Choosing The Right Kitchen Design Company

First, understand that your needs are individual so not all companies will be suitable for you, even though they might appear to be the best.

• offer a 10+ year warranty on their kitchen cabinets
• have fully qualified kitchen designers to help you design the best kitchen for your specific needs
• make fully custom kitchen cabinets, not modular or flat pack kitchens
• tell you exactly where the cabinetry is made and how long it will take to produce
• pre-empt potential road blocks and be ready with solutions just in case
• show you recent client testimonials to give you an idea of what it’s like to work with them
• give you time to make your decision and not pressure you into a sale on the first meeting

The most important thing is to be clear about what you need, because you want to choose a company that can meet those needs first and foremost.

Do you need your kitchen in a hurry? Some companies take longer than others to deliver so ask this question first. If time is critical, avoid kitchen companies that use offshore manufacturing. If they don't own their own factory in Australia, you may potentially run into timing issues or problems if any of the cabinetry arrives damaged. Even kitchen companies that do have local manufacturing may run into problems during busy times, always ask for current lead times.

Are you renovating just the kitchen or are you doing other parts of the home? If you need more work done besides the kitchen, find a company that can do other joinery designs as well e.g. wardrobes, vanity units, entertainment units etc.

In a world that’s consuming at an alarming rate and producing a lot of waste, it’s nice to know you can reduce your impact by making better choices. Where possible you should always choose locally made products over imported goods.

Keeping it local has many benefits, including:

• Faster production and delivery of goods
• Greater control over quality
• Prompt after-sales service & warranty
• Lower carbon footprint
• Supports local jobs

If the kitchen company also owns the factory where the cabinets are made, they are already miles ahead of the rest.  This means they have full control over quality, timing and production and the power to make things happen quickly.  Be wary of kitchen companies that use overseas manufacturers - they can't always guarantee delivery times and if any of the kitchen cabinets arrive incorrectly or there are warranty/after-sales issues it may take a long time to fix the problem.

There’s no better way to discover what a company is like to work with, than to hear it from their customers. Ideally you're looking for good reviews but the not so good are equally as important. Find a company that handles hiccups fairly and professionally because sometimes, they happen.

Most importantly, you should never feel rushed or pressured into making your decision, so take your time.  You should feel 100% comfortable with your decision to go ahead so ask as many questions as you need to before signing anything and listen to your gut, it's usually right.