Design-to-Delight Process
Unless you’re a professional designer, builder or architect, you may not have much experience with the process of designing, ordering, and installing new custom cabinetry. Whether you are renovating a kitchen or building a new home, it can be complicated if you don’t know what to expect, or if you don’t have the right partner to guide you through the process.
At NEFF of Chicago, it’s our job to guide and work with our customers, every step of the way.
We’d like to make it easy for you, so we’ve developed a guide to the five phases of working with us on your kitchen or cabinetry project:
- Preliminary Design Quotation
- Design Approval and Order
- Production Period
- Installation
- Post-Installation Follow-up
To see the details of the NEFF of Chicago Design–to-Delight Process, keep reading or click here to download the pdf.
Timeline- How long does it take?
NEFF of Chicago can design, produce, deliver and install a project in 17 weeks, or 12 weeks if you elect to take advantage of a premium priced Rush option.
What we often find, however, is that our customers lead busy lives and need more time in the design and approval parts of the process, so if you are planning a kitchen, bath, Valet closet or other custom cabinetry project, we recommend that you visit us 23 weeks before the date you want your kitchen ready. (See our Quick Reference for key family Holiday dates below.)
Because NEFF cabinetry is crafted in North America, just 8 hours from Chicago, the production and delivery period of 11 to 12 weeks can be less than half of that of products which are manufactured overseas.
The other activities that happen before and after production add a minimum of 6 weeks to the time from when you first sit down with NEFF of Chicago to the time your cabinetry is installed. You’ll need to add two weeks after Installation to complete your countertops.
Rush Jobs - Can we do it faster?
Absolutely yes! There are two ways to shorten your project timeline with NEFF of Chicago to achieve installation in as little as 12 weeks. First, if you can meet with us as soon as we complete each phase in the design process and provide quick approvals, we can save a few weeks. Second, NEFF Kitchens offers a rush service for a premium price that cuts the production timeline in half.
NEFF of Chicago's 2009/2010 Quick Reference for Key Holidays
Holidays are the times we gather with family and friends. Many people who are considering a renovation would like to have it completed in time to entertain during particular holidays. This Quick Reference will tell you when you should first meet with us to start your project to have it ready in time for the holiday you have in mind. Download Holiday Timeline.pdf
| Holiday |
Typical (23 weeks) |
Rush (14 weeks)* |
| Hanukkah (Dec 11/09) |
N/A |
August 31, 2009 |
| Christmas (Dec 25/09) |
N/A |
September 14, 2009 |
| Chinese New Year (Feb 14/10) |
August 31, 2009 |
November 2, 2009 |
| Valentine's Day (Feb 14/10) |
August 31, 2009 |
November 2, 2009 |
| Passover (Mar 30/10) |
October 12, 2009 |
December 14, 2009 |
| Good Friday/Easter (April 2/10) |
October 12, 2009 |
December 14, 2009 |
| Cinco de Mayo (May 5/10) |
November 16, 2009 |
January 25, 2010 |
| Mother's Day (May 9/10) |
November 16, 2009 |
January 25, 2010 |
| Memorial Day (May 31/10) |
December 14, 2009 |
February 22,2010 |
| Independence Day (Jul 4/10) |
January 18, 2010 |
March 22, 2009 |
| Ramadan begins (Aug 11/10) |
March 1, 2010 |
May 3, 2010 |
| Labor Day (Sept 6/10) |
March 29, 2010 |
May 31,2010 |
| Rosh Hashanah (Sept 9/10) |
March 29, 2010 |
May 31,2010 |
| Eid-Ul-Fitr (Sept 10/10) |
March 29, 2010 |
May 31,2010 |
| Yom Kippur (Sept 18/10) |
April 5, 2010 |
June 7, 2010 |
| Eid-Ul-Adha (Nov 16/10) |
June 7, 2010 |
August 9, 2010 |
| Thanksgiving (Nov 25/10) |
June 14, 2010 |
August 16, 2010 |
| Hanukkah (Dec 1/10) |
June 21, 2010 |
August 23, 2010 |
| Christmas (Dec 25/10) |
July 12, 2010 |
September 13, 2010 |
| *Rush Option available with a price premium. Assumes customer meets all required approval dates and leadtimes |
NEFF of Chicago's Design-to-Delight Guide to the Process of Buying a Kitchen (or any other custom cabinetry project)
Phase 1: Preliminary Design Quotation
Many premium cabinetry dealers and kitchen design boutiques will charge an up-front retainer, just to give you an estimate of how much your dream kitchen will cost.
