Scroll down to see all questions
back• How long will it take to plan my kitchen or bath or other room?
• What does your design retainer cost?
• How do I know I'll like your design work?
• Where do your services begin and end?
• Do you do hourly consultations only?
• What products do you supply?
• Who will I be communicating with in your office on a regular basis?
• Will my phone calls be returned, my emails answered?
• Who will be doing the actual design work?
• We saw a cabinet line elsewhere that we like, but we want you to design the kitchen. Will you work in that manner?
• How is price determined?
• When the design is finished, will we still be within the budget we set?
• Do you present us with one, single, all-inclusive price when we're finished?
• What territory do your projects cover?
• What, specifically, do I look for in a designer?
• Can I afford you? (Yes!) How much does a kitchen cost?
• I'm interested in GREEN DESIGN and materials from sustainable resources, can you speak that language?
• I am looking for a modern design aesthetic and much of your work appears to be more traditional in nature. Can you do modern design?
• Where do you see kitchen design trends going?
backHow long will it take to plan my kitchen or bath or other room?
The shortest amount of time needed to plan your kitchen or bath or other room is in the 4-6 week area, while more typical planning time (for kitchens and larger projects) is 9-12 weeks, and it can also stretch beyond that. Length of time is determined by the complexity of the design, the level of detail, your own ability to be decisive, as well as the number of revisions made to your plan. If a deadline is looming, yet you'd like the luxury to do in-depth planning, if our schedule permits, we can arrange to meet two times per week or more, rather than the typical once a week. Of course, it's never too soon to start planning. You want the most time devoted to your project that you can get.
backWhat does your design retainer cost?
Our design retainer for kitchens ranges in cost between $3,500 to $5,000 dependent upon the scope of the project. Other spaces in the home are by retainer as well, and the retainer cost varies per project. The retainer is fully rebated back to you upon purchase of your cabinetry. Our retainer is in proportion to our high level of professionalism and the generous amount of time we allow for your design to fully, and naturally, evolve.
backHow do I know I'll like your design work?
You have a better chance of taking that leap of faith with us than with anyone else, for 3 reasons.
We provide you with far more ideas, more
inspiration, more attention to detail, and more service. Our approach is all about choices, not about "shoulds".
Second, our firm has many notable accomplishments and much recognition, as
seen on the Company page of our website.
Third, by creating a variety of original design solutions (SS-SVC) (4-8), rather than just 1 or 2, you
can feel assured that you will be presented with far more original design possibilities for
your space. No second guessing after it's all done!
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Where do your services begin and end?
We're present from start to finish. We will be responsible for the
installation of your cabinetry and countertops, since they are purchased
through our company. Although we are licensed and insured to run your entire
project, including all general contracting, and have much experience doing so, instead, we encourage our
clients to choose their own general contractor to oversee all of the
tradespeople, schedules, and project details. In essence, we will take care
of cabinet and countertop products and installation, and tile products and installation if desired.
All other tradespeople such as electricians, plumbers, HVAC, flooring
mechanics, etc. should go under the umbrella of a separate general
contractor of your choice, assuming the project requires a GC.
As a retained client of ours, we can refer you to architects,
general contractors, tradespeople, and interior designers. It is the best
scenario when allied professionals work together as a team, preferrably, a team which
has worked together before. The familiarity and trust associated with those
who have worked together before will make your project an easier one to be
involved with, than it might otherwise be.
We are interested in the entirety of the project, and strongly prefer to be "in the loop" on every design consideration, from flooring choices, to paint colors, and everything else that is design-related for the space. Susan will always be not just happy, but enthusiastic, to be aware of all your choices, and give a second opinion, should you wish to collaborate on certain design elements in the room, even if we are not supplying them. There are two ways to go about this. For items Susan is not providing, at regularly scheduled meetings, please ask anything you'd like, if you have samples on hand, etc..to get a valuable second opinion. For more focused attention outside of regularly scheduled meetings, consultation fees will apply. Ask for details. But, by all means, please do not NOT keep us in the entirety of the design loop!
We produce very specific (SS-SVC) electrical/mechanical plans for your tradespeople to
follow, dealing with specific locations for lighting, switching, receptacles, plumbing, appliance locations, and more.
