Do I Need a Certified Kitchen Designer?
Considering tackling a DIY kitchen renovation project on your own? You might want to consider hiring a certified kitchen designer for some help.
There are obvious reasons why professionals suggest hiring a Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD) before taking a sledgehammer to your walls. A certified kitchen designer goes through rigorous training and needs years of experience under their belt before they are given their certification.
The lowest level of certification given by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) is the Associate Kitchen and Bath Designer (AKBD), which require two years of experience and 30 hours of related education. A CKD requires a minimum of five years of experience, two of those years must be from full-time residential kitchen and bath experience, have 60 hours of approved education, take a two-part exam testing academic knowledge and practical skills and know the NKDA Kitchen & Bath Planning Guidelines & Access Standards like the back of their hands.
You might be a great seamstress but wouldn’t try to sew up your own stitches on a wound, would you? No. You would go to a medical professional to get it treated properly to avoid infections. Same logic with hiring a CKD for your kitchen needs.
Not only are CKDs experienced and educated but they also have access to tips and tricks that you might not be aware of. They have insider knowledge on the latest trends, materials, building codes, mechanical plumbing and electrical systems and so many more odds and ends that you might have never even considered. On top of all the years of experience and education, all CKDs remain current on regulations and new products through an ongoing continuing education requirement that mandates a minimum of ten hours of education every two years no matter how experienced you are.
According to the NKBA the services of a CKD represents about four percent of the total project budget - a relatively small price to pay for a guaranteed satisfactory outcome. In the end, their expertise ends up saving you a lot of time, money and hair pulling.
Still not convinced you need a CKD? Request a consultation to discuss your design needs, whether it’s to gut-renovate your kitchen or just to put up some new cabinets. A CKD will be able to guide you in the right direction and open up new options and ideas to complete your project in time.