How to find and hire a good kitchen designer
In this guide, we look at the best ways to find and hire a kitchen designer. With so many tradespeople out there, we’ll give you tips and advice on how to hire a reliable and trusted kitchen designer who will do a great job.
Today, the kitchen is often the most important room in the house. It’s the hub of the home and a well-designed kitchen can hugely impact the value of a property.
Finding and hiring the best kitchen designer for the project is key.
5 top tips for finding and hiring a kitchen designer
Every kitchen design is unique, so you want to make sure you find a quality and trustworthy kitchen designer with the right experience to create your dream kitchen.
However, be prepared to wait for the best kitchen designers in your area – the good ones are usually busy, but nearly always worth waiting for.
Here’s how you can find and hire the best kitchen designers near you.
1. Search online directories like Checkatrade
A really fast way to find a good kitchen designer is to search online directories like Checkatrade.
At Checkatrade, all our members have to pass up to 12 checks. So, you know they’re the real deal.
You can head over to their profile to see photos of their recent work, learn more about them and read the latest reviews from people in your area.
Best of all, not only are our members checked, but our reviews are too. So, you know you can trust the reviews you see.
See which local kitchen designers we’ve checked and recommended for your job by searching your postcode below.
2. Ask your neighbours, friends and family
Another great way of finding kitchen designers in your area is to ask your friends, family and neighbours for recommendations.
This way, you’ll have a first-hand account of a kitchen designer’s level of service and professionalism from someone you trust.
For any recommendations you get, always make sure to check whether they’re on Checkatrade. If they are, you then know they have been checked by us.
3. Ask other tradespeople for recommendations
Reliable tradespeople like to work with other reliable tradespeople. So, if you’ve worked with tradespeople such as a builder or tiler who’ve done a great job, ask them to recommend good kitchen designers in your area.
Chances are they’ll be more than happy to recommend kitchen designers for the job.
4. Create a shortlist and interview your favourites
Very often you’ll be hiring a kitchen designer for a pretty big – and expensive – job. So you want to be confident in who you’re hiring.
Once you’ve found recommended local kitchen designers you think could be right for your project, pick your favourite two or three and organise to meet them in person.
Face-to-face meetings will allow you to get a feel for the kitchen designer, their experience, and how well you get on – after all, you want to hire a kitchen designer who’s approachable, open, and honest.
Ask to see a portfolio of their work. You could even ask to visit one of their current kitchen designs so you can see the quality of their work.
5. Speak to previous customers
When you’ve narrowed down your choice for the kitchen designer you might want to hire, ask for references from previous customers – and follow up with them.
Get in touch with them to ask how the job went, whether they were happy with everything, and whether they would work with the kitchen designer again.
Do I need a kitchen designer?
If you’re planning to fit a new kitchen – or renovate an existing one – hiring a professional kitchen designer will make sure you get the best results and the highest quality of work.
Kitchen designers are experts in taking a space and maximising it for your lifestyle. So, it’s definitely worth getting a professional perspective on how best to transform your kitchen.
It’s their job to plan and propose clever, functional and beautiful elements that can really elevate a kitchen and give it the wow factor. With all this in mind, kitchen designers are definitely worth the cost.
What’s the difference between a kitchen designer and a kitchen fitter?
Both kitchen designers and kitchen fitters can help you with your project. But they do have different roles and skillsets.
Kitchen fitters
- Typically install pre-made cabinets and other components to bring your kitchen to life
- Ensure cabinets, appliances, and worktops are installed correctly and to a high standard
- Usually experienced in carpentry and skilled at using a variety of tools and equipment
Kitchen designers
- Expertise in planning and designing your new kitchen
- Look at your space, lifestyle requirements and budget to create a bespoke kitchen design
- Typically have a background in design with knowledge of latest kitchen trends and products
- Most kitchen designers will be in charge of the whole job – from design concept to final installation of your new kitchen
Questions to ask a kitchen designer
Work out if a kitchen designer is the right fit for your project by asking the following questions:
- What are your qualifications?
- What experience do you have?
- Do you have a personal portfolio?
- Do you specialise in a particular style of kitchen?
- How many design options will I get – and in what format?
- Are you insured?
- Will you be on hand during the installation?
- How can I add value to my home?
- Can you work within my budget?
- What’s popular for kitchens at the moment?
How much does it cost to hire a kitchen designer UK?
The cost of your kitchen design will depend on several factors: the size of your kitchen, the design elements you wish to include, and the materials you plan to use.
Most kitchen suppliers will offer a free service to help you design your own kitchen. However, you’ll be limited to using their products and suppliers. If you want an impartial kitchen design service, a professional kitchen designer is the solution.
The average cost to hire a kitchen designer can be anywhere between £770 - £4,600, depending on the size of your project and the detail you need.
Typical hourly rates can range from around £50 - £150, similar to the cost of an interior designer. For bigger projects, the fee will be around 8-12% of the total cost of the kitchen.
Read our comprehensive kitchen design cost guide and find out other costs you might need to budget for.
You can find local kitchen designers in a matter of minutes here on Checkatrade. Even better, our members come recommended by hundreds of your neighbours!
How to get a quote for a kitchen designer
As with all home improvement projects, we always recommend getting at least three quotes from different kitchen designers in your area.
You’ll want to shop around to make sure you’re paying a fair and competitive price for the work.
Thankfully, our request a quote feature is perfect for getting multiple quotes – you simply post details about the work you need doing and we’ll send it out to local tradespeople in your area. Try it out – it’s quick and easy!
So, if you’re ready for a new kitchen, get ready to be excited. Explore all the possibilities of your new kitchen by finding and hiring recommended kitchen designers in your area.
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