(SS-SVC) By the nature of our design studio environment, we are more
mobile/available to attend meetings with your allied professionals/trades,
whether impromptu or scheduled. Peace of mind, for when you need answers!
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Do you do hourly consultations only?
YES! (SS-SVC) Short term/hourly consulting (plus bonus post-meeting email-see below)
may be perfect for your needs if:
You already have a set of plans and really need a second opinion
You want to begin the process with a baby step and just see what's possible
To have access to quality design pros in a cost effective way
To go beyond home center/builder services
To go beyond your local shop cabinetmaker's ideas
When youre stuck, after frustrating DIY attempts
For color, product, other specific consultations
For unbiased advice on resolving project conflicts
Or, maybe you have your own reason!
Consultations are $200 per hour, or $375 for 2 hours at one meeting.
Short term consultations from 2 hours++ can be arranged. Travel
beyond 10 miles from our studio is an additional $25.
The time spent with you will be filled with creative ideas, one after
the other, fabulous sources of materials, patience, good listening
skills with a bonus follow-up email answer to your top 5 questions
from our meetings. AND, should you retain our services, the consultation fee you paid will be fully deducted from your order. No risk!
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What products do you supply?
Cabinetry: We represent three, true, high end lines and four
middle grade
lines of cabinetry. Three high end lines of cabinetry, as opposed to one,
allows a very broad selection of options such as door styles, finishes, wood
species, construction details, and more. Oftentimes, even high end lines
will not do certain customizations. With our high end companies, you can be
assured that your type of customization can be done. Thicker door panels,
drawer sides, cabinet sides, specially designed interior options, special
wood species...whatever you can imagine CAN be customized for you.
Our middle grade cabinetry is at a very attractive price point. Susan has
selected her middle grade cabinet lines for the absolute best value for the
price. The cabinet company must have a broad selection of door styles,
finishes, customizations, and interior options available. With four lines to
choose from, you can be assured of a great selection of choices to suit your
needs.
Countertops: We LOVE alternative countertops. We have experience
with
different types of slate (in slabs), wood, lava, and more. Of course,
granite and engineered stone are always popular, but they are not the only
countertop materials available. It is time to look beyond granite!
Tile: As a service, we will (for a fee) design your tile pattern
and help
you select your tile. Tile is a critical design element, and its color and
texture tell an important story about your space.
Decorative Details: (SS-SVC) We seek out alternative, specialty, details
for your
kitchen from our vast resource collection of decorative details. Your space
becomes most interesting when it is designed BEYOND a manufacturer's catalog,
not within the confines of a catalog.
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Who will I be communicating with in your office
on a regular basis?
Susan or Susan's assistant, who will
make every
effort to assist you, rather than simply take a message.
And, after we've finished
the design work and ordered your cabinetry, your project will not be handed off
to someone else to execute, unfamiliar with its history and its details. We will personally see
your project through to its successful completion every step of the way.
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Will my phone calls be returned, my emails answered?
Our policy is to answer all calls within 24 hours. While we have standard
hours for making and receiving phone calls, truly urgent calls will always
be returned during off hours as necessary. Emails are often answered in the
off hours 24/7. We encourage communicating with us as often as you need to!
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Who will be doing the actual design work?
Susan, exclusively. We do not hand off our design work to a
draftsperson with instructions on general concepts, leaving important,
sometimes costly, details to his/her discretion, only to check back briefly
now and then. Susan, personally, performs ALL of the design work, from initial concepts
to writing your detailed order. Susan will also perform a "technical review"
of your entire order (typically 10-15 pages) once
again, to fine tune it,
after the factory has sent back an order acknowledgement. We go way above and beyond, in this step, looking at all original measurements and, in effect, redesigning the kitchen from scratch (at this point, to nearly quadruple check out work). Our high level of attention in these critical details ensures that your cabinetry has been truly engineered to fit perfectly...not too loose (wide fill pieces) and not too tight (nonfunctional) but just right. If you want to get in on the nitty gritty details, you are absolutely welcome, just ask what you need to know! But above all, trust that Susan is truly evaluating every 1/8 of an inch of your space and cabinet order, very seriously, and multiple times over.
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We saw a cabinet line elsewhere that we like, but we want
you
to design the kitchen. Will you work in that manner?
