ideas are feasible within the constraints of your budget or not, which in the end will save you a lot of time and frustration when it comes to deciding on a final design.

Your Kitchen Designer

Some kitchen stores will provide their own in-house designer for you, and he or she will often come bundled into the overall cost of your new kitchen. In fact, this is a service that we pride ourselves on at Mobalpa. Our designers take the time to give a personalised service and work with our clients to come up with a customised design that is in keeping with their lifestyle. Anyone can book a free design appointment with our interior design team, or otherwise come down to our showroom and talk to our friendly staff about any questions that you may have, or ideas that you want to run past us.

Final Word

When you meet up with your designer for the first time, make sure that you have done your research beforehand. So, bring with you a list of catalogues, magazines or websites that contain kitchen design photographs which you like the look of, and discuss them with your designer. The important thing throughout the process is to try and be as flexible as you can on your design, as your designer might have some great ideas that you may never have come up with yourself, plus he or she will know exactly what is feasible and what isn’t within the space and budget that you have.

What are your experiences with kitchen designers? Let us know in the comments below.