Much as I’m trying to not get pigeonholed, it seems as though 80% of my work last year was kitchens. I’d like to improve my design skills, I’m not looking for a pretty coffee table book. Anyone have/seen a good more technical “textbook” on kitchen design? TIA…
PaulB
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National Kitchen and Bath Association have a number of technical manuals.
Are they the ones that have a certified Kitchen design program?
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Yeah, you can become a Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD) or Certified Bath Designer (CBD), but last time I looked at it, you pretty much had to have an interior design credential to get there, plus take the NKBA courses (the manuals go with the courses). They would give you some credit for coming from a trade, but not too much. No way am I going to interior design school, so I haven't kept up with it. The technical information is very good though from what I've heard.Cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
Thanks guys... I looked at NKBA. Their books are awfully pricey to buy on a whim, anyone have any first hand experience with them?
I stopped by a booth at a trade show they had that was moderately impressive. Turned out that I could get their certification by showing that I had designed X number of kitchens in the past year and accompanying letters of recommendation, and paying dues.I just never got around tuit
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That's news to me.....nothing on their website indicated that, and that is as deep as I went.
Paul: since noone else is answering, I have looked at one of the manuals....it was on lighting, and I didn't have a reason at the time to go deep into aspect, but it certainly seemed to contain some good info. I'm not aware of any books in the middle....you can get the Jim Tolpin type stuff that is just basically not very good....a book by Johnny Grey (sp) that talks about some ideas behind it.....I haven't ever found anything that is useful to the professional with some experience under their belt but looking for a deeper understanding. There is a book called 'The Kitchen Consultant' that is worth having, and a couple of other things, but there really isn't much out there except conceptual stuff out of architectural theory that isn't much use to us.....kitchens are kind of a black hole. They're not that hard either....get a good electrician, good plumber, learn how to do good cabinetry, the rest is common sense. Solve the problems....that's it. And make it look good.
Cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
Edited 12/29/2006 7:56 pm ET by Adrian
Honestly, I don't know of any good books on it either. I have learned from my own observations and having worked with some top talent. I have a very analytical mind and ask questions about anything I don't understand the reasoning behind, and I have a strong practical bent to me. I also do not simply run off a design and then hit it. I let it steep like a cup of tea and come back to it with a critical eye, walking myself through every movement that can be made in the space.3D CAD is a great help there.Where I am weak is in knowing all the latest and greatest toys that can be designed into a kitchen. I'd like to attend one of those K&B trade shows sometime. One of my clients ( my last big customer actually) has a business doing custom hand painted ceramic tiles so she goes to all those things. There are a lot of ideas for inspiration there, but one has to look at that and the trade journals with a critical eye. There is a lot of crap that will be tiring in your kitchen in 2-3 years. I think good kitchen design is nearly timeless, except for the fact of changing appliances. For instance, I've done a few where we were adding a DW and removing large soapstone sinks and 5' wide wood fired cookstoves while making room for subzeros and microwaves
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!