Talk with Susan, find solutions!
COULD YOU USE A ONE HOUR PHONE CONSULTATION? "The phone consultation was exactly what I had hoped it would be" ______Jill W.
Remodeling a kitchen, or other space, has a thousand puzzle pieces to fit together. And, maybe you'll do it just once...in your life! Sometimes even a simple kitchen facelift brings with it 100 issues to resolve, every one of which can potentially impact all the others.
Speak to Susan and get the answers that you need right now. A second opinion will provide you with invaluable perspective, prevent design errors, missteps, and more.
A great gift idea too!
HERE ARE SOME SITUATIONS WHERE DIRECT, UNBIASED, FRIENDLY, ADVICE CAN OFFER PEACE OF MIND:
Kitchen design (planning) issues - Whatever level of detail you need help with, whether specific or general issues, just ask.
Hold Everything! - A design error is spotted, you've had an epiphany, the contractor is pressuring you-you need advice fast!
Conflict Resolution - Sometimes it's hard to see straight. Susan's broad experience will serve to isolate the facts vs. the gray areas, offering multiple smart solutions to help you move forward in a positive way.
Products & Materials - Need some fresh sources for products? Confused about durability issues? Need information on green products? Susan is a fantastic resource for advice on, and recommendations of, products for any budget!
Color, Style, Theme - Susan can put you on the right path to beautifully expressing YOUR personal aesthetic while being focused on issues such as: scale, proportion, style longevity, color, balance, and more. Susan's attention to detail and experienced, yet, flexible, eye, is your guiding light.
You're stuck! - Consultations can cover any kitchen design issue! Given so many pieces to the remodeling puzzle, there is not space enough to list all of the potential issues. If something is bugging you, that's all the information you need. Contact me.
HOW DOES THIS WORK? It's so easy! This is all you have to do:
- Gather your images, dimensions and/or plans together
- Make a list or write an overview of your issues
- See Paypal instructions below, then send your questions/information to: susan @ susanserraassociates.com. You'll hear from me shortly thereafter!
ADDED VALUE:
- Follow up consultations are at a reduced rate (see price list below)
- During or after our talk, as appropriate, you may receive links, images, resources and/or other information useful to our discussion
WHY CONSULT WITH SUSAN?
- Susan is a Certified Kitchen Designer, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, NKBA, USGBC member and award winning designer. Susan is an industry speaker, industry judge, mentor, founded and operated an online design community for national kitchen and bath designers for 8 years. Susan Serra Associates, Inc. has been in business for 18 years with experience in the kitchen industry since 1986
- Experience at all project levels - from condo tract low budget kitchens to mid level full kitchen remodels to most frequently, super-luxury kitchen remodels with custom-designed products. "Getting the look for less" is a special interest!
- A go-to source for the media on kitchen design insight and information, Susan's design expertise and practical knowledge is sought after by editors of home shelter publications, some of the very largest manufacturers in the kitchen industry, as well as the kitchen industry's trade publications
- MANY projects have been published in national home design publications, top design blogs, manufacturers' brochures. Susan is also a speaker on kitchen design, all of which serves as acknowledgement of design expertise by design editors
- The Kitchen Designer is the most popular blog in the blogosphere authored by a professional kitchen designer. Susan is a guest blogger for top design blogs and for manufacturer's corporate blogs on their websites. This means that over the past few years, constant research beyond my clients' projects in my design practice has supplemented an already large knowledge base of information, resources, products, and so much more within the kitchen design world.
- Travel to design shows, attendance at seminars, press events, webinars, are outside resources which constantly expand my knowledge base on kitchen design. A year does not go by where I do not travel to multiple design shows.
- When you do your kitchen once, maybe twice in your life, it is a very small price to pay and is money very well spent. It is a wonderful way to get personal design advice from a high end designer who is also comfortable and experienced with all budgets.
Let's talk!
Here's the next step: Once your paypal payment has been sent, please send an email, describing your issue(s) and send images as well, if possible. Please advise a few days/times when you are free. Send your phone number! You'll hear a response shortly.
Let's try to talk within 24-48 hours. If you need immediate assistance, please note that clearly. Email: susan @ susanserraassociates.com (without spaces). If you have questions prior to sending payment, by all means ask!
It's also a great gift idea! Give it to someone who wants to plan a simple kitchen facelift on a budget, or to take the first step of the "kitchen dream" into reality! A lovely gift certificate will be emailed to you or to the recipient of your choice...and YOU, as the gift giver, are entitled to your own consultation at the "Follow-Up" rate!
30-MINUTE CONSULTATIONS now available! While the one hour consultation is strongly recommended for most situations, sometimes you just need some quick, sound, advice. It's worth it.
Cost of consultation includes my preparation time in advance of our phone conversation of 30-45 minutes. Note: NYS Sales Tax added to costs on payment page.
