Kitchen Consultant

by: Herrick Kimball

Topics include: freestanding fridge, sprayer spout, engineered flooring, major kitchen remodeling, minor kitchen remodel, standard proposal form, perimeter bond, kitchen remodeler, custom laminate, inlaid vinyl, traditional face frame, solid surface material, canister lights, laminate doors, kitchen remodeling project, cabinet refacing, professional remodeler, minor remodeling, sink base cabinet, laminate flooring, stock cabinets, mechanical vent, halogen fixtures, cabinet layout, frameless cabinets

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A common-sense guide to kitchen remodeling -- There's nothing like an expert to help you through the kitchen remodeling process. The Kitchen Consultant contains the wisdom of seasoned kitchen remodeling contractor Herrick Kimball and the input of more than two dozen kitchen consultants from across the U.S. You'll find invaluable advice on design, products, prices, suppliers, contractors and work specifications. Written in an engaging, conversational style with friendly drawings, this book makes the kitchen remodeling process flow smoothly. You'll learn how to: * decide how much remodeling they can do for themselves and what to leave to the professionals. * determine the cost vs. payback of a kitchen remodel in home resale value. * save money by avoiding common kitchen remodeling pitfalls. * choose the best appliances for a budget and compare common kitchen materials.

TOC: Introduction 1 Remodeling Options 2 Design and Planning 3 Finding a Reputable Contractor 4 Money and Contracts 5 Construction Basics 6 Mechanical Systems 7 Windows and Doors 8 Lighting 9 Kitchen Ventilation 10 Cabinetry 11 Countertops 12 Sinks 13 Flooring 14 Major Appliances Resources Index

Having your kitchen remodeled can be a satisfying experience that enriches your life or a bad experience that leaves you with regrets. The difference between the two lies not in chance or circumstance but in making wise decisions. And wise decisions come from knowledge properly applied. That's why I've written this book. If this is your first remodel, you may not realize how complicated the process can be. Kitchen remodeling is a jungle. The choices that must be made regarding design, products, prices, suppliers, contractors, and work specifications are the equivalent of rushing streams, rickety rope bridges, sweltering heat, pestilence, and dense undergrowth. Some homeowners bushwhack their way through and somehow manage to survive, but the smart ones do their research, hire a guide, and confidently strike out for the treasure that awaits them. So much for wild analogies; I think you get the idea. And if you do, this book can serve as your guide. It contains the basic information you'll need to make prudent decisions about how and where to spend your hard-earned dollars to get the kitchen of your dreams. Talk, of course, is cheap, and many other books have been written about kitchen remodeling. What's so special about this one? I've been a remodeler for 20 years, and I've worked on literally hundreds of kitchens, including my own! So I know what it's like, as both a professional and a homeowner. You'll get the benefit of my hard-won experience from a professional and pragmatic perspective that few other books can match. Don't be taken in by gaudy coffee-table books that feature sleek photos of esoteric or unconventional design schemes and outlandishly expensive product lines. Such extravagances may be entertaining to look at but not ultimately useful in planning your own kitchen remodel. I will discuss some products typically found in "high-end" kitchens but it will be with an eye toward value and performance. I won't waste your time and money on overblown ostentation or quirky style. Nor will I bore you with reams of tedious data. Should you wish to delve more deeply into different products or procedures, you can consult one of the numerous publications listed in Resources on pp. 194-197. The Kitchen Consultant is a handbook of advice and information, and as such it has been organized for quick and easy reference. Each chapter is devoted to a particular aspect of the remodeling process. The information is geared to the homeowner who will be hiring a general contractor to do the work, but it will also be useful to you if you decide to act as your own general contractor, or even if you decide to do the hands-on work yourself. I will tell you what options are available and discuss their pros and cons. Along the way, I won't hesitate to make some professional recommendations of my own. But enough of this talk; let's get down to business. Pick a subject, locate it on the contents page or in the index, and turn to the appropriate pages. See for yourself if this book meets your informational needs. I am confident that it will empower you to make the best decisions when you remodel your kitchen. Here's to your success.