At NEFF of Chicago, we have chosen NOT to do this.
We understand that whether your budget is twenty-thousand dollars or two hundred thousand, you want to have an idea of how much kitchen you can get for your budget, and you want to know to whom you'll be entrusting your dream before you spend any money.
All we ask is that you tell us what your desired budget range is. As we get to know your tastes and the scope of your project, we will strive to delight you while meeting your target number.
What You’ll Need:
• Plan drawings for the space that your project will occupy (if available)
• Target budget
What We’ll Do:
• Listen to what you want to do
• Ask questions
• Provide refreshments
Come into our showroom, a Luxehome boutique in Chicago’s landmark Merchandise Mart, or make an appointment to see us. We’re open M-F from 9-5 and Saturday from 10-3… other times by appointment.
If you have the plan drawings for your home, please bring a copy you can leave with us or we will make one for you. If you don’t have plans, we would be delighted to visit your home to take the measurements we’ll need to do a draft design.
Tell us about your project:
| |
Example: |
| Scope of the Project |
Kitchen Renovation? New Home with 20 projects? |
| Target Budget |
Budget for Cabinetry alone or Total Budget? |
| Your Style |
Traditional? Transitional? Contemporary? |
| Design Preferences |
Wood? Color? Finish? Island? Lighting? Backsplash? |
| Your Lifestyle |
Love to Cook? Caterer on Speed Dial? Family Size? Entertaining? |
| Storage Space |
Pantry? Seasonal Dishes? Shopping Frequency? Small appliance garage? |
| Appliances |
What kind? How many? Location? |
| Objectives |
Enjoy it for 25 years? Impress your mother-in-law? Make life easier? |
| Timing? |
Rush? 4 months+? |
What We’ll Do:
- Assign “Design-to-Delight” Team
- NEFF of Chicago President Pat Borg
- NEFF of Chicago Kitchen & Bath Designer
- NEFF of Chicago Architect
Pat Borg, NEFF of Chicago Owner/President will be part of a 3 person team that he will assign to work with you (and your designer, builder, architect if you have one), to ensure that you get the kitchen you want, when you want it.
One of our talented K&B Designers will guide you through the myriad choices offered by NEFF, make recommendations to suit your taste and lifestyle and will help you to stay within your budget.
Our Architect will get to know you and your project and will work with NEFF manufacturing to ensure that the design you want is translated to the most cost effective production methods so that you get the most value from the money you have to spend.
What You’ll Need:
- Time to meet with us
- Your imagination
What We’ll Do:
- a sketch of a concept layout
- a $ estimate for your project
NEFF of Chicago’s target is to present you with a conceptual design and a price range for your project, one week from the day we have both your measurements and our preliminary discussion.
When we meet, we will present a sketch of a conceptual layout, some color and texture samples and a price range for the lay-out and materials shown.
You let us know what you like and don’t like and we’ll make as many adjustments and recommendations as you deem necessary.
At this point, if we’ve done our job right, you will love the design and be confident that NEFF cabinetry will add value to your home for years to come.
Phase 2: Design Approval and Order
Once you've decided to move ahead with NEFF of Chicago on your kitchen, bath, closet or custom cabinetry project, based on the conceptual design and value estimate, the next Phase is to finalize the design, develop a firm contract price and approve the order.
From NEFF of Chicago's standpoint, this phase could take 3 to 6 weeks, however we've found that in reality, the timing always depends on your availability to meet with us and on the number of changes you make in this Phase.
