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Schedule Your Brainstorming Session Call Kolbe or Kelley Today: (908) 566-8555 AuroraDesignsNJ.com Isn’t This The Type Of Remodeling Company You’d Want To Fulfill Your Dream? 14-Time Contractor of the Year (CoTY) Award Winner Chosen for demonstrating remodeling excellence in aesthetics, functionality, problem solving and innovation in the construction industry. Learn more about our projects at AuroraDesignsNJ.com. HIC #13VH05005600 ® AURORA KITCHENS & INTERIORS 908-566-8555 AuroraDesignsNJ.com By: Amara Willey Kelley Evens So you decided it’s time to revamp your outdated kitchen or maybe you are planning a new kitchen from scratch. Knowing what you want and how your kitchen should be designed can be a long and exhausting process. You can prevent many headaches down the road if you do some research first before you call a kitchen designer. It will make the process much more bearable for the both of you. Even if you choose to do the project yourself, it will certainly make everything a lot smoother if you know what you are getting into. 1. What will your budget allow? - Knowing how much money you can put into your kitchen design is impor- tant for you and the kitchen designer to know. Make sure your budget can handle it. Things tend to start adding up and unexpected problems can arise that you might not have the money for. It is best to set an amount you expect it to cost, then add another half or even double that cost to allow for changes or upgrades. 2. Do you have the time? - Make sure you have enough time to spend on the project. Get a good idea of how long the project might take by asking an experienced kitchen designer. You will probably have to plan your life around the design and construction of your kitchen for the duration of the project so be prepared and prepare your family for the inconvenience. 3. Do you have a style in mind? - Knowing the style of kitchen you want is an important factor to the total feel of the kitchen. It also gives the design- er a good idea about what you are looking for. If you already have a set style in the rest of your house, it is a good idea to keep the style the same for continuity. If you are up in the air about what style to choose, you need to do some research. 4. Search for ideas - While search- ing for a style, you can look through home design and kitchen design maga- zines and catalogs. Of course the inter- net is a great place to get a sense of certain styles to choose from. If pictures aren't enough for you to choose you can visit kitchen design showrooms, like Aurora Kitchens & Interiors in Somerville (www.auroradesignsnj.com), or kitchen design showplaces in many home improvement stores where you can see, touch, and experience exam- ples of styles full scale. 5. Howwill the kitchen be used? - It is important to know what the func- tions of your kitchen will be. Is it where the family would like to gather? Do you plan to cook a lot? How much storage area will you need? These are just some of the questions you need to ask yourself before talking with a designer, because the better the idea a designer has about what you want, the better they can plan the kitchen to fit your needs. 6. Preparing for construction – “Construction is a pain to deal with but if you plan ahead you can make the most out of it,” says Kelley Evens, co-owner and designer at Aurora Kitchens & Interiors. You will have to setup a temporary kitchen site, some- thing that Evens and her staff assist with, and avoid going through the construction area while the crew is working. Follow these suggestions and you will be on your way to having the kitchen you and your family need. 6 Things to Do Before Starting a Kitchen Design Project www.theconnectionsnj.com