One of the biggest issues people have when they go to remodel their kitchens, is just where in the world should they start & once they get started is dealing with all the myriads of choices. That is one reason why we handed all our potential clients a basic questionnaire to help get them started. While this one was designed for remodels, it can also be used when designing one for your new house to help you, your builder / architect / designer get a head start on what you would like & need.
Budget & Type:
While many people are reluctant to discuss their budget for a variety of different reasons this is needed to help you achieve your goals. Ahh, but doesn’t the contractor just raise or lower our prices based on the budget? In some cases, some do; but then you might want to change your criteria as the good ones are looking at all the solutions available & their various price points. For example granite versus a solid surface / all wood versus particle board / dovetails with full extensions versus…
- Your Maximum Budget:
- Amount you would like to spend:
Describe what type of Remodel or Renovation you plan on doing; (the higher the level – the more it runs)
- Level 1: Simple Facelift, Spruce up my kitchen with maybe a new floor, &/or countertops, &/or fixtures &/or new appliances
- Level 2: Gut It and replace everything with new, keeping the location of the new appliances & the new cabinets in the same location as the old, which requires no Electrical &/or Plumbing Changes
- Level 3: Gut It and replace everything with new including the layout, while still keeping everything inside the footprint of the old room, which requires no Structural Work
- Level 4: Move it or Build It for more space / better views & access e.g. I want access to the Family Room & Dining Room, the kids don’t need that closet, etc…
Lifestyle:
I got to give a tip of my hat to Bob Borson of Life of an Architect for succinctly clearing up the issue on what do homebuyers really want, especially when it comes to lifestyle. Make sure you don’t take a fantasy & use it to supplant how you normally live…
- My top three reasons for remodeling the kitchen are;
- 1
- 2
- 3
- My top three gripes about my existing kitchen is;
- 1
- 2
- 3
- How long do you plan to live in the house?
- What do you plan on doing when your existing kitchen is unusable? (Take Out is King, I need a Temporary Kitchen setup, I will setup a Temporary Kitchen, Vacation Time)
- Who Cooks? (Kids, Elderly, Just one person, etc…)
- What type of cooking do you do? (Quick & Simple, Family Meals, Gourmet Meals, Big Parties, Combination — I don’t but I want a high end look with Viking range &…)
- Who Cleans Up?
- Does anyone have any physical limitations that might be a factor & if so what are they? (Reaching, bending, lack of strength issues) — Designing for Everyone Interior Checklist
- Where do you eat now / Where would you like to eat after the remodel is completed? (if you no longer use the dining room, what would you like to use it for)
- Do you entertain others or would you like to? (If yes: How many, What style of entertaining – Catered, Formal, Buffet )
- Do you have pets & where do they eat? (Would you like a special spot for them, pull out dining drawer)
- Do you buy your food in bulk or as needed?
- Do you need more storage & for what area(s)?
- What other activities or hobbies might impact the use of the kitchen? (Homework, Paying Bills, Entertaining Friends, Laundry, Puzzles, Home Office, Family or Casual Dining, Phone or Communication Center, kids running in and out all summer long for drinks & snacks)
Must Have & Wish List Items:
This is a big item even if there is only one cook… Every Member of the family should take a piece of blank paper & write down what they need and would like to see (the wants) in the new kitchen separated into two columns appropriately labeled – for example (small refrigerator by back door for kids drinks & snacks, shelf for cookbooks or a bookcase, area for a phone and computer, family communication area, ability to see TV, etc…)
Material & Item Choices:
One of the best things that happened with the advent of the internet was learning just how many choices were available. The bad thing is the amount of choices… Below is a list separated by major category item & we always encouraged people to circle or number what they were interested in – along those lines we also encouraged them to place an X through anything that they would never consider. By doing this you are saving everyone’s time which we all know equates to money.