No. This method is a recipe for disaster. There are hundreds of parts and
specifications involved in the design of custom cabinetry, dimensions which
must be accurate within 1/8" of an inch, with no previous relationship
between the designer and the cabinet supplier of your choice. Thus, having
two separate parties involved in the same plan leaves the plan vulnerable to
misinterpretation, confusion about responsibility, and a shift or
misunderstanding of the details of the design, which have taken months to
fine tune. Not to mention, a serious lack of "connection," to your project
that a short term supplier would naturally bring to it. Don't do it; your
project will be seriously compromised.
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How is price determined?
Price is determined in cabinetry by the finish on the cabinetry, the amount
of cabinetry, the amount of moldings and decorative details, interior
cabinet options, wood species, custom work, and height of cabinetry.
INCREASED VALUE will be added to your cabinet purchase by evaluating which
firm you feel will devote the most time to your project, resulting in more
creativity and attention to detail, and better service.
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When the design is finished, will we still be
within the budget we set?
Yes. The design process is a journey which begins with a single step and
takes you through an Alice-in-Wonderland environment. In other words, there
is a world of cabinetry details, interior options, finishes, styles, etc.
yet to be discovered.
As you become knowledgeable of, or change your opinion on, elements relating
to the decorative detailing of your cabinetry, interior options, a shift in
style, etc., costs can go in either direction, up or down. They can also
remain about the same as we initially estimated. During our design process,
when we hear requests for elements in the cabinetry which we know from
experience are costly and may put you over budget, we will tell you to be
open-minded about these elements, pending final pricing.
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Do you present us with one, single, all-inclusive
price when we're finished?
No. Upon finalizing the plan, we will present you with a singular pricing
of your entire wish list...the dream kitchen as designed to this point.
However, an exclusive service of ours is our "Cost Alternatives" option.
We will review the entire plan once again, prior to our final meeting,
scanning it for "fat"; i.e., elements which can be designed in another
way
that are less expensive, and which will not destroy the integrity of the
look we have taken such time and care to create. A list will be prepared
for you to illustrate 1) isolated areas of costly items 2) proposed, less
costly, substitutions, which you may choose, if desired. We strongly believe
that our clients are happiest when they have control over their costs and,
therefore, provide a tool to compare cost vs. value.
Hidden among many of the photos in the Portfolio section of this site, are
numerous clever, creative, and silent ways, where, literally, thousands of
dollars were saved as a result of using tricks of the trade, out-sourcing
products and taking the time to make thoughtful substitutions in product and
design elements as clients more clearly defined their (cost) priorities.
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What territory do your projects cover?
FROM THE HAMPTONS TO GREAT NECK, encompassing all of Long Island.
Occasionally, we have projects in New Jersey and Connecticut.
Beyond the
tri-state area, per project.
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What, specifically, do I look for in a designer? Top Ten Things To Look For
You want to look for "measureable" characteristics, specific attributes for purposes of evaluation. Generalities and one's point of view have their place as well, but look for these points as guidance:
1. Is the designer a member of the NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association)? If not, why not? Is the designer a CKD (Certified Kitchen Designer)?
2. Mobility/Accessibility: How long before a phone call is returned? What are the contact methods..email, pda, cell, etc.? Is he/she mobile/able to attend jobsite meetings on short notice?
3. Experience: how long has the designer been designing kitchens or other rooms of cabinetry?
4. Is the designer solely a designer of cabinetry (designs kitchens/other rooms every day) or one who occasionally designs a kitchen?
5. Ask to see samples of completed projects....do they all look alike or do you see a variety of styles and creative ideas within the body of work?
6. Is the designer involved in the kitchen and bath industry? Attending seminars, conferences, kitchen and bath shows regularly? One who invests time and money in continuing education is simply a good thing (in a big way).
7. Has the designer ever been published? When? Regional and national (often unidentifiable) "advertorial" magazines do not count, as the magazine feature is paid for by the designer. It does not mean that the work may not have merit, it just means that there is no judging/selection criteria for inclusion in these publications.
Non-advertorial traditional national shelter publications have EXTREMELY stringent selection criteria, with one project "submission" having to make it through numerous "cuts" with multiple high level editors voting it up to the next level, or out, at each level. (That should be a reality show itself!) Projects are selected in a democratic manner, by many editors, among stiff competition, without knowing who the designer is. Thus, to be selected for inclusion in these magazines is something special and is one reliable way to evaluate consistent, good, work.
