Custom Residential Architects Network

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  • 1.  MSN and Kitchen Renovations

    Posted 12-17-2013 12:48 PM

    I love reading articles from the general news media which tells you what you should or shouldn't do to your houses to get the most money out of them while selling. I usually end up rolling my eyes and cringing. Here's a snippet from today's article found on msn.com.

    Renovation Do No. 1: Upgrade your kitchen
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    All of our experts agree that a kitchen renovation should be at the top of your list, since it's the heart of a home and the room where families spend most of their time. But where to start? A couple of givens include upgrading to stainless steel appliances and installing countertops made from engineered stone or granite, because these fairly easy changes will improve the aesthetic appeal of the space. Details can also make a difference, like putting shiny knobs on cabinets and purchasing a sparkling new faucet for the sink.

    Another wise kitchen upgrade? Knocking down a full or half wall, so you can connect the kitchen to the den or living room. "It makes the kitchen feel more spacious," says Phyllis Rockower, the owner of the Real Estate Investors Club of Los Angeles. "If you're cooking, you can still hear what people are saying during a party, or keep an eye on your kids while they're playing."

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    The above snippet was accompanied by a picture of what I would call a fairly generic suburban home with cherry cabinets and neutral granite with built in stainless steel appliances. As a person who's been searching for a new house for a couple of years, I just want to scream every time I walk into a house with a new generic kitchen - usually one that never matches the design style of the house. Example: 1950s modern ranch with a 1990's country kitchen.

    How can we work with kitchen retailers, showrooms and the general media to help break this generic kitchen cycle? Is there even a way? By the way, as of this morning, this article was on it's way to having hundreds of comments, so it's obviously being read by people.

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    Brenda Nelson Assoc. AIA
    Woodruff Design, LLC
    Ankeny IA
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  • 2.  RE:MSN and Kitchen Renovations

    Posted 12-18-2013 06:03 PM
    I suggest that the best way that architects can have a positive influence is learn how to do kitchen design competently, and then lead the process, rather than cede it to others. Kitchen design can be a nice little profit center, too, if you do it right. Maybe write an article or two, also.

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    Richard Morrison, Architect-Interior Designer
    Redwood City CA
    www.richardmorrison.com
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  • 3.  RE:MSN and Kitchen Renovations

    Posted 12-21-2013 12:15 PM
    I would agree, we draw our own kitchens and other built ins. But we also refer on to others. I refer 2 designers here in Charlotte, both add value to the overall house. It has worked well for us. Many of our clients want a trained full time kitchen designer on board as part of the team. If we were rigid, we would loose the commission. Something. Architects need to figure out. We do not know it all and there are others who do an excellent job, even better than we do. So why not get the best on board. The owner wins, the house wins and the architect gets the credit for fine home. Some of our clients do not want to interact with other designers. In these cases we step up. Multiple designers is something I discuss in the interview. Landscape architects, or approved designers, interior designers, kitchen. By doing so it helps me evaluate what our cost will be. I do tell make it clear we have editorial review of the work and coordination. By doing so we make the designers are set up for success. The clients appreciate the comprhensive nature of the work. I have learned without clear lines of scope, the architect can be sucked in to more than they figured and it is very hard to be fully compensated for expansion of our role. By allowing others to help, the erosion of our hourly rates is less. ------------------------------------------- Donald Duffy AIA Don Duffy Architecture Charlotte NC -------------------------------------------
    Original Message


  • 4.  RE:MSN and Kitchen Renovations

    Posted 12-23-2013 05:21 PM
    Charging extra for cabinet layout and component selection and so forth may be a little profit center but I designed and built high end homes for 12 years and let me just say the detailed kitchen cabinet design drawing and fittings are best left to the supplier. If something goes haywire it is on them.

    I found cabinets to be very tricky and extremely specialized according to the manufacturer. Other than the generic layout of the base/wall cabinets, doors, drawers, appliances, pantry, etc. Unless its your passion, I personally would rather be looking for another project than getting bogged down into that specialized minutia. Anyway the cabinet guys do it inside of the price of the cabinets - how are you going to compete with that?
    Happy Holidays!

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    S. Jones AIA
    Owner
    S Berry Jones - Architects
    Memphis TN
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    Original Message