Your Final Kitchen Plan
We are very much at the stage where your layout should be detailed for all of your list of practical needs. Your quotation also should be well detailed and covering all areas of the contract. If there are any major items on your list that are not covered then your designer has let you down and needs to get on with it. Utility areas are excellent for grabbing extra capacity or losing a microwave with more efficient storage solutions. I have categorised the areas that need to be complete and well detailed, before final quotation and signing of contracts. Whether designing yourself or using a company , this page should be of use to focus your priorities.
Your final design
At this stage you need to be ruthless and have discounted all other alternative plan layouts. Your wish list should have been fulfilled or provided for elsewhere, such as your utility, garage etc. If you are still wrestling with basic design problems such as storage or whether to have an island or peninsular then you are not here yet. If you are still considering high gloss doors or something more traditional then you are not here yet. This is the stage to decide whether the island looks best in oak or painted or with a wood top or granite. If all the creative and practical elements are done then it is just the combination of materials and final look that require tweeking.
Your designer
Your designer will have helped you to focus on one design and will have detailed with visuals or elevations your favoured look and combination of materials such as oak island and painted shaker doors etc. It is very unusual that there are any surprises this late in the process if you have been honest about what you want along the way. It is important that all samples including final door choice and colour are available for this meeting. If any item is missing then you are not in a position to proceed to ordering with a clear enough picture.
Furniture detail
It is important at this stage that all special features and styling details are explained. If there are leg details what shape are they: barley twist or plain square ; quadrant curved or stop chamfered etc. Have the doors got a narrow or wide frame ? With standard doors these items are straight forward, but with bespoke made to order there are many areas for items to be made incorrectly. If the door design is unique then it needs to be seen. If the colour is cerise then it needs to be seen. There are no other areas more important than door and kitchen styling and colour . If you have confidence in the design, designer and quotation amount, then these items should not stop you ordering, but you should always push for a clear example of what you are getting before manufacture. (the door will always be useful as sample stock for the supplier afterwards.)
Appliances final detail
Appliance choices should be itemised with code numbers and priced individually. Freestanding cookers such as Falcon or Rangemaster have many colour and burner variations aswell as accessories, these need to be detailed. It is always worth seeing appliances in the flesh, and this is always possible through the appliance companies other retailer, if it is not available with the company you are purchasing from. You will need to see the appliance representatives "showroom display list" for your area. your supplier should be able to organise it for you.
Discuss and clarify flooring
Flooring should never be taken for granted and always included in your final decision for the completed scheme. If you are considering natural stone then this will have to be taken into account because of its thickness. Reduced internal door heights by upto 20mm and threshold strips can effect access. Sometimes window cill heights can be low and the worktop height ends up above the cill. Most natural flooring is also more expensive to lay and buy, so needs to be taken into account. Colour and texture of flooring also has a direct effect on the final look and is too often left to the last minute, so that the more interesting choices are not available because of delivery deadlines.
Wall coverings
Whether you require wall tiles, coloured glass panels, or just upstands needs to be finalised. Choices of colour, and tile choice, can be covered by pc sum on the contract ie a sum per metre, but it is best to confirm the delivery, if they are special order when you have a short contract period.
Discuss and finalise lighting
Lighting is mostly left to the discretion of the company with the installation contract. The only problem with this is, that they will often put convenience ahead of content. If you require something interesting, then it is important to source the fixings and alternatives and finalise these details before ordering the kitchen. I have seen lots of kitchens where the lighting appears to have been an after-thought, and is left to the electrician to work out, usually with whatever is cheap and available at their supplier. Also costs usually escalate when it is decided that extra fittings and switches are required.
Discuss and clarify internals to cabinets
Cabinet internal accessories are desirablel and quite often ignored till after final contract, when large extra costs often annoy. If you suddenly want an extra magic-corner pull-out and larder pull-out, this will add at least £800 . If you add some pull-out internal drawers and a pull-out twin bin you have added £150-£200. Two pull-out baskets and a drawer added can add £400. So if you are working to a budget make sure you don't leave these items till the end.
Discuss and finalise worktops
Worktop choices should be finalised but it is still necessary to know what you are getting. If it is granite what choice is it ? and is the sample a true representation of the suppliers batch ? Granite in some colours can vary widely from batch to batch, so it may be necessary to see the suppliers slabs to confirm quality. Wooden tops look different if they have wide or narrow strips. Are the wood tops to be made out of the same timber as the doors if both are oak. An American white oak is different to a character oak door when oiled so make sure you have seen good samples.
final quote detailed
I would expect to see a full quotation with every confirmed item detailed and agreed. If you have added extras, then make sure these are added and agreed, as stated earlier a better oven and a few pull-outs can add large amounts of money. it is always best to have these changes to hand before final contract. An additions sheet can be included after contract and negotiated independantly but it is better to negotiate your final price with everything included.
final contract draft
If you have altered the terms of a contract, or wish to do so then ask for a copy to look at with the final design and quotation. Any items you are unhappy about can be cleared up and fully discussed with solutions agreed, so that the final signing and deposit payment runs smoothly.
Building works and extras surveyed and quoted
It is necessary at this stage to have a firm quotation for all extra works included in your contract or provided by sub-contract independently. If you require a new fuseboard, or meter moving, this can add well over £1000 and should be cleared up. I have seen superb kitchen projects where good-will has been spoilt, by bickering over extras and omissions that were not discussed or agreed.
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