Computer Aided Design

Okay so it's been a while, where were we? Oh yes I remember, I was going to show you how I design a kitchen from the sketch we make, or one that you provide. For the sake of continuity I'll use the sketch from the last blog.

Right, the first thing we do is fire up the planning software. Well you didn't think I was going to hand draw it did you? I haven't done that for years, don't know if I could do it any more. I know there are a few purists still left out there who still hand draw, but personally I believe modern technology can produce far better results in a shorter time scale. I do not believe it takes away our design skills, in fact, in my opinion it enhances them by allowing us to experiment more. Anyway enough justification let's get on with it.

Walls

The first step is to enter all the walls and create our room. The design software of choice for me is Articad; I've been using it since 1990, (shows my age) and feel really comfortable with it. Articad is industry specific software that you will not find in IT stores.

So, we've entered all the walls. Some of the more observant of you may have noticed some of the dimensions have changed from the original sketch. This is because I have but the angled walls in at 45 degrees, which they may not have been. I'm not to worried because I am not planning to put any furniture on these walls, and the dimensions I've altered will not effect the design or installation.

Furniture

Next it's time to put in some base units. Time to get creative, but don't forget the client's brief.

That doesn't look to bad, let's get some wall units in.

 

Well there we are, a complete design, not overly complicated but looks good. Let's take a look at some of the computer generated images.

 

 

 

Now you know what we do, and how we do it.  What do you think?

Dave

Planning

Okay, so you're desperate for a new kitchen, but you don't want to bother that busy designer (that's me), especially if you're not sure if you can afford to proceed. "That's it, it's a costing exercise, I'll take in the measurements and save him some time, he'll be so pleased, great idea".

Well, firstly I don't mind coming to measure, I promise; and I know it's a costing exercise, it always is (unless you've won the lottery). Also unless you know how to measure properly, it's a waste of time, yours and mine. I'll end up on the phone every two minutes asking you to check this or that, (may as well have come out and done it myself). But if you do want to take the measurements yourself, at least let me show you how, hey, you may even end up better at measuring than me, then I'll have to give you a job.

So let's get started.

Sketch the room

The first thing you need to do is sketch the room, and it's not that difficult, let me show you how. First of all start in the corner, it does not matter which one, whichever looks the easiest, then draw each wall, door, window, nib arch and anything else until you get back round to where you started. Don't worry to much about neatness at this stage. see Fig 1 below:-

Fig 1

Add The Dimensions

In the plan shown below I started in the bottom left hand corner and measured to the window 308mm. Now if the window has a reveal, measure to the reveal and then span the reveal (window) in this case 2370mm. If the window has a frame measure to the frame and the span the frame, (frames are part of the opening, unless you want your lovely new kitchen to cut into the frame and spoil everything). Measure the height of the window from the floor (cill height), in this case 970mm off the floor, and the window height 1185mm. I do get some funny looks when I'm doing this, "We don't want a new window" is often heard in the background. But we need to know this to be sure units will pass comfortably under the window, and that shelves linking wall units will pass over the window. Use the same procedure for measuring doors. It is important to measure windows and doors. If I had a pound for everyone who's left this measurement off, then held their arms out saying it's about this wide or, it's just a standard door. There is no such thing, so measure it.

Fig 2

Carry on around the room adding measurements to your sketch until you get back to where you started. As you measure you may find you missed a bit, don't worry just add it now. When you have sketched your room you may have some idea of the general shape you want, if so put it on the sketch (see Fig 3). Don't be to detailed at this stage, but you can list everything you would like if you like, it all helps

Fig 3

Finally tell us where any services are, especially if they are in the kitchen i.e. stop taps, gas meters, fuse boards, boilers, anything you think will be difficult to move. (see Fig 4).

Fig 4

So, now we've got something we can work with. We may still need to ask you some questions, so always include contact details, but if you can do this, we can give you a design.

Next time I'll show you how we do our bit.

Dave

The First Step to a New, Kitchen, Bedroom or Bathroom

So you've made the decision, you want a new kitchen, bedroom or bathroom, now what? Where do we go? what do we do? how do we avoid wasting our hard earned cash?

Do we go "direct to the manufacturer" by ringing one of those 0800 numbers in the Sunday magazines? Our we better off with DIY, or one of the major nationals? An independent studio, wouldn't that be better? I know i'll get everything off the internet and save a fortune... I think.

Decisions, decisions, decisions, and I haven't got out of bed yet. My head's hurting already, I think i'll go back to sleep, we'll sort it another day.

Well stop panicking and let's go through the choices together, stick the kettle on, it might take a while. But when we're done, you should know which way to go. How's that, headache subsiding? I thought so.

Right, you ready? let's go through them one by one starting at the top.

Direct From The Manufacturer

Direct from the manufacturer, what does this mean? Well usually, direct selling. You ring a number in the paper or Sunday magazine, or visit one of a few nationwide scattered showrooms, and they send someone to plan your Kitchen, bedroom, or bathroom. They usually insist on both partners being present when the designer/sales person calls, so most appointments are in the early evening. why? you may be asking. Well the simple truth is they want an answer there and then, before they leave. They want to take away a deposit or better still get a finance agreement signed. Here's how it usually works.

The salesman calls, introductions and formalities are got over with, tea or coffee is on the go, you've seen the photos of his kids and met the dog. Next he measures your room (let's go with kitchen for the purpose of this exercise, saves me typing bedroom and bathroom every time. I know just lazy I guess). Most of them have been trained to measure so this shouldn't be to much of a problem, although drawing to scale on graph paper can be a bit tedious and time consuming.

Okay he's drawn the room got out his little kitchen stencil and hey presto, he's designed you a dream kitchen. Fantastic, How much? Where do I sign?