- Appliances: Built In Refrigerator, Dishwasher, Garbage Disposal, Ice Maker, Range Top, Regular Refrigerator, Trash Compactor, Wine Cooler
- Oven Features ► Convection ►Induction ► Double Wall ► Electric Normal ► Gas Normal ► Professional ► Warming Drawer
- Appliance Finishes: Black, Cabinet Panel, Stainless, White
- Back Splash: Laminate, None, Same as Countertop, Steel, Tile
- Countertops: Butcher Block, Ceramic Tile, Concrete, Granite Stone, Laminate, Solid Surface, Steel, Stone Tile
- Cabinet Style / Look: Commercial, Contemporary, Country, European, Frameless, Traditional, Tuscan
- Cabinet Body: Hardwood, Melamine, Particle Board, Plastic, Plywood, Steel
- Cabinet Door Style: Arch, Flat Panel, Glass, Raised Panel
- Cabinet Face Frames & Doors: Cherry, Hickory, Maple, Oak, Same as Cabinet Finish
- Cabinet Features: Crown Molding, Dovetail Construction, Drop Down Sink Front, Full Extension, Open Shelves
- Cabinet Finish: Dark Stain, Faux Finish, Laminate, Light Stain, Painted, Steel, Therma-foil
- Flooring: Tile, Vinyl, Wood
- Lighting: Ceiling Fan, Drop-down / Pendant, Fluorescent, Leave As Is, Recessed, Track, Under cabinet
- Other Items to consider:
- Add or remove Soffit or Tray detail
- Appliance Garage
- Bread Storage
- Cabinets to the ceiling
- Change or Add Window
- Lazy Susan / pull out shelves / Korner King
- Shelves instead of upper cabinets / add a few
- Skylight / Solotubes
Last but not least:
If you have pictures of features that you would like in your new kitchen, a picture of your dream kitchen, sketches, or brochures on a certain item you would like, these should be brought to the Design meeting. Just remember this is just the tip of the iceberg, but it will help get you focused on what you are looking for, allowing you to wisely spend your time with the designer not only choosing finishes but also figuring out exactly how you cook so that what you need is right where it should be.
Can’t tailor design without first getting an idea of budget!
Can’t buy more kitchen than you can pay for, and probably don’t want to buy less kitchen than you can afford and miss opportunity for a nicer kitchen.
I like when people explain process sequence. Getting things out of order leads to friction, frustration, confusion, and bad design.
Nice post Sean.
Amen & thanks for chiming in Ted – just curious any other process pieces you might like to see?
Love to see initial steps before energy audit.
Love to see audit through sale.
Love to see sale through project mgmt.
Love to see qc, and addressing punch list.
Hmmm interesting list & thanks Ted – as for the first (Basic Audit Questionnaire & Checklist) that is on the books from one of my presentations but would love to see yours also as there are so many versions out there
As for the 4, the top 3 are tough as I am an independent & don’t have to do a dog & pony show to sell them on my installation services. Basically all my equipment is already loaded & always ready to go (batteries charged / backup charger loaded) – print off a sheet or two & I am ready to go
Project Mgmt I have covered a few times – a quick search on Team work would bring you to most of those pieces.
QC varies based on exactly what was done so more specifics on what you are looking for would be needed.
As for addressing punch lists, I don’t believe in them – any issues spotted should be addressed immediately & taken care of then, not left to a HO to spot & create a list. When doing remodeling projects we left a notebook out which I would add notes for the HO & vice versa – one of our biggest things was if you spot something you think is off, got a question, make sure you write it down so we can address it quickly & that worked very well for us
“(Basic Audit Questionnaire & Checklist) that is on the books from one of my presentations ”
Got a link?
Love the notebook idea. (I used posterous for a while on one project involving lots of people, but that didn’t stick)
I am finding that “continuous commissioning” is a thing that may apply even more to adjusting client behavior than managing physical plant. Recent client said that when it got really cold he had to use electric heater again.
When asked about thermostat setting on heat pump, he said “67….”
I asked him to turn it up. 🙂
Everyone thinks big savings occur by tiny increments at the thermostat, which may be true for houses that are energy disasters but once you fix a house, I’m finding thermostat settings are almost irrelevant.
One lady last year complained about being cold. I asked to bump her stat 7°! She tracked cost of being comfortable instead of miserable – her bill went up less than $5 a month during the winter, and last winter was COLD.
Once houses are fixed and you aren’t heating the outdoors, the temperature you keep the indoors doesn’t offer meaningful opportunity. How do we get people to understand this?
Hmmm good question & very good points – I do have a programmable thermostat post I am working on getting posted sometime early next year – if you would wish to add to it / do a guest post on the topic, I would be glad to have you.
