Kitchen Design and Build
As I am sure most home owners would agree, the kitchen is THE most important room in your home. With the exception of sleeping, people spend most of their time at home in their kitchen. We at CPI Interiors take great pride in the kitchens we design and build. If you look at our portfolio section under kitchens you will see just a fraction of the 100s of kitchens we have worked on over the years. Every kitchen you see here has been done by us. When we take on a kitchen renovation, we can do it all for you. Many kitchen cabinet places in Ottawa just sell cabinets. Many people in the general public believe when you are going to a kitchen showroom that they will look after everything. That is not the case, in many instances. We will be as involved as much or as little as you want us to be, by either just doing the design and handing over the drawings to you or we can do it all. And all means:
- do the design and supply the detailed AutoCAD drawings
- make and supply ALL the selections that go into a new kitchen
- supply and install the cabinets
- hire the tear out specialist
- hire the plumber
- hire the carpenter
- hire the electrician
- hire the tile layer
- supply and install the lighting
- supply and install the sink and faucet
- supply and install the counter top
- supply and install the floor tile (or other flooring types)
- supply and install the backsplash tile
- supply and install appliances
- supply and install the furniture
Or we can do any part of the above. We are here to service all the clients needs, not just sell cabinets!
Below are Catherine's 10 steps to a great kitchen:
1) Set your priorities. Know what is important to you. Who uses the kitchen? Family focused/ Cooks’ kitchen/ Entertaining kitchen or Showpiece. How is it used? Take an inventory of all categories for storage.
2) What is being changed? Appliances, cabinets, cabinet hardware, counters, sinks and faucets, flooring, lighting, wall finishes, ventilation and window coverings.
3) Budget....budget...budget. While options vary greatly, the amount one wishes to spend must be predetermined when looking at making changes to the kitchen. As with any project we undertake how much we are spending will dictate the direction everything goes. Keep existing appliances or purchase new, gas or electric; natural vs. synthetic materials for cabinets, counters and flooring. Decorative or functional lighting.
4) Seating in the kitchen and how best to accommodate. Use of islands with bar areas. Table height, counter or bar height? Who is using the kitchen and the particular activities that take place are all considerations when determining not only where to place them but if to include them. Phone stations, computer desks, pet feeding stations and baking locations are all important things to consider.
5) Drawers versus doors and pullouts. Do cabinets go to the ceiling, staggered or traditional heights? Glass door cabinets with decorative lighting and glass shelves or open shelves for storage or selected special pieces for display. Storage is paramount to a good kitchen design.
6) Things to take note of when in the planning stages. The size of your biggest dinner plates, heights of glass ware and special items that don’t fit now but would want to be included in a new plan. Seasonal serving dishes or place settings. Small appliance storage and ease of use. Pantry cabinets with best use layout, whether opening from the side rather than front or deep cabinets with pull out shelves.
7) Lighting is so often overlooked when planning a kitchen. Consider task lighting as well as ambient lighting. Pot lights, pendant fixtures, under cabinet lighting and surface fixtures are critical to making a warm, inviting and functional kitchen.
8) Sinks and faucets. Whether a drop in or under mount sink is used will depend on the counter surface used. Stainless steel, acrylic, cast iron are among the many choices. Faucets have wide varieties to choose from and whether single post or lever handles all depend on the look being created.
9) Colour. One of the most definitive and finishing items for your space. Select colours that pull together all the finishes. Be adventurous, make a statement, use colour.
10) Quality kitchens last for many years and provide an excellent return on investment along with the enjoyment that your family will have using it. Good kitchen design, overall layout and best use of the space can be done with professional design assistance that has a fresh and inspired approach to seeing things in ways you may not consider.
CPI Interiors would love to help with your new kitchen, call us today.
