Homeowners have lots of questions before they embark upon a remodel. They’re not only concerned about style, quality and cost but they also want to know they’re hiring the right people. The internet has made it easier than ever to find answers, but can you trust everything you see? Not necessarily, which is why a visit to the showroom is a good first start.
At a kitchen and bath showroom like Blue Ribbon Millwork, in Woodstock, homeowners find expert designers who can put together all of the details.
“We invite people to come here first,” says designer Megan Lebar. “That’s a great first step so you can see what brands we offer in cabinets, countertops, undercabinet lighting, and all variety of other components.”
It’s easy for clients to feel overwhelmed, so designers like Lebar and her counterparts, Kelsey Bechtel and Carmen Haddaway, act as navigators through the entire process. A designers’ true value lies in their experience and knowledge, which help them to put every choice into perspective.
“We’re helping the client to recognize what direction they’re headed,” says Lebar. “We show good, better, best for cabinets, and explain the differences in design options and cabinet construction. We have an example kitchen that’s priced out for each of our cabinet lines, so we can share ballpark numbers, based on a 12-by-12-foot kitchen.”
To further put things in perspective, a new “cabinet comparison corner” shows a variety of cabinet boxes, drawers and doors with a glass countertop, so designers can demonstrate exactly how these brands, styles and price points compare.
By the time you leave the showroom, you should feel educated and confident in the steps ahead, says Bechtel. If you walk away questioning the designer’s experience, knowledge, or proposals, trust your gut and keep shopping.
“Find a good navigator who’s also a good advocate,” says Bechtel. “Find someone who you know is going to do a great job for you and be personally invested in your project. I think that’s more important now than ever before.”
Blue Ribbon Millwork is located at 1401 S. Eastwood Dr., in Woodstock, (815) 338-8900.