It is with great pride (and having done hard work) that we can say we are frequently published in well known national, non-advertorial, publications. Take care too....you want to be sure that website images and ads reflect a designer's "own" work. It's a designer's own body of work that you want to evaluate to find what feels right for your vision, not make a personal judgment of one's design ability, based on a manufacturer's brochure of images.
8. Ask to see working drawings. Are they neat, well detailed? Does the designer do mechanical/electrical plans? Who measures, and how many times is the space measured?
9. Ask to see a contract and specifications list. Is the level of detal high, or open to too much interpretation? As many details as possible must be documented, as memories are unreliable.
10. Your "gut feelings"!...do you feel compatible with the designer? Is the designer either too narrow minded and/or pushy or, conversely, a "yes" person? Do you feel you are listened to and respected? Do you think you'll have fun working together? Is the designer an "idea person"? Look for a balance between a designer expressing his/her opinions in the spirit of "choices", yet not solely asking you for direction and following all that you say. The best approach is a middle ground, which results in a true collaborative atmosphere.
Other criteria is of importance as well. Is the designer licensed and insured? How many meetings/how much time will you be given, as well as how are changes handled? Feel free to ask direct questions and look for direct answers!
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Can I afford you? (Yes!) How much does a kitchen cost?
The products we provide range from the middle end to high end, to the luxury
market. Can a client on a middle end budget add in a luxury item here and
there? Why not? Can the highest end client look to save money in some
invisible areas? Absolutely! We are experts at helping you be aware of
where your dollars are best spent, according to your goals. Not, "where
is the beef...but where is the fat" is more the question. We will point that
out to you and give you costs in certain areas so that you are in control
of where and how your money is spent.
We do this for all of our clients.
To answer the question in a more specific way, our cabinet orders seem to
begin at around $25,000. That said, it is not unusual for a high end (cabinets
only)
order to top out toward $100,000 or even $150,000 or to be in between
ALL of these figures from middle to high end. We will give you an estimate to
narrow it down. Working with a beginning figure of $25,000 for cabinetry,
adding in appliances and countertops will give you a starting figure of
approximately $50,000 for a kitchen without construction. Note that this is
a minimum cost. More typical, for high end products, are finished costs of $90-$150,000 for cabinetry, countertops, and appliances, and is of course, dependent on the size and scope of the project. Luxury
high end kitchens or kitchens with construction projects included can reach
up to $200,000 and above. Together, at our first meeting, we will tell you
what we think your kitchen will cost, and then we will work together to set
a budget that is within your comfort zone.
Given how clients' needs, desires,
and space configurations are all very different, it is impossible to provide
specific costs here, but hopefully this general guide is helpful.
The last word is, if your budget begins at $50,000 for countertops, cabinetry,
and appliances, we can be of service to you. Call us NOW at 631.754.0464!
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I'm interested in GREEN DESIGN and materials from sustainable resources, can you speak that language?
(SS-SVC) Yes. We edit and gather information on green design products and issues for the kitchen and bath industry, including for designers around the U.S.. While no scientific experts, we have a strong interest in this area of design and are (uniquely) aware of resources and materials that are available to the kitchen and bath industry that are acknowledged as green products.
Many of these materials do not have an industry knowledgebase in terms of long term wear and durability, as this is a fairly new area of production. However, samples can be purchased for extensive home sampling tests. The exciting part about this new area of product resources is the large number of smaller (cottage) companies who are introducing very creative, interesting, and one-of-a-kind "green" products into the kitchen and bath marketplace. Exclusive and sustainable products can equal something very special when your project is completed.
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I am looking for a modern design aesthetic and much of your work appears to be more traditional in nature. Can you do modern design?
Absolutely. Two kitchens on the website are modern in nature - the Chelsea kitchen and Eaton's Neck kitchen.
If you need to see other examples of modern designs that we have completed, do not hesitate to ask!
