Who this guide is for
- Homeowners meeting a contractor or designer about a kitchen
- People who want a productive first consultation
- Anyone unsure what to bring to the meeting
- Owners with appliances and must-haves to plan around
Gather measurements and photos
A rough plan with key measurements and photos lets the professional grasp the space quickly. Note overall dimensions, window and door positions, and where services and appliances currently sit.
Photos of the whole kitchen and any awkward spots help.
- Note overall kitchen dimensions
- Mark windows, doors and services
- Photograph the whole kitchen
- Capture awkward corners and runs
List your appliances
Appliances drive a lot of kitchen layout, so list what you have, what you want to keep and what is new. Note any large or built-in appliances that need planning around.
An appliance list saves a lot of back-and-forth.
- List appliances to keep and add
- Note large or built-in units
- Flag anything needing services
- Mention appliance preferences
Capture how you use the kitchen
How you cook, store and gather shapes the design. Share how you use the kitchen and what frustrates you now, so the professional designs around real life.
Be clear about must-haves versus nice-to-haves.
Bring inspiration and must-haves
A few inspiration images and a short list of must-haves help the professional gauge your style and priorities. Clear references beat a vague description.
Separate the non-negotiables from the wishlist.
- Bring a few inspiration images
- List your must-haves
- Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves
- Note storage and worktop priorities
Prepare questions and priorities
Write down the questions and priorities that matter most, from sequencing to how long you might be without a kitchen. Questions make the meeting work harder for you.
Note your priorities so trade-offs are easier.
Hiring checklist
- 1Note overall kitchen dimensions
- 2Mark windows, doors and services
- 3Photograph the whole kitchen and awkward spots
- 4List appliances to keep and add
- 5Capture how you use the kitchen
- 6Bring inspiration images
- 7List your must-haves
- 8Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves
- 9Write down your key questions
- 10Note your priorities for trade-offs
Common mistakes to avoid
- Turning up with no measurements or photos
- Forgetting to list current and new appliances
- Not sharing how you actually use the kitchen
- Failing to separate must-haves from nice-to-haves
- Bringing no inspiration so style is hard to gauge
- Leaving without asking the questions that matter to you
When to involve a professional
- Leave plumbing, electrical and gas decisions to qualified professionals
- Share observations about the current kitchen, not diagnoses
- Ask the professional about their relevant kitchen experience
- Confirm next steps and what they will provide
- Remember kitchen requirements vary by location and project
Frequently asked questions
Questions readers ask about this topic
What should I bring to a kitchen consultation?
Bring rough measurements, photos, a list of current and new appliances, a note on how you use the kitchen, inspiration images and your must-haves. The better the professional understands your space and habits, the more useful their advice.
Why list appliances?
Appliances drive a lot of kitchen layout, so listing what you keep and add, especially large or built-in units, saves a lot of back-and-forth. Flag anything that needs services so it can be planned around.
Do I need exact measurements?
Rough but accurate key measurements — overall dimensions, window, door and service positions — give the professional a real head start. They will measure precisely if the project goes ahead.
What questions should I prepare?
Note the questions and priorities that matter most, from sequencing to how long you might be without a kitchen. Going in with questions and clear priorities makes the meeting far more productive.
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