Hey slow down, less of the enthusiasm, your supposed to haggle, he's only been there an hour and a half, he hasn't rung his boss yet to get the best possible deal, once in a lifetime, today only... you get the picture.

Anyway what our salesman has, is a closely guarded price catalogue which he uses to cost your kitchen. Now he can't sell it for under that price, or else it comes out of his commission, by the way this is usually 10 - 12.5% of the sale. He wants your order today, got to feed those kids and the dog. So he needs some incentive for you to buy. This is the part I don't like.  Now they add a large amount on to the kitchen (double in some cases) and offer you a discount if you buy tonight. Now the haggling starts, and boy can it be long, all to get you back to the price he was happy to sell at 2 hours ago. What's wrong with that you ask? (especially if you're the salesman). Well, what about the couple that do not haggle very well, or the couple that are worn out and just want to go to bed. They end up buying at a hugely inflated price, the salesman's not going to give it back, why should he, you were happy to pay.

Listen, I'm not saying don't do it, just be aware of what's going on. If you think you have got a bargain go for it. You may like haggling. It's not for me, i'd rather watch Corri..

Nationals or DIY

Well, what can I say? Some nationals offer an installation service, okay if you get a good fitter, not so good if your fitter was a gardener last week, brought in for the sales.

The products these days are pretty good, or at the very least value for money. They keep us independents on our toes. They usually have big showrooms with lots of displays, great for ideas. So what lets them down? Well, a couple of things really.

Their designers are not always the best, or the most interested, although there are some exceptions. I have come across some very good designers working for national retailers. Unfortunately most end up leaving and working for independents, or start their own businesses. (Hey that was  me twenty years ago. Seems like yesterday).

The other major failing is organisation. You order your kitchen, pay for it in full up front, and four to six weeks later half of it arrives. The other half you're assured is on its way, should be with you in the next four to six weeks. Unless of course the range has been discontinued in the intervening period, in which case it is start again!

Don't get me wrong, the nationals dominate the market and always will. If you're on a tight budget, can put up with a little bit of hassle and a few trips to the local depot, that's the way you may want to go. It should be cheaper than an independent.

Independent Studio

That's me, wow, well what can I say, you'd be a fool not to....

Seriously though, Independent Studios are not for everyone. We generally are a bit dearer than nationals, we may not have as many displays to show you, although some do. So why come to us?

Well, the main reason is our expertise and our attention to detail. Most of us will have been designing kitchens, bedrooms, or bathrooms for many years. Between Jeff and I there is over fifty years of experience (now that's sad). But what the heck, someones got to do it.

We, and I guess most other Studios offer complete project management. So what does that mean? Well I can only speak for Classic Interiors, but for us it means, taking full responsibility  design, ordering, delivering and installing you chosen project. There's no looking for joiners, plumbers, electricians, tilers, builders. No organising removal of your old kitchen, bedroom, or bathroom, no skips to organise. You can even go on holiday if you want (many of our clients have). We take responsibility for everything, we'll even feed the dog, only kidding, best to put it in Kennels if you're going away, we wouldn't want to lose it.

We may be a bit dearer than the nationals, but for some, the piece of mind is worth it.

Finally:-

The Internet

Everybody seems to be buying off the internet these days. So is it the right thing to do for your kitchen, bedroom or bathrooms? In truth for some things, it may well be, but for others, there are difficulties that need to be considered.

Buying a kitchen on the internet is prone to disaster, unless you know exactly what you are looking for, and how many people know that when they start out looking? You can't touch or feel on the internet and returning unwanted kitchen units would be difficult and costly. Bedrooms suffer from the same problems as kitchens when it comes to purchasing over the web.

Bathrooms however are a different matter. Most people do not re-design their bathrooms, they re-vamp them. By this I mean things do not get moved around merely replaced with new. Quite often people have their own plumber who will do the work with items supplied by the customer. It is not for everyone but it can be done.

The big advantage for the consumer is cost. On average things are up to twenty percent cheaper on the web. How come you may be asking. Well, think about it for a minute. Let's look at our own online store, Classic Interiors World of Bathrooms. We offer a large selection of bathroom products with savings of up 20% over and above our showroom price. The reasons we can do this are, we do not have to handle the goods, they are delivered direct from the manufacturer. We do not have to take delivery, check the goods, contact customers and arrange delivery, or for that matter deliver. That alone represent a massive saving in time costs, which can be passed on.

Again this is not for everyone, and we think kitchens and bedrooms are prone to disaster, but bathrooms,  unless you want or need project management, why not give it a try.

Dave

welcome

Welcome to Classic Interiors World of Bathrooms Blog. Why have a blog you may be wondering? Well to be honest i'm not sure, but over the next few months we will give it a go and try and let you into some of the trials and tribulations on running a Kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom studio.

Also we will try to answer any questions you may have concerning designing, buying, and installing any of the above.

Do we prefer bathrooms to kitchens or bedrooms you may be wondering. Not really, we like designing and installing all three, but our online store is www.world-of-bathrooms.co.uk so it seemed natural to call our blog site Classic Interiors World of Bathrooms (blatant commercialism) but hey why not. If we're going to inform and entertain you on all things interiors, why not promote our online store.

Who are we anyway?

Well my name is David Boland and my colleague is Jeff Price and together we have run Classic Interiors for the last twenty years, so we know a thing or two about designing Kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms. Our showroom is in Bridlington, East Yorkshire and you're all welcome to visit anytime, we will always try to make you welcome, but be warned, we've turned into grumpy old men over the last twenty years, and are liable to moan about anything from the weather to football, politics, or fitters or all at once if we're having a really bad day. But we will always try to give good advice where needed, if we can.

Anyway enough for now, we will endeavour to continue posting on a regular basis, but in the meantime post any questions and we will try to help.

Dave and Jeff