An architect for a kitchen remodeling?

You have the choice of many different types of design professionals to help you with your remodeling: architects, interior designers, specialized kitchen designers, even some contractors who imagine they have a flair for design! Which one do you choose? And do you really need an architect for something as “simple” as a kitchen remodeling?

Kitchens are the HEART of the home in daily life. When done well, kitchens can be a joy to cook in, and help bring family and friends closer together. But this requires understanding that kitchens should be far more than just attractive cabinets and appliances – knowing how a kitchen relates to the rest of the home is essential.

Licensed architects are specifically trained in this “big picture” thinking, and can create options that might include a small breakfast nook addition, opening up a structural wall or raising the ceiling, or exploring whether your kitchen is even in the right place in your house! As a licensed architect, I can explore more structurally-involved solutions that other unlicensed design professionals simply aren’t trained (or even willing) to provide. This depth of training and experience brings visions of possibilities that many homeowners can’t see in their existing home, and might not be offered otherwise!

Also, unlike some other designers that homeowners might consult, such as in-store advice from kitchen showrooms, cabinet dealers, or kitchen contractors, I can provide completely independent solutions and advice that are right for YOU. (I don’t sell any particular cabinets or appliances, and my design fees don’t change based on how much you’re spending. Nor are my fees hidden in the construction cost or cabinet cost.)

Coming up with a design that is both pleasing and affordable is difficult enough. The number of design decisions to be made is staggering. Add a bewildering array of complex governmental regulations such as setback requirements, seismic bracing requirements, Daylight Plane restrictions, Title 24 energy requirements, Flood Zone controls, “Green” building ordinances…

Then, add to this the difficulty of finding reputable contractors, negotiating a fair contract or getting bids, getting a building permit, solving problems on the jobsite, and monitoring the quality of work, and it’s no wonder that even a small project like a kitchen remodeling can seem enormously complex. It is! As a licensed architect, I can help you with all of this.

Rather than wasting money on expensive cosmetic upgrades that don’t really improve the functioning of your kitchen, you’ll be getting someone who sees the “big picture.” I have decades of kitchen planning experience, the structural training of an architect, AND the design expertise of an interior designer — all rolled up into one person! And you might be surprised at how little having this expertise costs you…