My Cabinetry Selection & Design Process at Lowe’s

As promised in my cabinetry color post I shared on Monday, I wanted to break down exactly what the cabinetry and kitchen design process looked like for me! You guys already know I went with Diamond cabinets and ordered them through my local Lowe’s, but I’m sharing every single detail of how things unfolded- from designing to ordering. If you’ve ever wondered, “Where do I start?” when designing a kitchen, this post is for you. Click through to find out…

*This post is sponsored by Lowe’s. All content, ideas, and words are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that allow us to create unique content while featuring products we actually use & enjoy!

Like I previously mentioned- I went through this process six years ago for our first kitchen renovation using Kraftmaid cabinets and it was very quick and easy. I knew exactly what I wanted, printed out item numbers, and had it alllllll planned & sketched out. This time around, I didn’t have a set idea or plan at all. I really wanted function & aesthetic to guide me, weigh all of my options, and not be influenced by trying to recreate an existing vision. I showed up at my local Lowe’s prepared, but not really knowing what to expect. Whether you have an idea or not- it’s smart to show up with the following:

• detailed dimensions of your space
• inspiration (I printed some Pinterest inspiration)
• a good understanding of how you use your kitchen
• your appliance specifications
• your budget

I walked into the store, went straight to the kitchen design center, spotted a couple free designers / cabinetry specialists and asked for help designing a new kitchen (like any random person would). They didn’t know I was coming or that I’m a design blogger who is a Lowe’s Partner. I paired myself with Samantha and she immediately asked if I had anything in mind and of course, I didn’t. I wanted to soak up all the possibilities. I started by choosing a door style and landed on the Lisette by Diamond. You can check out my entire design plan in this post.

Next, I needed to choose a cabinetry color… again, you guys already know I picked Maritime (see my other favorite colors and top contenders in this post). There were a TON of samples to look through when selecting cabinet door styles and color.

Next we made our way over to her desk to really get the process started. I handed over my detailed dimensions and she began by setting up the space on the computer. We chatted about my printed inspiration, my wishlist, the budget, my appliance specs, and my ideal vision. Once Samantha gathered all the info, she then gave me the option to come back at a later date, so she could present me with some design plans- OR I could stay and we could work through it together. You guys know me well enough to know I wanted to design my own kitchen… but for those of you who don’t love that idea- the Lowe’s designers can definitely do it for you (free of charge).

We started with the appliances, since those weren’t moving from the existing kitchen footprint, and then began building the basic cabinetry layout around them. Once we had things sort of set in place, we walked around the store looking at displays.

She showed me how certain cabinetry features function and I decided what made the most sense for our kitchen based on how we use it. I ended up with a mixer lift, two corner cabinet pull-outs, a tiered cutlery organizer (pictured below), hidden knife storage,  a wine rack, pull-out trash bins, floating shelves, a spice rack, a large pantry, and all sorts of handy things that have me very excited! I’ll definitely give you a functionality tour once the kitchen is installed.

I loved that it was a collaborative effort and she was able to help me see things I hadn’t necessarily planned on. Honestly, I went into the store with a “this is MY project to design” attitude, but was proved wrong when she clearly knew what she was doing. If there’s one thing I learned in design school- it’s two creative brains are better than one and Samantha proved that theory to be true.

From there, I left Samantha with a couple design dilemmas (the range hood had me stumped) and gave her room to tweak the plan as needed, then we scheduled to meet again. In our next meeting, I was blown away with the new ideas she added and GORGEOUS renderings she provided. Seriously- I couldn’t even create a 3-D model of that caliber, if I tried. You can have a little spoiler below on her computer screen. I selected my favorites, we finalized the plan, the dimensions, and triple checked everything. You can have the kitchen installed by Lowe’s, but of course- Emmett and I decided to do it ourselves (this isn’t our first rodeo). Therefore, we’ll save a lot of money on labor and installation.

After placing the order right there at the store, Samantha followed up a couple days later with a super helpful installation packet with every instruction for installation we could ever need. Emmett reviewed it and was very impressed (and he doesn’t offer compliments easily). It was very thorough. Don’t worry- I’ll also be sharing the installation process when the time comes for cabinetry.

I have to say, this was honestly the best experience in terms of kitchen design, so I have to brag a little bit. I was lucky to have had Samantha and Rodney’s help with my space. My design plan is better because of them. They’re two of the nicest people you’ll ever meet, who are equally as talented. If you’re in Utah- go see them at the Sandy Lowe’s. They’re probably going to be embarrassed I’m posting this photo of them (I convinced them to let me take it), but I don’t care- they were wonderful.

Questions about the design or ordering process? You know I’m always happy to give honest feedback. I know lots of Lowe’s stores have these beautiful (and functional) “kitchen design centers”, and I’d highly recommend finding a store near you that does. It made the process easier, the selections were plentiful, and I can’t wait to see this kitchen come to life! We’re making progress in leaps and bounds. Things are really starting to come together. I’d love to hear your thoughts or comments below!