Susan's personal, and, design heritage, originates in Copenhagen, Denmak. Danish modern design is historically, and continues to be, one of the world's most important modern design movements and aesthetics. Currently, Danish design has played a key role in the recent $850 million renovation and expansion of New York City’s Museum of Modern Art. A full 95% of the furniture in the museum’s public spaces comes from Danish designers. For more interesting information on Danish design's influential past, and future, please read this talk by Prof. Penny Sparke, Dean of Design Faculty, Kingston University, London, given at MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) December '06, in New York City: Danish Modern Design
Growing up in a home surrounded by modern Danish design, a lifetime of family visits to Denmark, including the last 20 years visiting and studying modern Danish kitchen showrooms at leisure, has had a strong influence in Susan's vision for seeing home design as being a freedom of expression, to address functional (and simple) solutions for human needs, and not to be bound by "shoulds" and "musts". Our firm maintains, and continually adds to, a library of kitchen brochures, books, and magazines on contemporary Danish kitchen and home design as well as design periodicals from other European countries and many from the U.S. Much of our library deals with classic, traditional, design as well. A recent trip to Norway in December '06 netted another 10 very heavy Scandinavian design magazines! You are welcome to take a look at these materials.
Home grown in the New York area, yet with this unique international influence, in addition to a rarely seen "design library", all bring a broadened perspective to our work, resulting in projects that allow us to offer you something truly special, whether it is the catalog or "showroom look" you so love and would like to replicate, but customized to who you are, or whether it goes well above and beyond that, to more innovative territory, or anywhere in between. FYI, we are an authorized reseller of cabinetry from two truly modern/cutting edge cabinet companies, located in Canada and Denmark. A good starting point for your distinctive, modern, look.
No Nonsense:
This philosophy is relevant for modern, as well as traditional aesthetics. We do not let the cabinet line "drive" the design solutions! The design of your space should be about you, not about putting 10 easy puzzle pieces together. For one thing, it's just too expensive a project to not be taken very seriously by a designer. For another, this is often done once, maybe twice, in one's life, it deserves to be intelligently thought through, not done in haste, or ease. And, these concepts are always at the forefront for us, so it is discussed here, for your consideration. We can reinvent the wheel for you, or we can tweak it for you...
But, back to modern design, in Susan's case, there is a great appreciation for the modern design aesthetic....and it is a style in which she is very comfortable, and very knowledgeable of.
Cutting edge/modern design? Bring it on! ;-)
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Where do you see kitchen design trends going?
That's a trick question! On one hand, Susan's answer is to ignore trends and encourage her clients to express their individuality in its purest form, without regard to trends seen in magazines, brochures, showrooms, even movies! We can take you there and help you express yourself inside or outside of design-imposed boundaries.
That said, many homeowners are genuinely interested in the current and future state of kitchen design. To answer that question, from our perspective, the pendulum seems to be swinging in a very sure way toward cleaner lines. Cleaner lines does not have to mean "modern" or "cutting edge". Cleaner lines, in one sense, can also mean what we used to call "Shaker", for example, but surrounded with new textures and materials, an updated, traditional, look, fresh, sort of a "butler's pantry" look. This is coming on stronger, particularly in white. Or one can refer to the style as a "Hamptons look". Light, simple, and allowing the design and/or textures to speak for themselves in a sense. The look could also be called "relaxed", that's a great word for this new feeling. And, fresh. Also fresh are much darker woods paired with cooler toned elements, creating a sophisticated contrast in color and texture.
Ultra modern kitchen design is very exciting. Anything really goes, yet, as always, balance, proportion, and scale will be considered, although in new ways. Perhaps asymmetrical design is what provides the energy, along with striking colors or textures, or conversely, everything being super "quiet" and restful, and coooool, to an extreme, but a soft extreme. Perhaps a mix of curves and straight lines, the wall as a blank canvas, its own design element...there are limitless possibilities.
Finishes for cabinetry, as note above, can be white, some sort of blond, which is often asked for, or perhaps a medium to dark mahogany, a wonderful wood species, or even a rustic cherry, a wood not normally seen, but which has very interesting characteristics and wonderful knots! Quarter sawn oak is a beautiful texture for traditional or modern inspired interiors. Our clients are more open to different wood species, and different, unique, countertop surfaces as well.
This answer will be continually added to and tweaked as time goes by and new thoughts arise. Look for more random thoughts on this subject, right here.
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Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
It's nice to be home.