US KITCHENS

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Appliances & Plumbing

We need to start somewhere, and believe it or not it starts with appliances and plumbing. So much of our kitchen design work revolves around the appliances that we really can’t get started until you provide us with an appliance direction. A plumbing direction is needed as well.

	Ideally, you have been researching appliances, sinks and faucets and can provide us with the makes and models of your possible selections.
	If you can’t provide the exact makes and models, we’d like to have at least a general description of the “package” that you are considering.
	An Important Note: With the popularity of “residential commercial” appliances we will need to know, What cooking surface ventilation system will be used?
	Do you have a preference for wood surrounds (or “mantle hood designs”) for the area over the cooking surface?
	Need some help in researching your appliance options? We recommend that you call Dennis Joy at Karl’s Appliance, 732.826.1212, and tell him that U S Kitchens and Baths referred you. You’ll be happy you did!”

Style, or "The Look"

If you review the “Style” section on our website you will get lots of great ideas for different styles of kitchens. But if you don’t find your new kitchen “exactly,” we suggest that you:

	Make a short list of the pictures illustrating the cabinet door styling, wood species and finishes that you like – perhaps regardless of the overall look of the room. Our manufacturers’ links can help with this as well.
	Then make a second list of the pictures illustrating the overall “look” (design style) you’d like to achieve, although the cabinet selection shown may not be your cup of tea.
	Keep your eyes open for other sources of kitchen ideas — magazine ads, photos of friends’ kitchens, manufacturers’ catalogs, etc. — and bring them along when you visit us.

Selection of the Cabinets

We will be helping you to select a cabinet line from our roster of 10 outstanding manufacturers. There are many factors to consider, but your consideration of the following will help narrow the field immediately:

	Cabinet boxes (casework) are made with either furniture board or plywood end panels. Do you have a strong preference? We’ll review the merits of each for you when we meet.
	Cabinet drawer boxes are made with either furniture board or solid wood (usually maple or birch). Do you have a strong preference?
	Your choice of drawer glides: Side mount or under mount, which are usually concealed from view when extended? Self-closing? Soft-closing? We’ll show you all of these in our showrooms.
	This one is for extra credit: Do you prefer a Framed product or a Full Access product? This is more easily reviewed on our showroom floor.

Elevations

In today’s housing market, we see a variety of ceiling heights and framing . . . 8-foot (96”) ceilings, 9-foot (108”) ceilings, cathedral ceilings and shed ceilings predominate. “How high” will your cabinetry go?

What is your ceiling height, and is it flat, cathedral or shed?

At what elevation would you prefer your cabinetry? (In the cabinet industry, we always express dimensions in inches, not feet and inches.)

- In 96” rooms the most popular choices are cabinet elevations of 84”; 90” with moldings to the ceiling; or, cabinetry right to the 96” ceiling.

- In 108” rooms, the most popular choices are 90”; 96”; 102” with molding to the ceiling; or, cabinetry right to the 108” ceiling.

- And, as you’ve probably seen, staggered (or multiple) elevations continue to be popular.

If you’re not sure what’s best for your room . . . of course, we’ll help you figure it out.

Budget

It’s so important for us to understand your budget requirements before we begin. We’ll need your input about budget so that we can work for you, and with you, most effectively.

We’re aware of possible concerns you may have when it comes to “revealing your budget.” Some believe that offering-up budget information gives the seller a number that he or she will always fulfill. However, we’re going to ask you to set aside such concerns. Consider:

	First, we need a price range to work within so that we can satisfy your budget requirements with the very first design. We can’t design in a cost vacuum.
	Second, the marketplace is a great equalizer – our pencils are always sharp.
	Our goal is to provide you with the design you like, using the products you’ve chosen, for the most reasonable investment value. It’s one of the main reasons that we represent 10 cabinet manufacturers – so that you have options in specifying product and options in cost management.
	Important: See our “How We Do Business” section.

Lighting

Actually, you don’t have to research your lighting options just yet. But we’ve included it here as a gentle reminder that proper lighting is so critical to the overall, ultimate attractiveness of your room. The truth is, lighting can make or break the appeal of the finished project. Please, don’t make lighting an afterthought.