Hi everybody...

[andy5405]

I just wanted to make the point that I think all forums benefit from a wider audience sometimes, so its good to have designers, fitters, designer/fitters, neanderthals ... etc ... to all join in

I definitely classify myself as Neanderthal out of that list!!

I often look at my portfolio and wish I had a few more funky designs in there. Some of that is down to fact that my client base tend to be in their 50's and 60's and are fairly safe with their choices. I'm happy with my portfolio but I'm always looking to improve it.

Also I am so constantly busy with fitting all day and appts/pricing in the evening that I don't always get time to explore all the options with lighting, splashbacks, frilly bits etc that can so often make the difference and give a kitchen the real wow factor. I often wonder if you need to be artistic to some degree to add that "je ne sais quoi" to a design.

[Paul G]

I just wanted to make the point that I think all forums benefit from a wider audience sometimes, so its good to have designers, fitters, designer/fitters, neanderthals ... etc ... to all join in

I definitely classify myself as Neanderthal out of that list!!

I often look at my portfolio and wish I had a few more funky designs in there. Some of that is down to fact that my client base tend to be in their 50's and 60's and are fairly safe with their choices. I'm happy with my portfolio but I'm always looking to improve it.

Also I am so constantly busy with fitting all day and appts/pricing in the evening that I don't always get time to explore all the options with lighting, splashbacks, frilly bits etc that can so often make the difference and give a kitchen the real wow factor. I often wonder if you need to be artistic to some degree to add that "je ne sais quoi" to a design.

To add the sparkle to a design I would say time is the biggest element required and patience with the customer as the frillier you get the more chance the punter wont like it. Good old fashioned plagiarism can't be underestimated either, I'm man enough to say my best ideas were nicked from someone else.

But as you correctly point out if the customer just wants to have new cabinets but loves the current layout you have to go with it as ultimately aren't we all just trying to sell kitchens? But it is nice to see your name in a magazine now and again.