Purchasing a kitchen can be expensive, time consuming, and confusing. We are here to help! In order to help you understand the process better, we created this information series called “The Kitchen Purchasing Guide”.

To accompany this set of read-through guides, our team at German Kitchen Center has also created a corresponding video series to each topic. These text guides will delve into topics in more detail while videos are more of a summary. We hope that our text guides and videos will make it easier to purchase your next kitchen.

Content Overview:

1. Assembling Your Team: A kitchen renovation, no matter how large or small, requires a team of specialists. You may not need all of these depending on your project. Sometimes multiple roles are filled by a single person if the company is small, but these are standard positions in a full-service company.
   1. Kitchen Designer- The person responsible for your kitchen layout. This role usually helps with brand selection, pricing, customer service and followup.
   2. Cabinet Supplier- The brand who makes your cabinets. This can be a well-known brand found a home improvement or furniture store, an international brand, or local millworker.
   3. Appliances Supplier- The brand who makes your kitchen appliances. It is recommended to purchase all appliances from the same supplier, but not required.
   4. Countertop fabricator- The company who supplies your countertops.
   5. Contractor- A well-rounded carpenter who can install cabinets and appliances and perform accurate measurements.
   6. Flooring Supplier- A flooring contractor.
   7. Plumbing Fixture Supplier- The brand who provides your sinks and faucets.
   8. Backsplash Supplier or Fabricator- The company who provides material for backsplash decor.
   9. Optional Specialties: These are recommended depending on work needed:
      1. Architect- An architect can help with structural changes like removing walls.
      2. Project Manager- An operations role who handles logistics of purchasing and installs.
      3. Interior Designer- This role extends beyond kitchen design and coordinates with other areas of the home, recommending color pallets and other decorating additions.
      4. Lighting Designer- A specialist who optimizes the light fixtures throughout the kitchen.
2. Measuring: Here we give you the general guidelines for measuring your kitchen. Accurate measurements are key to ordering cabinets that fit precisely. You can do measurements yourself, though a professional may be needed.
3. Kitchen Design Options: Here we will provide an overview of your selection options. This includes modern, traditional, and blended transitional kitchen styles, and the types of arrangements, finishes and hardware that are typical from each. We will also cover some kitchen layouts and the benefits of each.
4. Appliances Selection: This will provide the criteria for selecting appliances. This includes standards like the refrigerator and cooktop, but also some niche appliances like built in coffee makers and steam ovens.
5. Choosing A Kitchen Cabinet Supplier: This segment will help you know what to look for when choosing a cabinet supplier. We go over price ranges (measured in linear feet) and what you can expect for your budget, and some additional factors for selecting your brand.
6. Working With A Kitchen Designer: This guide covers the criteria for selecting a kitchen designer. We go over researching designers, creating a plan, reviewing your proposal, and negotiating.
7. Developing A Budget: Here we attempt to help you in pricing your kitchen. You will need to plan correctly and allocate your budget in the right places.
8. Price Comparison: This guide will delve deeper into pricing a kitchen and why some options cost far more (or less) than others. Deciding factors include cabinet finish, engineering, brand reputation, design, and overall quality.
9. Purchasing: This section covers the ins and outs of purchasing kitchens. We will discuss how to deal with suppliers and how your kitchen remodel company can assist you.
10. Logistics: Here we will get into more detail regarding the project management side of kitchen purchasing. We will explain some ordering challenges you might face, how long the process should take, and receiving your orders. This section also provides insight into the manufacture of your kitchen, whether in a large scale factory or local workshop.

Renovation Process: We lay out what you can expect throughout the renovation project. This includes your points of contact assisting at every level you as we detail each step in the process. This also covers typical challenges involved and the people who can help you navigate them.