by Jan Rutgers
Once a kitchen designer has learned the basics and theories of kitchen design, the next step is to learn how to put those kitchen design concepts into practice.
The latest Cornerstone Course from VESTABUL SCHOOL OF DESIGN provides that and more.
Putting Kitchen Design Concepts Into Practice is my follow up course to A Beginners Guide to Kitchen Design and will provide you with everything you need to get started as a professional kitchen designer.
It is a course that provides practical design solutions you can easily integrate into your designs.
In this VESTA Blog post, I will provide you with an overview of what you will learn when you enroll in the Cornerstone Course, Putting Kitchen Design Concepts into Practice.
Cornerstone Courses are the foundation of your Kitchen design learning, and whether you are just starting you career as a Kitchen Designer, or have been practicing for awhile, the getting started Vesta bundle of A Beginners Guide to Kitchen Design and Putting Kitchen Design Concepts into Practice are the perfect starting point.
For more information on A Beginners Guide to Kitchen Design check out this VESTA blog post.
Both courses have been developed around the science, the art and the business of Kitchen design.
These three areas are what every designer needs to be familiar with prior to tackling the design of a client’s Kitchen.
The Science of Kitchen Design deals with kitchen design theories, guidelines, layouts, kitchen cabinets and accessories.
The Art of Kitchen Design revolves around the aesthetics of the design. It is knowledge of trends, kitchen decor styles and the materials that go into a kitchen design.
The last category is the Business of Kitchen Design. It encompasses the important skills needed to present and sell your Kitchen designs.
Knowledge in these areas will ensure your Kitchen designs are not only beautiful, but function efficiently, and provide a great experience for you and your client.
Putting Kitchen Design Concepts into Practice
The Putting Kitchen Design Concepts into Practice course has been broken down into 3 chapters with over 2 hours of videos, multiple PDF downloads and test your learning quizzes throughout.
Here is an overview of the outline.
Chapter 1: The Science of Kitchen Design
- Developing Functional Designs
- Unique Cabinet Uses
- Incorporating Accessories
Chapter 2: The Art of Kitchen Design
- Specifying Hardware
- Specifying Cabinet Trim
- Mixing & Matching Cabinetry
Chapter 3: The Business of Kitchen Design
- Advanced Needs Assessment
- Advanced Presentation Skills
Course Highlights
Within each of these chapters there are great learnings for the professional kitchen designer.
The Science of Kitchen Design
In the Science of Kitchen Design we do a deep dive into Food Flow that was introduced in A Beginners Guide to Kitchen Design.
Once you compete this lesson you will automatically be thinking about functionality and ergonomics when designing all of your spaces.
The lesson on unique cabinet uses will provide you with design solutions for the multiple different types of cabinets available from your suppliers.
I feel interior cabinet accessories are what takes kitchen design to the next level.
We will look at all the accessories available on the market and I will show you how to best incorporate them into your designs for your clients.
The Art of Kitchen Design
Many kitchen designers enter the profession because of the “Art of Design” but it is a specific skill designer need to learn.
Things I cover include:
- What type of crown moulding to include to get a specific look
- How to mix and match cabinetry finishes within the same kitchen
- And how to specify appropriate hardware for a unique look in your projects.
The Business of Kitchen Design
To wrap up Putting Kitchen Design Concepts into Practice we discuss areas within the business of kitchen design.
In this chapter there is a lesson on the kitchen design design survey, where we look in depth at it so you understand what questions you need to be asking and why.
We also dissect the final presentation and look at ideas of what you should include to excite your client and make sure everyone is on the same page.
Designer Tips
Throughout my courses, I also provide Designer Tips to help learners implement the concepts taught.
The following are 3 of the 26 Designer Tips provided in Putting Kitchen Design Concepts into Practice.
You could start using these Designer Tips now to increase the success of your Kitchen designs!
VESTABUL DESIGNER TIPS
- Double check that your chosen hardware size will fit on any narrow drawer bank or pullout that may be in your design
- Consider Mid-Height cabinets in your kitchen designs for accessible storage and aesthetic appeal
- Specify counter material thickness on your floor plans and elevations to ensure the finished height of the countertop is what you have planned.
One last thing I want to leave you with is a sneak peak of one of the lessons in Putting Kitchen Design concepts into Practice.
Specifying Basic Accessories in Your Designs
I hope this overview of Putting Kitchen Design Concepts into Practice gets you thinking about where you are on your journey to becoming a Professional Kitchen Designer.
I’d love to have this course be a part of that journey.
The cost to enroll in is $499
I also offer a specially priced VESTA Bundle called the Getting Started Bundle which combines my two Cornerstone Courses for $699, which is a $100 savings over purchasing them separately.
If you have any questions about this course or any VESTABUL SCHOOL OF DESIGN courses, leave a comment below.
And if you have an idea for a course you would like to see me develop, please leave me a comment.
Jan Rutgers has been designing kitchens and products for over 25 years and is a recipient of Kitchen & Bath Design News’ Top Innovators in 2020 for the Kitchen & Bath Industry. She has designed more than 1000 kitchens learning valuable skills with each one! Her experience in Kitchen Design, Millwork Manufacturing and Product Development has led her to create VESTABUL SCHOOL OF DESIGN where she educates and mentors people passionate about the Kitchen Design Industry.
