After spending a little time with our friend and contractor getting an idea on pricing we started on the process of thinking through the kitchen and bathroom design to select key things like appliances, cabinets, tiles, layout, etc. I was resistant to having a design from the contractor since I wasn’t sure it was the right place to start given that I didn’t even have measurements. Sarah and I went to Home Depot and they told us they didn’t do much to propose cabinets without measurements so I borrowed a tape measure and took measurements of the room. Since I don’t like keeping things on paper I went online to find a place to put the measurements. I found a 3D home design site that works like an ASP so I registered and paid them $30 for an annual subscription to put in the dimensions of the kitchen and start to lay-out cabinets. It was fun to play with the software and I also purchased a book on kitchen design while walking around at Expo, the high end version of Home Depot. I had a nice little lay-out with the sink in the back by the windows before I realized that the height of the windows was below the counter top. So I modified the design and brought the floor plan to Home Depot figuring they would know what to do next with my rough measurements and design.

When we asked the folks at the store how the process works and when we could put our measurements into their hands they let us know that the process they follow is that they only work with their own measurements to quote or build cabinets and that they offer free design services as a part of the cabinet and countertop sales process. The deposit for measurement and design services is $60 and it goes towards the cost of the cabinets if/when you buy them. I was quite happy with this so we had a Home Depot measurement guy come over today to measure the kitchen in a more thorough and reliable way than when I measured it. Next Saturday we are going to go in to work through a design. I better keep my contractor friend updated on how things are going on that front. I did feel confident that the Home Depot folks know what they are doing with the cabinets they sell and I like the whole idea that I pay a $60 fee to get the thing designed and I can take the design if I don’t want the cabinets and counters from them.