Kitchen & Bath Business - February/March 2020 - 34

PRODUCT SOURCING

"I think of sourcing as a collaborative effort
with my clients based on learning their needs,
finding out from their contractor where they
prefer to do business and making sure that the
products will functionally work with the home."

One Way -
or the Other?

MOLLY SWITZER, MOLLY N SWITZER DESIGNS, LLC

With careful consideration,
designers & clients can
both have a say in the
selection process

A PERFECT BALANCE

SOME CLIENTS THESE DAYS want to be totally
hands off during their kitchen or bathroom renovations, and others want to be much more involved. Of course, a designer needs to glean ample
information from the homeowner to ensure they
are providing the right space for their needs. So in
that sense, the client and pro are heavily interactive
- but what about when the products and materials
selection comes into play?
Do designers let the client have some say in that
process? Or is it best to leave that up to the pro entirely? KBB spoke to several industry experts to get
more guidance when it comes to this potentially
ambiguous topic.

LEARNING THE CLIENT'S LIFESTYLE

Lauren Clement, owner and principal designer of
Charlotte, N.C.-based Lauren Nicole Designs,
says she asks a lot of questions and reviews a handful of her clients' inspiration photos so she can get
inside their heads as much as possible.
"Based on these photos and conversations,I create
a base of what they are looking for but also introduce
some new elements that may push their envelope
but still remain in their comfort zone,"she added.
Designer Michael Kaestner of Philadelphiabased Kaestner Designs says his process is
transparent. He begins by discussing his clients'
lifestyles and feelings about their current space -
asking the right questions up front.
"I am able to streamline the process so their
minds can rest,and we can move toward design development,"he added."Many others show samples
initially, but I feel this can inhibit the natural design
process. By sharing my concepts of how I believe
the space should look and feel, I open up the dialogue with my clients and encourage feedback."
Nina Green of Churchville, Pa.-based NGD
Interiors, says she asks specific questions about
what her clients want, including the overall style
they are trying to achieve, their budget and how
often the product will be used.Then she gets started on the sourcing part of the project.

34
34-36_KBB_0220_ProductSourcing.indd 34

By CHELSIE BUTLER

As far as extremes, there are risks involved if the product sourcing is entirely
left up to the homeowner or the professional. Some client involvement is
crucial, so the designer is choosing what works best for their lifestyle. It's
helpful for both parties to listen to requests and share concerns.
If a client wants to source everything, they may not know what the latest
offerings are on the market, they can't always speak to the brand or product
performance, and they won't have knowledge on lead times, potential upcharges or how much is needed.
"I think of sourcing as a collaborative effort with my clients based on
learning their needs, finding out from their contractor where they prefer to
do business and making sure that the products will functionally work with
the home," said Molly Switzer of Portland, Ore.-based Molly N Switzer
Designs LLC. "And of course, I try to always bring new, exciting products
and ideas that they wouldn't have thought about but meet the needs of the
project in a creative and functional way."
There are some clients who want the designer to make all the decisions;
they trust their professional expertise and hire them for a reason.
"Most of our clients approve our recommendations as-is,based on our extensive experience and reputation," said Randy Godeau of Webster,Texas-based
Bay Area Kitchens. "We source products we've proven over time and can confidently stand behind. Of course, we allow our clients to make minor changes,
typically aesthetic, if they do not compromise the integrity of the project."
Some clients leave it all up to the design team because they find it highly
overwhelming to make decisions with all the choices available.This is one of
the main reasons Green says she is brought onto a project.
"For the client who really wants to be involved, I will do specialty shopping
trips, which also help if after several meetings the client is still at a standstill,"
she explained. "Having the products sourced before construction bidding
helps everyone realize the total price. Many upcharges happen on the contractor side when a product is not picked ahead of time, and there may be more
specialty work involved with installing it than what was expected." 
Some professionals choose certain selections for their clients and let them
be more hands on with others, although this too has its drawbacks.
"We typically select plumbing fixtures and appliances for our clients, â
as that is part of our service," said Ariana Lovato, AKBD, of Pismo

"We source products we've proven over time
and can confidently stand behind. Of course,
we allow our clients to make minor changes,
typically aesthetic, if they do not compromise
the integrity of the project."
RANDY GODEAU, BAY AREA KITCHENS

/ FEB.-MARCH 2020 / KBBONLINE.COM / The official publication of NKBA (NKBA.org) and KBIS (KBIS.com)

2/13/20 5:11 PM
http://www.KBBONLINE.COM http://www.NKBA.org http://www.KBIS.com
Kitchen & Bath Business - February/March 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Kitchen & Bath Business - February/March 2020
