AUBURN — If you’re like most people, you don’t build or remodel a kitchen every day. So, chances are you’re not completely sure where to start. What should you think about? How do you pick a designer? How do you pick an installer? How much should you spend? Kitchen projects generate many questions.

“It can be a little intimidating for people who haven’t done it before,” said Mike Pond of the Kitchen and Bath and Flooring Center at Hammond Lumber Company’s store in Auburn. “But once they find a designer they like working with, it can come together fast and actually be a lot of fun.”

Pond has been designing kitchens for more than 15 years, while Byron Peters and Jessica Rice, who work alongside him have over 30 years of combined experience in flooring and kitchen sales. 

As a first step, Pond urges prospective customers to think about how they will be using their kitchen.

“It really helps to know how the customer uses a kitchen, how they move around in it,” he said. “Do they have a routine, and do they like to put things in specific places? How often do they have to chase down to the cellar to get stuff? And how much do they actually cook in the kitchen?”

Pond encourages prospective customers to look at pictures of kitchens in magazines, newspapers and online. And it can help to do rough sketches of their ideas. Another recommended step before making an appointment with a designer is to measure doors, windows and walls, as well as the distance from floor to ceiling. It’s also very helpful if the customer has given some thought to budget.

“It can really give the customer and the designer a big head start,” Pond said, “if they know how much they have to work with. We can show them which cabinets and fixtures give them the best bang for their buck, and also save them money by pointing out the difference between features that might look nice but aren’t really necessary and the features they will actually use.”

An efficient kitchen design center that knows how to move a project along will encourage prospective customers to set up appointments before visiting the center to ensure a designer will be available to guide them through the process and determine what decisions still have to be made before actually making 3D drawings.

Pond said the initial appointment usually takes about an hour, and a designer will ask about the size and layout of the customer’s space, and how they would use their new kitchen, then show them cabinet displays and features that seem to be the best match.

“If they like our ideas and like working with us,” he said, “we’ll set up a second appointment to actually work on specific designs. Once we’ve agreed on a plan, we’ll go to the home and measure the space ourselves before ordering the cabinets.”

If the customer does not already have an installer lined up, Hammond can provide the names of three or more contractors the company has worked with. Once the customer chooses an installer and is ready, Hammond will deliver the cabinets and fixtures, and then the designer will follow the project through to completion, including setting up countertop templates and installation.

For more information or to speak with a kitchen designer, call 800-439-2826 or 784-4009 or visit www.hammondlumber.com for the location of a store near you.