Interior Design Factory, Ltd.

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Kitchen And Bath

 

These are two important that must be planned well and executed to perfection.  They are also the most costly rooms to do, just by the nature of the appliances involved and the fuctions they need to perform.  We spend countless hours in each of these rooms, so we can't afford to make any mistakes.  The point isn't to make you fearful because they can be incredibly fun and rewarding to create.  What is important is to realize that the more effort you spend on the planning, the better your result will be.  There are no shortcuts.  It is certainly advisable to hire professionals to help you but there is no substitute for you being a major part of the planning. 

 

This is why we are here to help point you in the right direction.  Our intention is to get you thinking, to think about some things you may not have considered and get answers for issues that are vital to the success of both of these rooms.  So read and enjoy.  Be inquisitive and curious and you will come up with ideas that will help you create the perfect kitchen or bath for you! 

 

General Kitchen and Bath                                                                                                                     Installation of custom cabinetry

 

Kitchen Design                                                                          

 

INSPIRATION

Questions to ask when planning for a new kitchen or master bath:

 

For a master bathroom remodel:

  • Shower and/or tub for one or two?
  • Do you like to take a bath? Do you soak, read, listen to music? Need a view?
  • Do you use a lot of product? What and what sizes? Certain chemicals guarantee unhappy results if used on certain surfaces.
  • Do you shave in the shower or at the sink?
  • Do you need privacy for your toilet?
  • One sink or two? Do you both use the bathroom at the same time?
  • How and where does a woman put on her make up?
  • How much storage do you need and for what?
  • Appliances: hairdryer, curling iron, hot rollers, etc.?
  • What size towels do you use and how many?
  • Do you wear a robe?
  • Do you change your clothes in the bathroom or elsewhere?

Kitchen:

  • Do you cook?
  • How do you cook and what?
  • How much time do you spend in your kitchen?
  • Are you a messy or clean cook?
  • What type of utensils and pots/pans do you use? How often?
  • What and how much do you handwash items?
  • Do you need a separate sink for food preparation?
  • Do you need a garbage disposal or do you compost?
  • How many trash and recycle bins do you need in the kitchen?
  • How many sets of dishes to you use?
  • Do you entertain? For how many?
  • Do you like to eat in your kitchen?  Full meals or just quick snacks?
  • Where do your kids do homework?
  • How often do you shop for groceries?
  • What kind of storage do you need: dry goods, canned, fresh fruits & veggies, bottled drinks, etc.?
  • What do you hate or love about your current kitchen?
  • Do you need a TV or computer in your kitchen?
  • Do you have lots of kitchen appliances: mixer, toaster overn, coffee maker, etc?
  • Microwave – who uses it and for what? (If is young children you don't want to put it in upper wall cabinets.)
  • How many people cook at the same time?
  • How many cookbooks do you use?  How do you store recipies?
  • Do you bake and need a lower countertop for rolling out dough or pastry?

 

There are many more questions one could ask but this will get you started in the right direction.  Kitchen and bathrooms require a large amount of planning and research before you ever get to the design part of it.  Answering these questions first will put you well on your way to a successful design.

 

 

 

 

Interior Design Factory, Ltd.

Lisa M. Smith - Interior Designer, Associate IIDA
29399 Shaker Blvd.
Pepper Pike, OH  44124
Phone: 216.255.4143   Fax: 216.765.8065
 

 

Green Kitchen Design Products

  • Cork or bamboo floors
  • Recycled glass tile backsplash
  • Recycled concrete and glass countertops
  • Low VOC paints, adhesives and finishes
  • Daylighting
  • Energy efficient appliances 
 

 

Why a general contractor?

 

 Creating a kitchen or bathroom involves many elements: plumbing, electrical, carpentry, flooring, painting, etc. A general contractor has people on his staff or sub-contractors he can call on for the various elements and provides the project management skills to coordinate all the different trades.

 

CAUTION: Kitchens and baths involve major money – this is not the place to skimp and decide you can be your own project manager. I have never seen it work well and it ALWAYS ends up costing the homeowner more.

 

As a designer and having done many of these projects, I get help from other professionals.  There are too many things to go wrong and get missed if you are too close to a project or don't have ample knowledge.