Our Process

Where to Begin

Your new kitchen begins with a custom design based specifically on your ideas and the space available in your home. We'll meet with you in your home and do some old-fashioned listening to make sure we fully understand what you are looking for in your new custom kitchen. We believe that you know what you want — you just need a creative professional to help turn your dreams into reality.

We blend your ideas with our up-to-date knowledge and experience having designed and completed countless kitchens. Our distinctive designs are combined with fine crafted kitchen cabinetry and materials to create environments that enhance the lives of our clients.

Our philosophy is quite simple — we provide design that reflects the personality and individuality of our clients. We execute design that is functional and aesthetically pleasing, while maintaining the architectural integrity of the home.

To fully understand our design capabilities and what we do, please call us (we'd love to chat) or schedule an appointment here at our studio. You may also schedule an appointment for us to visit you for an in-home fee-based consultation. In the meantime, you will get a good sense of the work we do by reviewing examples of our work. In addition, you may wish to review additional kitchen design information on our Tool and Tips page. Please also visit us on our HOUZZ page.

Creative & Affordable Solutions

The foundation of your wonderful kitchen begins with creative ideas and solutions. Solutions extend beyond design ... they include your budget. If a wonderful design has been created for your kitchen, yet can't be completed within your budget, what then?

It’s our goal to avoid "what then?" Our 'affordability solutions' begin early on in the process. Understanding your wants, needs, desires and budget will assist us in finding the perfect balance where we can deliver the kitchen of your dreams all within your means.

Once the design for your new kitchen is complete and you have selected your cabinetry, countertops and other materials, it’s time to bring it all together with the installation. If you don’t already have an installer or contractor, we can help you navigate this phase using an installer or contractor we recommend.

Installation By Qualified Professionals

You may have been referred to us by your builder, contractor, architect or interior designer. We work regularly with a diverse base of trade professionals and are comfortable working with whomever you choose.

Let Us Suggest An Installer

We can provide you with the names of qualified installers for your new kitchen. Project coordination and payments will be between you and your installer. If you would like us to act as your liaison, we can provide Installation Facilitation as an additional non-inclusive service.

Homeowners Doing It Themselves

Occasionally, we find homeowners who are exceptionally skilled and want to do the installation on their own. If this sounds like you, we will work with you on design and selection, and then turn the balance of the project over to you.

We're Here To Help You

Regardless whether your installer is someone we recommended, someone that you already have history with ... or if you're doing the install yourself ... we'll continue to be there to answer questions along the way. We will visit your home during the installation process as needed, answer questions, and make sure that whoever is installing your kitchen has what they need from us.

THE PROCESS

Thank you for considering Hankins & Associates, Inc. for your kitchen remodeling needs. Kindly review the process we follow to help navigate you from concept to completion of your new kitchen remodel.

1. Questionnaire

Please complete our Questionnaire which can be found under "Tools & Tips" below. These questions help us during the design, planning and budgeting phases of your new kitchen. They often aid the homeowner in further understanding their wants, needs and desires. Kindly have this form ready for your in-home consultation.

2. Consultation

An initial In-Home consultation/site-measure offers an opportunity for both introduction and the ability to learn about your project, assess your needs, discuss potential design ideas and budget, educate you on our services (and products) and ultimately determine how best to proceed. An in-home consultation (when within 40-miles of our office/shop) is $150.00. Consultation visits to homes beyond 40-miles shall be quoted. This fee will be applied to cabinetry purchased from Hankins & Associates. This fee must be paid in full before the set appointment date. Please be prepared to discuss your project budget and timing (when you'd ideally like it completed by) during this meeting. The information we gather, along with our thorough site measurements and digital photographs will assist us for all phases of your new kitchen. You should expect this meeting to last about 90 minutes. Again, please have your completed Questionnaire available for this first meeting.

3. Presentation

This is our opportunity to present a conceptual schematic overhead view that we've prepared for your evaluation. This preliminary drawing serves as the springboard for your design direction and helps in the continued dialogue for the project budget. During this meeting we'll also discuss cabinet styling, construction and materials, counters, appliances and more. By this time you should have a good idea of "who we are", what we are capable of doing for you, and for (approximately) how much. At this time a commitment from you by way of our Design Agreement investment will be required to proceed further.

4. Selections

We'll help guide you in choosing your new door style, wood specie and finish based on both design and budget. Certain appliance parameters (not necessarily final manufacturer and model number) should be identified by this time. Though knowing appliance and sink equipment size and function is necessary during the design phase, the actual make and model numbers can follow shortly. Your counter surface options may also be selected at this time, and no later than 1-week prior to the installation. When final selections haven’t yet been made, allowance figures may be used for budgeting purposes.

5. Contract

With all information in hand, selections made, the final pricing will be completed and presented to you together with the final design plans and contract. A project deposit, less any applicable Design Agreement investment, will be due to proceed.

6. Order

Your cabinetry and other related components are then ordered. Cabinetry lead-times, subject to the manufacturer chosen, can range from as little as 4-weeks up to 12-weeks (plus shipping). Once your cabinetry order is placed, no changes can be made without financial penalty and delay. A delivery date will be provided once the cabinet manufacturer has provided the final order acknowledgement. You should order your appliances and sink equipment promptly, providing us with a copy of your invoice for reference and confirmation purposes.

7. Payments

Design fees are due prior to commencing with the full design program. Your design fee investment in full (unless otherwise specified) will be credited to cabinets ordered from Hankins & Associates, Inc. Cabinet orders typically require a 50% deposit, with the balance due upon delivery (prior to the cabinetry offload). Order changes (where possible) and 'make-afters' shall be invoiced in advance and due in full prior to fabrication or ordering.