Architect my kitchen

[pano amo]

I need some advice redesigning my kitchen to incorporate the dining room and perhaps connecting into the living room. I don't need official plans or drawings submitted but I do need some inspiration and help. Is this something an architect would do?

I need someone to look at the space in my house and advise me on how best to use it. Walls will have to come down and possibly extending out but I dont seem to be able to 'see it' and thus instruct a builder.Given that I dont need the full range of services an architect would offer just yet, would this initial feasibility study to include drawings be expensive? Need some help here. Dont know what to do with my house

[Plotloss]

http://sketchup.google.com/

[shirt]

just get the builder round and tell him what you're thinking, he will advise whats possible and what the challenges will be. i.e. if you;re wanting a load bearing wall removing you have the cheap option of having the beam portruding from the ceiling [boxed in] or the expensive option of having it concealed in the ceiling. get an idea of cost involved and, then work on the aesthetics to suit.

[sleep envy]

use an interior designer not an architect for that

[Plotloss]

sleep envy said:

use an interior designer not an architect for that

I've got some drawings here from a 'Space Consultant'

Given the amount of kitchen cupboards he's specified I think yes, he does have some sort of affiliation with NASA

[mechsympathy]

shirt said:

just get the builder round and tell him what you're thinking, he will advise whats possible and what the challenges will be. i.e. if you;re wanting a load bearing wall removing you have the cheap option of having the beam portruding from the ceiling [boxed in] or the expensive option of having it concealed in the ceiling. get an idea of cost involved and, then work on the aesthetics to suit.

You'll need a structural engineer to work out the size of the steels/pads etc. IME an architect won't be interested in a simple knock through job.

[sleep envy]

space planner?

ask them what GNVQ they've got

[Plotloss]

Not Planner.

Consultant.

NVQ Level 2

[sleep envy]

Plotloss said:

NVQ Level 2

not very qualified L2?

means they know how to open the crayon tin

[shirt]

mechsympathy said:

You'll need a structural engineer to work out the size of the steels/pads etc. IME an architect won't be interested in a simple knock through job.

depends on the builder. mine was clued up, said he'd done hundreds and his calcs. worked out the same as the ones my mate [S.Eng] did for me. am sure PH would know best in any event.

op - if you live nr me i can get you the beams at less than cost.

[lawrence567]

Find someone who knows how to use CAD.
Get a builder in, tell him what you want to do, give dimensions on paper to someone who knows how to draw.
Get them to draw for you - pay them some cash for their time!
A lot cheaper than an architect!
You'd be surprised how many architects get it completely wrong on building sites!
Some sites the builders don't even use drawings!

[cirks]

pano amo said:

I need some advice redesigning my kitchen to incorporate the dining room and perhaps connecting into the living room. I don't need official plans or drawings submitted but I do need some inspiration and help. Is this something an architect would do?

Where are you based. I can recommend someone if you want. They are an experienced architect but she undertakes design too. Although not being our architect when we re-did our kitchen, she came up with far better designs than the official kitchen designer and amended the architect plans for the builders too. We were very satisfied with the job as it made much better use of the space etc than the original plans did.