Jun 12 2007
First question - "Why"?
After more than 20 years of designing kitchens in New York City, Arthur Tanturri of Chelsea Fine Custom Kitchens has heard almost every reason for why people want to makeover their kitchen. The answers can be as simple as, "my dishwasher is broken," or "the cabinets are falling apart," to "thelayout is impractical and doesn't work".
Second Question - "What do you expect from your new kitchen"
Most people know that they want something new and good looking but when they really start thinking about it, they realize that there are more questions than answers.
This is the point where Tanturri says a professional kitchen designer -- not an architect -- should be hired. A kitchen designer is trained in the specific area of custom cabinet application and more importantly, cabinet function. In today's global market, there are new innovations coming out every day -- most notably from Europe, and Italy in particular. Kitchen specialists help guide clients through the possibilities and numerous options in order to deliver the best of what's available in style, function, and of course affordability.
From the outside looking in, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and confused with the entire scope of the task of remodeling. "It is quite rewarding and exciting to be involved with your new kitchen idea provided that you follow a step by step approach to the finish," says Tanturri.
Third Question - not as silly as it seems - "Do you cook?"
This is a very important question because it directly affects the design of the kitchen as it relates to appliances. Cabinets and counters can be modified to fit any space, but appliances are a given - dimensionally. If you cook every day and think that you will need six burners, two ovens, a super sized refrigerator, two dishwashers and a large sink and your kitchen is 200sq. ft. then you might need to dig deeper into what your kitchen priorities are.
This is main reason Chelsea Fine Custom Kitchens looks to European designs for answers. There are simply more choices in highly functional cabinets and appliances that look fantastic and get the job done in elegant fashion. "As a designer I am impressed every day with the continuous evolution of European kitchens," say Tanturri. "There is something very alluring, particularly about a well designed Italian kitchen. People are drawn to its beauty and elegance and then are amazed at how functional they are. They look for a surprise when a door or drawer is opened and are impressed at the simplicity of how space is captured and made usable like never before."