What You’ll Need:
- a Design Fee
- time to meet with us, perhaps on 2 or 3 occasions
- time to approve drawings and color or wood samples
- your appliance specifications
- a first instalment on contract signing
What We’ll Do:
- Technical Drawings – AutoCAD Lay-outs and Elevations and possibly a color rendering
- Work with you on features and accessories to include in your NEFF Kitchen or other project
- Work with NEFF Manufacturing in Toronto to achieve your design at the best possible price
- Prepare a contract
- Prepare color samples or flitches
- Submit the order
- Finalize the delivery date
- Schedule a NEFF-trained installer (optional)
Phase 2 starts with payment of a Design Fee to NEFF of Chicago, which is approximately 10% of the total estimate presented in Phase 1.
This fee is non-refundable and exempt from sales tax, but is included in the total project estimate. The fee includes 3 sets of revisions to your design.
For renovations, if NEFF of Chicago did not visit your home in Phase 1, then, to ensure your satisfaction with the final product, we would need to visit to take final measurements before beginning the Technical Design drawings.
If you are building a new home and the kitchen is roughed in, we would also like to confirm the measurements shown in the floor plans by visiting the job site. Otherwise, we would need your floor plans / architectural drawings for the relevant rooms to begin our Technical Drawings.
At this point, the Technical Designer on your Design-to-Delight Team will begin to take the conceptual drawing you’ve approved and will create a computerized drawing (CAD) of the layout of your kitchen or other cabinetry project.
This is a very detailed process, in which every component piece of your cabinetry is identified, along with its dimensions and relationship to other component modules.
Our Architect works with NEFF manufacturing to “spec out” the custom elements in your design and to ensure that tolerances are built in to avoid conflicts and binding, especially in curved designs or to allow certain species of solid wood to “breathe”.
Additionally, they’ll look for the most cost effective way to manufacture your custom design.
Once we’ve completed the detailed drawings, we need to present them to you to get your approval.
We also prepare a contract which outlines our responsibility to you and the responsibilities that you have in the process so we can deliver on the scheduled date at the contracted price.
Once you have approved the design and signed the contract, we’ll ask you for a deposit (first instalment) which will then allow us to begin the ordering process with the manufacturer.
Once the deposit is paid, you are welcome to have copies of the design drawings.
Whether you have chosen a custom color pigment or a color from one of the many sample finishes on display at NEFF of Chicago, we want to make sure that you are getting the exact color to suit your home.
Veneers and solid wood in particular can vary in color and stain absorption from tree to tree within the same species.
For this reason, before going into production, NEFF will produce color samples for you to sign-off before they begin to craft your cabinetry.
Additionally, your NEFF of Chicago Design-to-Delight Team will review the manufacturer’s Engineering Drawings with you, to get your final sign-off on all of the elements of your project, including design, grain-matches, hardware, accessories, NEFF backsplashes and the specifications of your appliances.
NEFF of Chicago will submit the order to NEFF manufacturing, who will give us a firm delivery date.
Once we have the delivery date, if you would like to use a NEFF-trained installer, we can book the installer on your behalf and firm up an installation price.
Phase 3: Production Period
Once the order has been submitted to NEFF Kitchens, it typically takes 11 to 12 weeks to craft and deliver your cabinetry. If that doesn’t meet your needs, talk to us about NEFF’s premium option for rush delivery.
What You’ll Need:
• The final instalment
What We’ll Do:
• Craft the finest custom cabinetry for your home
• Accommodate changes if you need them
• Deliver on-time
• Co-ordinate temporary storage if you need it
If inspiration or necessity causes a change to your project after you have signed off on it, we are happy to accommodate you for a nominal fee. Depending on the scope of the change and the timing, we’ll work with you to minimize the impact on the delivery date.
Our customers who are installing a new kitchen, typically use this time to install new flooring, order appliances, choose a countertop and a countertop fabricator, and remove the old cabinetry.
For kitchens and other rooms, your installer will need clean and ready walls and floors.
A few days before your order is ready to ship, NEFF manufacturing will notify us and we’ll call you to confirm the time and place of delivery. At this time, the final instalment is due to NEFF of Chicago, prior to delivery to your home.
Your new cabinetry will be delivered to you directly from NEFF’s manufacturing facility in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, just outside of Toronto.
NEFF Kitchens Inc. is just eight hours away from Chicago by truck, and within two or three days of anywhere in the lower 48 states.