NOTE: If you are in the New York metro area, and prefer an in-home consultation, a travel fee of $50 per hour is applied beyond 15 miles (in one direction) from Huntington, NY. My territory for consulting online is global. Regardless of where you are located, I can help you with your kitchen design issues.
I look forward to speaking with you!
FULL DESIGN SERVICES are available as well. The cost varies dependent upon the scope of your project. This is a service that is provided to clients around the U.S. and abroad. Design-only services can be provided or design and the supply of cabinetry, countertops, and other materials are easily arranged as well. You will work with me throughout the design process on our secure project website where all of our communications, drawings, images, and all other information is in one place, accessible to you 24/7 throughout our design process. It is convenient, useful, and communications take place at any time of day. All information is well organized and searchable. Please inquire at: susan @ susanserraassociates.com or call 631.754.0464
Some lovely recent comments:
"Susan Serra is very kind and really interested in putting her vast experience to work. I wish I'd called Susan sooner. I waited until I was too stymied and pressured to really ask some of the questions I'd been asking for months – in part because I'd gotten so used to hearing them, my brain froze them out.
Susan's best advice is both simple and non-technical: treat the kitchen like a room. Make it a room you want to be in, not an appliance or cabinet showroom. Decorate it – or don't – but DO think about how it makes you feel to be in there. Expect company, and make room for them too. Doesn't every party – even a party of two – spend some time in the kitchen? "Unstuff" your kitchen and make room for good things to happen.
Susan doesn't encourage you to "spend your way to happiness," nor try to spend your money for you. She focuses on the problems as she sees them, and invites dialog. This is a huge positive. Anyone remodeling a house is facing inconvenience and cost, and The Unknown. Having a considerate guide … that's priceless." __________Mark W.
"The phone consultation was exactly what I had hoped it would be. Susan Serra used her knowledge and experience to help me think through some layout and style issues. She was able to clarify issues I could feel, but just couldn’t quite pinpoint the trouble. Ms. Serra could see the problems quickly and proposed several different possible remedies.
We, my husband and myself, are redoing the kitchen unexpectedly after the drywall in our kitchen was destroyed by an accident. Ms Serra was respectful of both our budget limitations and the sudden stress we are under.
The most troubling style issue for us - how to make both of us happy with the style. We appreciate very different styles – he likes rustic and I like English Georgian with some whimsy thrown in. In the past, we both tried to make the other happy – of course that resulted in neither of us being happy. Ms. Serra was able to quickly sketch out in words achievable ways to combine our tastes. What had been difficult for us became so simple!
I can’t say enough about the opportunity to have a wonderful designer consult on our kitchen." _______Jill M.
"We recently relocated to another state. In our new to us, but 17 year old kitchen, we had several design issues. These included how to modify the original, too small opening for our refrigerator, as well as questions on appliances, countertops, and backsplash. I emailed Susan my pictures, and wrote out a list of questions to be discussed. In the course of the hour, Susan presented us with options regarding these issues. She also pointed out details that I had not "noticed" before that could be corrected with little money and effort. She was easy to talk to, and sensitive to the fact that although nice, my kitchen is not like the high end kitchens pictured on her website. I believe that consulting with Susan, before taking the next step in our kitchen facelift, prevented the chance of an expensive design mistake, and so was a wise investment for our home. I am now more confident in my choices, and ready to proceed." _________Judy W.
"I feel that I definitely benefitted greatly from my consultation time with Susan. There were so many details that would have escaped me had I not been guided in the right direction. I wanted my banquette to be really comfortable and also functional--and, above all, pleasing to the eye. We covered every topic and I feel far more confident in speaking with the contractor handling my job! Thank you, Susan, look forward to our next consultation. And, all of this while in my Bedhead Pajamas!" __________Mary L.H.
"The consultation with Susan really helped me to consolidate my thoughts about my kitchen design. The process of collecting ideas, questions, and pictures in a compact form for Susan to review forced me to really edit the myriad thoughts and ideas that were in my head. I sent her a long list of possible topics to cover and thought that we might get through half of it. During the phone call, I never felt hurried, but we covered most of my topics! She really took the time to think through my layout, asking lots of questions about our family and their habits, pointing out the deficiencies that she saw. I was really focused mostly on function, but Susan graciously took extra time at the end to discuss the decorative aspect of the layout and suggest cabinet changes to improve the visual impact. She has given me a lot to think about, and I feel much more confident moving forward. If you are feeling paralyzed in your kitchen design, Susan is a great resource!" _________Nancy Y.
"Plans for a small renovation of an old kitchen soon ballooned out of control. In our phone consultation, Susan was able to provide much needed focus and guidance, salvaging not only the project, but my sanity as well." _________Jenny P.