Reviews:

Good basic book -- This is a good book for starting to design a kitchen. Note that it contains NO pictures of kitchens. What it does contain is a pretty detailed discussion of the different options in kitchen materials (countertops, cabinets, lighting, plumbing, appliances, etc.) in a fairly unbiased but experienced way. For example, the author talks about several items he has in his own kitchen, which he likes, problems, etc. While the information is pretty good, the discussion does miss a few items. For example, he makes no mention of stainless steel or concrete as a countertop material. However, he does cover all the other usual countertop materials available (laminates, solid surface, stone, tile, etc.). There is also a good discussion on selecting a designer or architect, and on selecting a contractor. Good list of quality resources at the end of hte book.

Meat & Potatoes Kitchen Remodeling Information -- Over the past two years, my wife has purchased about every kitchen remodeling book there is (at least a dozen) and I've read every one. "The Kitchen Consultant" is clearly the best of the bunch if you're looking for practical, useful information about the many options and decisions that come with kitchen remodeling. This book is NOT a kitchen design book and it is NOT loaded with beautiful kitchen photos (there are some drawings), and it is NOT a do-it-yourself remodeling manual, but it does what none of those kinds of books (at least that I've seen) do---it clearly explains how to find and work with a good kitchen designer, how to find, evaluate and work with a professional remodeler, and how to make informed choices about things like lighting, ventilation, cabinets, countertops, sinks, flooring, and appliances (there are chapters on each of those categories). This book is obviously written by someone who knows his subject intimately (the author is a professional kitchen remodeler with 20 years of experience) and is able to present all the information it in a clear, organized, and easy to read manner. Reading this book is like having a friend who is an experienced contractor come over and help you not only sort out all your options, but also give you his professional opinion and point out some things you may not have considered, but should. The Kitchen Consultant helped us to make a lot of decisions. For example, it settled a long standing dispute my wife and I have had about the kind of refridgerator we should buy.

There are better books -- As a long standing fan of Taunton books I found this book very disappointing. It is not so much the book to read to figure out how to do your kitchen, as it is all the stuff your designer/contractor would want you to know. There is virtually no discussion of how decisions in kitchen design are made, but a lot of discussion of things on which to decide (e.g. lighting), which are always ended with "there are professionals with whom you can consult." This is NOT a book for a DIY of any order, the author gives the definite impression that he thinks the home-owner is an idiot and an inconvenience. Further, after reading them back to back I would suggest Taunton's other book "Kitchens that Work", as a much better choice. It handles the design issues in a much more enjoyable (and less insulting) way, while still covering pretty much all the same information. I find, however, that for actual material decisions the Fine Homebuilding Archives have more useful information than either book. For us the only value in this book is the first three chapters: finding and hiring a contractor. If you're really planning a remodel these are probably useful to read, but don't expect the book to be inspirational.

Good Overview of Remodeling Process -- This book is written from a contractor's perspective, and is an excellent overview of the remodeling process. There is great advice on hiring contractors, selecting materials, and otherwise surviving the remodeling of your kitchen. The book is very detailed, and gives some shrewd "insider" tips. However, there are two groups of readers who may be disappointed by this book. If you are designing your kitchen and are at the dreaming stage, you may not be ready for this book. While there are suggestions on material selection, the advice is not given from a design perspective. The book I recommend is Better Homes and Gardens "Kitchens: Your Guide to Planning and Remodeling." This book may also be disapointing to do-it-yourselfers. Since the author is a contractor, he is not encouraging of this approach. If you are uncertain whether you can handle the work, he gives solid advice regarding the potential pitfalls. If you are definitely doing the work yourself, you are better served picking up a Time-Life type book.

Unbiased comprehensive advice -- This book describes the advantages and disadvantages of all the choices you have when remodelling a kitchen: cabinets, countertops, sinks, flooring, appliances, lighting, ventilation, windows/doors, plumbing, etc. The author is practical and is not shy about telling you when the expensive choices are not the best, and which materials are hardest to maintain. Note that this is not a design book, and so has no pictures. For that, I recommend the "Big Book of Kitchen Design Ideas" by Tina Skinner.