--- title: Why You Need A Kitchen Designer description: Do you need a kitchen designer for your kitchen remodeling project? This Q&A with three top kitchen designers reveals the kitchen design principles that guide their work every day. image: https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/kitchen-cabinet-w-floating-door.jpg --- [![Gilday](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/theme2021/images/gilday-logo-white.png) ](https://www.gilday.com/) [ 301.565.4600 ](tel:301.565.4600) - [About Us](https://www.gilday.com/about-gilday-renovations) - [About](https://www.gilday.com/about-gilday-renovations) - [Architects & Designers](https://www.gilday.com/architects-designers) - [Administration](https://www.gilday.com/administration) - [Production & Construction](https://www.gilday.com/production-team) - [Careers](https://www.gilday.com/careers) - [Awards](https://www.gilday.com/awards) - [What Our Clients Say](https://www.gilday.com/gilday-renovation-reviews) - [Press](https://www.gilday.com/press) - Service Area - [Arlington VA](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-arlington-va) - [Alexandria VA](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-alexandria-va) - [Bethesda MD](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-bethesda-md) - [Chevy Chase MD](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-chevy-chase-md) - [Cleveland Park DC](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-cleveland-park-dc) - [Kensington MD](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-kensington-md) - [McLean VA](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-mclean-va) - [Potomac MD](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-potomac-md) - [Rockville MD](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-rockville-md) - [Washington DC](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-washington-dc) - [Portfolio](https://www.gilday.com/portfolio) - [Additions](https://www.gilday.com/portfolio#additions) - [Kitchens](https://www.gilday.com/portfolio#kitchens) - [Baths](https://www.gilday.com/portfolio#baths) - [Whole House Renovations](https://www.gilday.com/portfolio#wholehouse) - Services - [Home Remodeling the Design Build Way](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-the-design-build-way) - [Renovation Architect Services](https://www.gilday.com/renovation-architect-services-gilday-renovations) - [Whole-Home Remodeling](https://www.gilday.com/whole-home-remodeling-gilday-renovations) - [Kitchen Remodeling](https://www.gilday.com/kitchen-remodeling-gilday-renovations) - [Bathroom Remodeling](https://www.gilday.com/bathroom-remodeling-gilday-renovations) - [Home Additions](https://www.gilday.com/home-additions-gilday-renovations) - [Pricing & Budgeting](https://www.gilday.com/how-to-budget-for-a-home-renovation-project) - [For Realtors - Pre-Purchase Evaluation](https://www.gilday.com/for-realtors-pre-purchase-evaluation) - [Resources](https://www.gilday.com/renovation-resource-center) - [Renovation Articles](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog) - [Contact Us](https://www.gilday.com/contact) x Search the site # Why You Need A Kitchen Designer [Kevin Gilday](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/author/kevin-gilday) ![Why You Need A Kitchen Designer](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/kitchen-cabinet-w-floating-door.jpg)   A kitchen designer is familiar with the latest features available in cabinetry, appliances and other products for the kitchen. Who better to answer the question "why you need a kitchen designer" than kitchen designers who are at the top of their game.  What follows is a conversation with designers Sarah Kahn Turner, Ellen Witts and Leslie Roosevelt--all of Gilday Renovations. *The "floating" door on this highly efficient corner cabinet swings open and pulls the inner shelves out into easy reach.* **![a floating corner cabinet door](https://www.gilday.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/kitchen-cabinet-w-floating-door.jpg?width=300&name=kitchen-cabinet-w-floating-door.jpg)** ## **What's the first question a client asks you or that you ask the client?** **Sarah Kahn Turner:** My stock question is: *what about your kitchen doesn't work for you anymore?*  The first thing they tell me is that they want *more space*, better *function*.  Or, the say they hate how the kitchen *looks*, it's not to their *taste*.  Or it has a [**dysfunctional layout**](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/kitchen-task-areas.html). They actually use that word *dysfunctional* to describe it. In terms of* space,* what they usually say they want is more countertop and food prep area.  They want seating and/or an island, and they want the kitchen to feel connected to the room where everyone else is. In terms of* function and layout*, there isn't enough storage for the way they cook, task areas are too far from each other, things are not within convenient reach.  They want easy access to cooking utensils, spices, tray bases and small appliances.  Their sutff if usually all in a jumble when I show up and they desperately need organization. **Ellen Witts:** A designer kitchen is fashioned entirely around the make up of the family.  So I want to know are they cooks?  One cook or two? Are there animals?  How many and how big?  Kids? Plans for kids? Do they entertain a lot?  Are they bakers?  The organization and storage capacity of the kitchen must be designed to meet these requirements. **Leslie Roosevelt:** Owners will often say “don’t let me make a mistake--tell me if I’m doing something wrong”  They worry about making bad choices that would hurt resale value.  The homeowners depend on the designer for guidance. **Ellen:** We listen to what they are afraid of but we also push them gently.  