NEFF of Chicago will arrange for temporary storage if your job site isn’t ready on the day of delivery.
Phase 4: Installation
In order to keep our costs lower for our customers, NEFF of Chicago does not have permanent installers on staff. NEFF cabinetry is engineered for easy installation, but we do prefer that you contract with an experienced, NEFF-trained installer. Whether your project is in the Chicago area or any other US market, we can connect you with a professional who is familiar with the NEFF system.
Depending on the size of your project, installation of the cabinetry usually takes 3 to 5 working days.
What You’ll Need:
- Clean walls and floor
- Your appliances
- Glass for your mullion / display doors
- Cabinet knobs and handles
What We’ll Do:
- Work with your installer to answer questions, and solve any problems that may arise
Your installer will unpack and verify the accuracy of your NEFF cabinetry order. (We would encourage you to be a part of this process.) Although discrepancies are rare, they can happen and NEFF of Chicago will help to resolve them with the manufacturer ASAP.
Your installer will follow the Engineering Drawings to
- build and attach your cabinets to your walls
- hang and level doors and cabinets
- wire the integrated lighting system, display cabinets, and optional integrated electrical outlets
- install glass in mullion doors
- attach appliances to prepared or existing plumbing, gas and electrical connections
- secure integrated cabinetry panels to your fridge and dishwasher (if applicable)
- attach cabinet features and mouldings
- install NEFF accessories, backsplashes, sinks and range hoods
- attach toe kicks
- take away job-related garbage and packaging
As soon as your NEFF cabinets are installed, your countertop fabricator can come and take the measurements they’ll need to shape the slabs for your kitchen, bathroom or closet island.
This process usually takes 2 to 3 weeks from measurement to countertop installation. Keep in mind that you’ll be able to use your NEFF cabinets while you are waiting because NEFF permanently finishes the top of each cabinet with the wood substrate for stability and for better hygiene.
Phase 5: Post Installation Follow-up
When your kitchen or other cabinetry project is complete, we’d like to come to see you to talk about your experience and with your permission, take some pictures.
We hope you’ll tell us what you liked about dealing with NEFF of Chicago and what you think we can do to improve.
Mostly, we just want to say “thank-you” for choosing extraordinary NEFF cabinetry from NEFF of Chicago.
Glossary of Terms: The Language of Luxury
Would you know a pilaster if you saw one? Can you tell the difference between a burl and a corbel? Every industry and profession has its own language, and the world of design is no exception. Here are a few of the terms you may encounter as you begin a kitchen remodel journey.
Bookmatching. Matching two or more wood surfaces from the same piece of wood (often veneer) so the adjoining surfaces mirror each other, creating the appearance of an open book. The final effect may be subtle or highly dramatic.
Burl. Swirls or twists in wood grain that appear near a knot or are caused by natural damage that took place during the tree’s growth. Burl wood creates an unusual and often beautiful grain for cabinetry because of the interesting patterns formed.
Corbel. Classical decorative cantilever (bracket) that extends out and up from a wall.
Crown molding. A strip of decorative wood, resin, or molded foam dividing a wall and the ceiling above.
Finial. A decorative ornament topping a lamp or piece of furniture, or at the end of a curtain rod.
Full-inset. Cabinet design with doors fitting inside the face frame when closed.
Full overlay. Cabinet design with the cabinet door or drawer front covering the face frame so only the door is seen.
Marqueteries. Intricately designed decoration created by inlaying material (wood) piece by piece into a wood surface.
Mullion. Glass window dividers inside cabinet doors. Mullion doors or divided light doors are doors with the solid center panel removed and replaced with mullions that may use clear, smoked, bronzed, opaque or leaded glass.
Onlay. A carved or etched decorative ornament installed on the cabinet face. May be called an appliqué.
Open grained wood. A wood such as oak that has a coarse grained texture.
Patina. A sheen created on wood by polishing, age and wear.
Pilasters. Rectangular decorative “columns” that add detail to fireplace mantelpieces, shelving or cabinetry.
Valance. A decorative hardwood panel installed across an open area, used above desks or sinks, for example.
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