As for the audit checklist – that post comes out Monday(the 9th) … https://thehtrc.com/2013/basic-energy-audit-questionnaire-checklist
Thanks again Ted & here’s to finishing the year off strong
Sean, this thermostat thing really drives me nuts.
“Here, put this in, it’ll save you money!”
“(Oh crap, you tracked!!) Well, if you didn’t save money, must be YOU doing something wrong!”
Everything about it stinks, completely lacks integrity. If we can’t reasonably predict what it will save, and show how it should be operated, it is snake oil.
Every house is different. It is a system of interconnected systems, and those interconnections vary really widely. I think we need to stop attempting to develop and promote “one size fits all” recommendations. The interconnections matter, they need to be considered each time.
Attempting to answer design questions with prescriptive answers demeans our profession, yet we continue to do it… to ourselves!
Love to see basic audit questionnaire and checklist.
Can’t tailor design without first getting an idea of budget!
Can’t buy more kitchen than you can pay for, and probably don’t want to buy less kitchen than you can afford and miss opportunity for a nicer kitchen.
I like when people explain process sequence. Getting things out of order leads to friction, frustration, confusion, and bad design.
Nice post Sean.
Amen & thanks for chiming in Ted – just curious any other process pieces you might like to see?
Love to see basic audit questionnaire and checklist.
Love to see initial steps before energy audit.
Love to see audit through sale.
Love to see sale through project mgmt.
Love to see qc, and addressing punch list.
Hmmm interesting list & thanks Ted – as for the first (Basic Audit Questionnaire & Checklist) that is on the books from one of my presentations but would love to see yours also as there are so many versions out there
As for the 4, the top 3 are tough as I am an independent & don’t have to do a dog & pony show to sell them on my installation services. Basically all my equipment is already loaded & always ready to go (batteries charged / backup charger loaded) – print off a sheet or two & I am ready to go
Project Mgmt I have covered a few times – a quick search on Team work would bring you to most of those pieces.
QC varies based on exactly what was done so more specifics on what you are looking for would be needed.
As for addressing punch lists, I don’t believe in them – any issues spotted should be addressed immediately & taken care of then, not left to a HO to spot & create a list. When doing remodeling projects we left a notebook out which I would add notes for the HO & vice versa – one of our biggest things was if you spot something you think is off, got a question, make sure you write it down so we can address it quickly & that worked very well for us
“(Basic Audit Questionnaire & Checklist) that is on the books from one of my presentations ”
Got a link?
Love the notebook idea. (I used posterous for a while on one project involving lots of people, but that didn’t stick)
I am finding that “continuous commissioning” is a thing that may apply even more to adjusting client behavior than managing physical plant. Recent client said that when it got really cold he had to use electric heater again.
When asked about thermostat setting on heat pump, he said “67….”
I asked him to turn it up. 🙂
Everyone thinks big savings occur by tiny increments at the thermostat, which may be true for houses that are energy disasters but once you fix a house, I’m finding thermostat settings are almost irrelevant.
One lady last year complained about being cold. I asked to bump her stat 7°! She tracked cost of being comfortable instead of miserable – her bill went up less than $5 a month during the winter, and last winter was COLD.
Once houses are fixed and you aren’t heating the outdoors, the temperature you keep the indoors doesn’t offer meaningful opportunity. How do we get people to understand this?
Hmmm good question & very good points – I do have a programmable thermostat post I am working on getting posted sometime early next year – if you would wish to add to it / do a guest post on the topic, I would be glad to have you.
As for the audit checklist – that post comes out Monday(the 9th) … https://thehtrc.com/2013/basic-energy-audit-questionnaire-checklist
Thanks again Ted & here’s to finishing the year off strong
Sean, this thermostat thing really drives me nuts.
“Here, put this in, it’ll save you money!”
“(Oh crap, you tracked!!) Well, if you didn’t save money, must be YOU doing something wrong!”
Everything about it stinks, completely lacks integrity. If we can’t reasonably predict what it will save, and show how it should be operated, it is snake oil.
Every house is different. It is a system of interconnected systems, and those interconnections vary really widely. I think we need to stop attempting to develop and promote “one size fits all” recommendations. The interconnections matter, they need to be considered each time.
Attempting to answer design questions with prescriptive answers demeans our profession, yet we continue to do it… to ourselves!