Kitchen Cookbook
How to Find Your Kitchen Style Story by Sarah Robertson of Dearborn Cabinetry www.studiodearborn.com
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f you’re planning to remodel your kitchen, you have a lot of decisions ahead. Everyone who is design conscious suffers from a bit of “design schizophrenia”, so it is almost inevitable that you will be drawn to more than one style of kitchen. Here’s how to find inspiration, get organized and start making some choices. Keep a file Pinterest, Magazines or the old fashioned file folder—whatever works for you! Tear out every kitchen you see that strikes a chord with you, even if you’re not sure why (more on this later.) The more photos you save, the more data points you will have to help determine your true style. If you like a certain design aspect, keeps NOTES so you can watch for trends across your selections. Keep A List Before you begin the renovation, keep a list handy in the kitchen to jot down notes on how you use your own kitchen, and what could be improved upon. Are you lacking in the utensil storage department? Would you really use a mixer shelf? Extra recycling space? Write it down! 28
Hire A Professional...Early A kitchen renovation deserves a kitchen-centric approach, so why wait to bring in the kitchen designer? On more than 80% of my projects, we have to tweak the architect’s plans to get the kitchen right. Begin interviewing kitchen designers as soon as you’ve hired an architect, if not before! Keep Organized Go back through the images you have saved and organize by thread. Liked the refrigerator? Love that countertop? Great storage ideas? Make as many folders as you need to keep your images organized. If you eventually hire a designer, these files will give them a running start at understanding your style. Keep It Real Now’s the time to start editing. As you go back through the images ask yourself “Do I still love this?” or “why did I even save this?” If you can’t remember, then toss it! Next, you need to ask “Is it REALLY me?” and the kicker, “will it work with my lifestyle?” If you own several Golden Retrievers, then glossy ebony floors are NOT for
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