The worksheet
Six decisions before the estimate
One page, six questions, in the order they change the price. Answer what you can. Where you can't, we help you choose at the design meeting.
- 01
Layout: Stay put, or move things?
Where the sink, range and refrigerator sit decides the plumbing, the gas line and the wiring, and that decides most of the cost.
Keep the footprint, or open a wall
Where water, gas and venting already run
Who walks through, and where they stand
- 02
Cabinets: Stock, semi-custom or built in the shop
How the boxes are made, how the doors look, and how long they take to arrive.
Door style and finish
Drawers and pull-outs you will use
The order date that sets the schedule
- 03
Counters: Stone, quartz, wood or tile
Counters are measured after the cabinets are set, so the material and the fabricator's calendar set a week of the job.
Edge and thickness
Sink and faucet cutouts
Where the seams fall
- 04
Appliances: Choose them early, because they arrive late
Lead times change from month to month. We check them with you the day you choose, and order before demolition starts so the cabinets are cut to real sizes.
Cooktop, oven and hood venting
Refrigerator depth and panels
Dishwasher, disposal and water filter
- 05
Lighting: Where the light comes from
Ceiling, under-cabinet and pendant light are planned with the layout, not added after the walls are closed.
Switches and dimmers
Task light over each work surface
Outlets at counter height
- 06
Budget: A range you set before we draw
You tell us the range you are comfortable with. We show what fits and what doesn't, line by line, before anything is ordered.
What you would trade to stay inside it
An allowance for what is not yet chosen
How you plan to pay
Before we meet
Bring a plan, or bring a tape measure
A sketch on paper is enough. If you have none, we measure at the design meeting.
Photos of the room from each corner, any appliance you already own, and the finishes you keep going back to. A screenshot works as well as a sample.
Worth having on the table
Photos from each corner of the room
Model numbers of appliances you own
Two or three finishes you like
Anything that must stay
After the worksheet
From six answers to demolition day
- 01
Step 1: Design meeting
We go through the worksheet, measure and photograph the room, and write down what is settled.
- 02
Step 2: Drawings and selections
Meredith draws the layout and lighting. You choose finishes with samples in hand.
- 03
Step 3: The written estimate
Kali turns the drawings into an itemized estimate with allowances and exclusions named.
- 04
Step 4: Orders and permits
Cabinets and appliances are ordered, permits are filed where the work needs them, and a start date is set.
- 05
Step 5: Demolition day
Floors and doorways are covered, water and power are shut off only when needed, and Bruno calls you each evening of the first week.
About the worksheet
Do I have to finish the worksheet?
No. It's a way to start, not a form to pass. Leave a question blank and we'll work through it with you.
What if I change an answer after the estimate?
Tell us. We price the change in writing before anything is ordered, and say what it does to the schedule.
Does the worksheet cost anything?
No. The design meeting that follows is a paid visit; see how pricing works for what it covers.
Ready to put it on paper?
Send us your first answers and we'll set up a design meeting.