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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I've been looking through old threads on kitchen designers and kitchen renovations.  We are going to start planning some renovations soon, and as part of this, we will be doing a complete gut reno of the kitchen.  We have an architect, and we've been pleased with his previous work for us.

I would love to hear from people who have done a major kitchen renovation without a kitchen designer.  I've been on Houzz a lot, and DH and I have researched issues with layout, cabinets, appliances - the whole thing.  We're going to spend some money on this renovation, so avoiding a KD isn't necessarily all about the money, although that's part of it.  I don't want to feel steered into their cabinets or anything else that they have business reasons - not style reasons - to steer us toward.

We have a good idea of what we like and what we need for functionality.  What am I missing?  Do you have any cautionary tales or success stories regarding designing a kitchen without a KD?[/quote]

We learned more from contractors [and 1 out of 4 architects] in total on various projects including a new build [addition] than we got from any kitchen designer.  
So I never hired one.

Kitchen cabinets come in stock widths and depths and heights.  Start with the sink.  I've heard of designers using 30 in base rather than 36.  Always get 36 despite any suggestions otherwise.  You can get a mega sink or a standard size 1 bowl and a side bowl.  Any storage lost by the 6 in is immaterial since you gain under the cabinet.

Place the dishwasher to the right or left to the sink base cabinet.  Skip the funky soap holes etc.  Build out the cabinets from that point.  A common repair item is pull out trash doors.  If you have space next to the sink do a base cabinet with door and then install a pull out trash on the base with drawer on top.  Always get solid wood doors and drawer fronts-can be filled/painted/restained.

Do a microwave built in shelf in the upper cabinets -reaching over a stove is just a hazard.  Upper cabinets flanking the range should be at least 6 inches offset from the range opening.  Range is positioned for gas lines etc.   Never have it open to a walking area on the side.  Space then a cupboard.  The fridge opening is framed out.  If on site it is too narrow you are screwed.

Don't get funky and mess with plumbing lines [which are vented] or drainage.  All done and just get what fits for cabinets after the major stuff is placed.  Remeber better to do a single cabinet run of less than 24 than have a smaller walkway area.  With kids you really don't want a breakfast bar on a island with the range.

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