We want them to have fun, too. **Leslie:** I ask owners to give their wish list without editing—even if they think their wishes are too grand or too expensive I want to see it.  I know how to selectively go through that list to pack a lot of value into a project—much more than the owner thinks possible. **Sarah:** The designer prompts in depth thought about the project:  how do you live in the house? how do you want to live? what are the shortcomings of the space?  We help them plan for what they *really* want. ## **How is what you do different from a show room design associate?** **Leslie:** A show room designer is not involved in the installation or knowledgeable about construction details like plumbing and electric.  Oversights here can make or break a cabinet installation. **Ellen:** They also don't have the ability to anticipate and make customizations to cabinet details.  Even though you plan like crazy, the cabinets have to be fitted to the room.  They just don't have the knowledge base to fit all the pieces together to make a kitchen design that works as well as it looks. **Leslie:** You really can't go back and fix a beautiful kitchen if it has fatal design flaws--not without considerable expense. ## **Can architects design kitchens?** **Sarah:** Sure! **Are they any good at it?** **Sarah:** No! **Ellen:** Most don't have the knowledge of materials to design a *working* kitchen.  A kitchen designer is a specialist. **Leslie:** Cabinet lines and accessories are changing every six months.  The specifications change.  There's a lot to keep up with. **Sarah:** An architect looks at how the kitchen will lay out in a room but isn't clued into the functionality.  The kitchen designer knows how to select the right cabinet sizes and fill in the details so you have a kitchen design that is complete--it looks beautiful and it's a dream to work in. A kitchen designer fine tunes your plan until it is exactly right. ![kitchen design plans](https://www.gilday.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/kitchen-design-plans.jpeg?width=600&name=kitchen-design-plans.jpeg) Thanks to our colleagues Leslie Roosevelt, Sarah Kahn Turner and Ellen Witts for sharing their expertise.  If you found this post helpful, you might also enjoy reading a related post titled "[**What A Kitchen Designer Does**](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/what-a-kitchen-designer-does-for-you.html)" If you want to dig deeper into the topic of kitchen design and learn even more about what a kitchen designer can do for you, click on the image below to download the eBook titled [The Definitive Guide to Kitchen Design & Renovation Success](https://www.gilday.com/the-definitive-guide-to-kitchen-design-and-renovation). It's yours free. [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4060073/fcedc039-fa05-42ab-80a8-3d78d9993148.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4060073/fcedc039-fa05-42ab-80a8-3d78d9993148) ## Related Articles: Kitchen Design and Remodeling [![Modernizing a Classic Kitchen in a 1920’s Bungalow](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/blog-images/02a-kitchen-renovation.jpg) **Modernizing a Classic Kitchen in a 1920’s Bungalow** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/modernizing-a-classic-kitchen) [![Transforming Your Kitchen: Strategies for Modern Living](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/portfolio/Kitchens/Modernizing-Classic-Kitchen/Modernizing-Classic-Kitchen-4.jpg) **Transforming Your Kitchen: Strategies for Modern Living** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/kitchen-transformation-strategies) [![Kitchen Design Styles to Know Before You Remodel](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Images/whole-house/Duellman/Kitchen_2_F.jpg) **Kitchen Design Styles to Know Before You Remodel** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/kitchen-design-styles-to-know-before-you-remodel) [![Kitchen Color Ideas for Your Home Renovation](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Images/kitchen/Delan/4-kitchen-towards-family%20-oom.png) **Kitchen Color Ideas for Your Home Renovation** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/kitchen-color-ideas-for-your-home-renovation-1) [![The Art of Kitchen Lighting Design](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Images/kitchen/Shaffer/Shaffer%202017%20Kitchen%206.jpg) **The Art of Kitchen Lighting Design** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/kitchen-lighting-design) [![How Kitchen Layout Makes or Breaks the Kitchen Design](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/portfolio/Kitchens/Modernizing-Classic-Kitchen/Modernizing-Classic-Kitchen-4.jpg) **How Kitchen Layout Makes or Breaks the Kitchen Design** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/kitchen-layout) [![Kitchen Renovation Take Two: Refining a Previously Remodeled Kitchen](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/blog-images/kitchen-renovation-1.jpg) **Kitchen Renovation Take Two: Refining a Previously Remodeled Kitchen** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/kitchen-renovation-take-two-refining-a-previously-remodeled-kitchen) [![Kitchen Color Ideas for Your Home Renovation](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Images/whole-house/Duellman/Kitchen_2_F.jpg) **Kitchen Color Ideas for Your Home Renovation** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/kitchen-color-ideas-for-your-home-renovation) [![Three Kitchen Remodel Strategies You’ll Want to Know](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/cutler%20kitchen/wood-island-Kitchen-corner.jpg) **Three Kitchen Remodel Strategies You’ll Want to Know** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/three-kitchen-remodel-strategies-youll-want-to-know) [![Should I Renovate My Kitchen and Bath For Resale? 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