As a family-owned business for over 20 years based in East Dundee IL, we know that relationships matter. What’s more, we understand that building a custom kitchen or bath is one of the biggest investments you will make in your home – and you want everything to go smoothly. When you work with Jim Keller Kitchen, Bath & Home, you can rely on personalized service and close oversight from the initial design meeting to the final installation.
Getting to know you – the first meeting
Recently, a couple came into our showroom with a vision for their new kitchen remodeling project, but were unsure how to get started. Armed with their wish list – and an understanding of what wasn’t working in their current kitchen, they sat down with us for an initial consultation. This is an important step that allows us to really get to know our clients better. We asked questions to draw out their wants and needs. Then, most importantly, we listened as they answered, shared their personal experiences, and told us stories that brought their project to life.
One of the things we want to clarify right away is a client’s priorities. For example, is the project driven by design, function, budget, or something else. We talk about the floorplan and size, an overview of cabinets and appliances, their likes and dislikes, and more. By the end of that first meeting, we aim to have a firm grasp of their personalities, their style, their budget, and what things are most important to them. We take personal care of each client whether from Barrington, Elgin, Lake In The Hills, West Dundee or right in our neighborhood in East Dundee IL.
Walking through the Initial design concept
Using the information gathered in the first meeting, we generate a concept and design that incorporates the client’s needs and wants, as well as keeping an eye on the budget that we’re working within.
The first design meeting is always full of anticipation! We walk our clients through the initial design, showing how we’ve incorporated what they are looking for, asking them what they think, and pointing out any trade-offs or decisions they might need to make. This meeting is a true partnership, where we and our client work hand-in-hand to further refine the design. Once the major strokes of the design are finalized, we agree to a design retainer and kick off the next phase of the project!
Guiding clients through decision-making
As the project begins, it is time to make decisions. A major kitchen project is always an evolving process. Using a combination of hand drawings and computer renderings, our clients get to see what their project will look like. We work closely with a client to guide them through the decision-making process and keep them from becoming overwhelmed.
Once the final layout is approved and appliances are chosen, we move to more detailed decisions, such as cabinet finish, wood species, door style, etc choices. After those major decisions are made, we begin to look at some of the more detailed decisions: choosing sinks and faucets, cabinet hardware, countertop ma, backsplash, paint colors, lighting, and more. Our decades of experience mean we’ve got this down to a science to make it easy and organized for clients. With materials and fixtures chosen and ordered, the installation phase begins.
Our next blog post in this series is focused on what you can do before construction starts to stay sane while you don’t have a functioning kitchen.
Time and time again, our clients tell us that great communication and close working relationships they have with us simply produce better results. We think of what we do as building kitchen “furniture” that can last a lifetime or beyond. Through our process, clients become friends because, together, we’ve built a foundation of trust. We try to make the entire process fun, without the problems and drama that happen with other companies. In fact, recently, we had clients take us out for dinner at the end of the job!
The first step is just a phone call away. Call us today at 847.844.1900 if you live in the Barrington, Elgin, or Crystal Lake areas, and you can begin creating the perfect kitchen or bath for your home!
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