If you’re planning to remodel your kitchen, you have a lot of decisions to make. There is a bewildering range of choices in appliances, countertops, cabinets, etc. If you’re handy with tools, you may be tempted to design your own kitchen, or you might think about working with a general contractor and/or designer. But be sure to think twice. The kitchen is the most complicated room in the house. If you need a professional designer and/or general contractor anywhere, it’s in the kitchen.
Experience: Designing a kitchen requires knowledge of plumbing, electrical systems, cabinets, many different appliances, and countertops to do a good job. Kitchen designers and/or general contractors have the skills, experience, product knowledge, access to products, industry connections, and budgetary knowledge to perform a successful kitchen design. Do-it-yourselfers don’t have the time to acquire all of this knowledge and experience on their own.
Avoiding Mistakes: The changes you make in a kitchen are pretty much permanent. If you change your mind, it’s a lot harder to move a cabinet than reposition the sofa or the artwork on the wall. It’s easy for a homeowner to get seduced by an attractive design or a cool-sounding piece of technology in a showroom, but a designer can tell you if the expense is worth it and can keep you from going over budget. Designers follow professional standards for spacing on countertops, cabinetry sizing, and appliance locations, so they can be sure you have enough counter space around the cooktop and sufficient lighting over the sink. 
Personalized Advice: The professional kitchen designer and/or general contractor ‘s job is to translate your needs into a functional kitchen. You need a kitchen to fit your lifestyle, whether you have two cooks, a busy family, a gourmet chef, or a need for entertaining. Designers and/or general contractors are also experienced in solving particular problems: lack of storage, an awkwardly shaped space, insufficient light, or a bad floorplan. They have “tricks of the trade” to maximize space and they can remember important details like having sufficient electrical outlets or the right size exhaust hood for your space.
Benefits of a Professional Kitchen Designer: Someone who specializes in kitchen design will immerse themselves in kitchens every day, rather than handling just a single today and nothing the next. They stay up-to-date on developments in the field and are familiar with the latest technology and trends. They have received training in recognizing and meeting individual homeowners’ wants and needs. They also help you avoid those all-too-common kitchen remodeling mistakes.
Licensed: Licensed kitchen and bath designers and/or general contractors have shown their comprehensive understanding of all aspects of kitchen and bath design, including construction, mechanical systems, plumbing, and electrical systems. They are required to adhere to a strict code of professional conduct and to stay current in local building codes, environmental and safety regulations, and developments in the field. The Contractors’ State License Board licenses general contractors. Their Licenses General Contractors have years of experience with kitchen design, have met specific educational requirements, and have passed comprehensive academic and practical tests.
Written By:
Offer Steuer
President
OTM Designs & Remodeling, Inc.
For more information you may contact us via email at service@otm1designs.com or you may call us at 888-981-1415. Our website is www.otmdesignsandremodeling.com.