Once you have decided to commit to a new kitchen or bath, there are a few steps that you can take in order to help with your design goals:

Decide what it is about your current kitchen that you don’t like, and what your needs are in the terms of how you use your kitchen. Do you need more counter space? Do you want more storage? What kind of cooking do you do? Are there multiple cooks in the kitchen, or do you just want something that looks great and complements your sense of style? There are no wrong answers here, but identifying your needs will help in the initial design process. It’s also a good time to look through this website or magazines to get an idea of what inspires you.

The next step is to set up an appointment with Susan for a consultation. Now is the time to bring photos of your current kitchen, any original building plans you may have, and to bring any inspiring images you have collected. This gives Susan an opportunity to evaluate your project, make suggestions, and help you determine what you need to budget in order to accomplish your goals.

The design process begins once the Design Retainer starts. Susan charges a design retainer, which she then applies back toward the cost of the cabinets. The retainer includes a site measure, drafting of the new plans and elevations, as well as the electrical and plumbing plans, and includes one design and one revision.

Once the plans, materials, fixtures, and appliances have been chosen and finalized, and the cabinets have been ordered, then the construction phase starts by securing bids for construction (if necessary), installation, and any other trade services. Susan will work with the tradesmen to help manage the project and ensure that any questions regarding the design are answered, and provide any assistance that she can.

This is always a difficult question to answer in a general term without seeing plans first. Cabinetry will always be the largest portion of your budget, but the amount is determined by a number of factors. Some of these factors include the number of cabinets and the overall size of the kitchen. Another determining factor is the type of material of the cabinetry, finishes and stains, etc. With all of our cabinet lines, we have a variety of materials, which allow for flexibility in pricing.

The next largest portion of your budget will go to appliances, then countertops, flooring, lighting, fixtures, and other materials. Keep in mind that installation and construction costs may vary, and unexpected surprises, such as termite damage, may be revealed during construction, which can affect your overall budget, so it is best to prepare in advance and leave a bit of a reserve for these.

VOC is an acronym for Volatile Organic Compounds, the result of types of harmful VOC chemicals used in the finishing and manufacturing of cabinetry. Off-gassing is the process of a slow, constant release of toxins into the air from products made and finished with VOCs. These chemicals are destructive not only to your health, but to the environment as well, and are commonly found in most cabinetry still manufactured today. However both Pedini and Wood-Mode Brookhaven cabinets are manufactured far above the current U.S. standards for green manufacturing, and contain no detectible VOC off-gassing. Additionally, all materials used in the composition are made from ethically conscious sources such as farmed wood, not endangered species, and non-toxic adhesives. Furthermore, all exhaust used in the manufacturing process is incinerated, and all scrap material is recycled.

We do not provide installation; instead, we refer your project to a contractor who is familiar with our products, who then will bill you directly. The importance of using one of our recommended contractors is that this is the best way to ensure that your installation runs smoothly and on time with someone who knows how to install your project without damaging your investment. These installers have a proven track record and are some of the best in their field.

Inset doors are set into the cabinet, and have exposed hinges -- this is the traditional way that cabinets were manufactured.

Overlay doors are also known as “European” doors, and are characterized by the hidden hinges in the inside of the cabinet. We are able to provide both door styles based on your design preferences.

There are two methods of ventilation systems – recirculating and vented. In order to use a vented system, you must have access to vent the exhaust to the outside, which may not be possible in some structures. Recirculating ventilation filters the air from cooking and blows the cleaned air back out. Types of hood vents include Island hoods, which are mounted into the ceiling, Wall mounted which are mounted onto the wall, Downdraft which is installed into the counter, and Integrated Cabinet hoods which are concealed into a cabinet. Due to the strong trade winds, many people in Hawaii also exercise the option to not have a ventilation system at all. Consulting with an CKD like Susan is a good way to decide which type of system will work best for you.

Custom cabinetry is made-to-order and requires a specialized designer to create a design. Infinite design possibilities are available in custom design, and pricing can be flexible, as the designer dictates the materials. Our factories serialize all kitchen orders, and no two are ever alike. High quality and extensive warranties are also some of the key advantages of custom cabinetry. Another advantage of made-to-order custom cabinets is the client has the ability to specify specific colors, finishes, sizes, as well as specialty accessories.

Stock cabinetry is factory-produced cabinetry in fixed sizes and choices are limited. The advantage to stock cabinetry is sometimes a price lower than custom cabinetry, and may have faster lead times. However, delays may arise when stock cabinets in a specific size sell out and are not produced, heavy uses of filler materials are needed to fit cabinetry into your kitchen space, which results in a loss of aesthetics and storage. Typically, the quality of these mass-produced cabinets is fairly low, and warranties may be short term or non-existent. Also, many of these cabinets may be manufactured without regard to VOCs or environmental safety, especially when imported from countries without rigorous manufacturing and chemical safety laws.