Kitchen design on-line - Brief Article

Sunset, March, 2000 by Mary Jo Bowling

Use the Internet for an easy and efficient remodel

It took just two Saturdays of crowded showrooms, long lines, and poor service to drive culinary consultant and would-be kitchen remodeler Patricia Bainter out of the stores and into cyberspace. The World Wide Web helped her obtain product measurements and specifications, develop a kitchen floor plan, and locate appliance dealers. In short, it gave her all the information she needed to become her own kitchen designer and contractor.

Bainter found that most large companies have Web addresses that are made up of their name, or a slight variation of it, followed by .com, so in many cases she didn't even need to run a search for the company site. She simply typed www.companyname.com in the address box.

The websites provided information that she didn't find in stores. "Many companies have product pictures, dimensions, and specifics on their sites. They also have great design ideas and show how the appliances look when they are installed," Bainter says. "I learned things that the retail salespeople didn't know, and found out about products that weren't even in showrooms yet. Plus, the websites allow you to enter your name and address to receive printed literature."

After investigating company sites, Bainter ran searches on such topics as hardware, tile, and cooktops. "I would run a search on something like Viking stove. In the search results, I would get the home page for Viking, but I would also get several other sites that had information about Viking and other appliances. Those showed me products I hadn't even heard of and told me where I could buy them." Bainter reviewed the top 20 sites each search turned up, bookmarked the useful ones, and disregarded the rest. In a short time, her computer contained a virtual kitchen shopping mall.

When it came time to buy, Bainter opted to go back to the "brick and mortar" stores. "I decided that I wanted to buy in the store rather than over the Internet because I wanted to take advantage of the local dealers' service and installation," she says. With information from the Internet, she was able to find dealers for appliances, flooring, and hardware she wanted. She called the dealers and had them fax their price quotes to her. "In some cases, I went back to dealers with the lowest quote to see if they could do better," she says. After eight months of construction and a savings of about 25 percent, thanks to comparison shopping on the Internet, Bainter had her dream kitchen.

Search tips

Get the fastest Internet connection you can afford. "You won't have to wait as long for images to be downloaded," says Bainter.

Use more than one search engine. Bainter found that search engines provide varying results. To make sure she was getting the best results, she ran the same search on several engines.

Be specific. Provide as many key words as possible to narrow an Internet search: for example, entering San Francisco architectural salvage will give more useful results than just architectural salvage.

Study the product options carefully. Many manufacturer websites offer complete information on options, and it's important to read it carefully. For example, the sink Bainter selected comes as either a bathroom or a kitchen model. Although they look the same on the site, careful reading discloses that only the kitchen sink can accommodate a garbage disposal.

Search globally, buy locally. Bainter decided it was better to buy big-ticket items from local stores in order to have service easily available. She purchased small, inexpensive kitchen appliances and utensils over the Internet to save time and gas.

Searching the Web

For design ideas (some sites allow interactive floor plan design)

www.goodhome.com

www.homewarehouse.com

www.improvenet.com

www.kitchen-bath.com

www.todayshomeowner.com

For sinks and appliances

www.ge.com (General Electric)

www.groheamerica.com (Grohe)

www.kitchenaid.com (KitchenAid)

www.kohlerco.com (Kohler)

www.rohlhome.com (Rohl)

www.subzero.com (Sub-Zero)

www.thermador.com (Thermador)

www.us.amstd.com/scrips (American Standard)

www.vikingrange.com (Viking)

www.whirlpool.com (Whirlpool)

KITCHEN DESIGN TIPS

* Tailor your kitchen to your work habits. "In my old kitchen, I would have to walk 10 steps from the stove to the sink for fresh water, It frustrated me every time," says Bainter. In her new kitchen, she dramatically increased the convenience of her prep space with an island that includes a small sink to give her water near the stove.

* Use a variety of colors and materials to create interest. "I got tired of seeing kitchens that were all cherry cabinets and black granite, or all white and stainless steel," says Bainter. I wanted something warmer and more fun." The kitchen she designed is as interesting and colorful as a piece of Mediterranean pottery. The built-in cabinets are red birch, but the cabinets in the freestanding kitchen island, the plate rack, and the open shelves are painted bright blue. Granite and marble countertops, ceramic and stainless steel sinks, and a floor made of salvaged lumber add visual verve.