• The project documentation should include a floor plan, elevations and perspectives.
• Do not over-dimension the floor plan.  A floor plan with excess dimensions is hard to read and understand. Remember that your client is not the one building the kitchen.
• Adopt a presentation style and use it consistently across presentations.  This means selecting a font style/size and sticking to them across all documents.
• Clean fonts (sans serif) are preferable because they are easier to read. For the same reason, avoid italics and bold fonts.
• Print all documents and include your company’s title block. The title block is the area of the page that includes the main facts about the project such as client name, address, scale, etc. along with your logo.  Make sure the title block includes a space for client approval. Industry standard disclaimers about dimensions and intellectual property should be included. A specific cabinet color code or door style number can be included for future reference.
• Avoid using white outs and pen/pencil corrections. These manual corrections can be a source of confusion later on and may give the customer the impression that the plans are not final.
• Prepare/print the documents (including one set for customer) the day before the meeting.  If this is not possible, print them at least one hour before the meeting. Printer cartridges, printers, cable connections and other devices may desert you when you need to print in a hurry.
• Use 11 x 17 paper and use one sheet per view (Floor plan, elevations, perspectives). It is advisable to use “extra white” paper so that the drawings stand out.
• Don’t apologize for your design software shortcomings as a matter of policy.  If your software does not let you accomplish what you need to in a professional manner, consider upgrading to a package that will.

via The Continental, Saturday Night Live

As I finalize getting ready for a trade show, I could not help but spend a few moments here and there looking at the Eurocucina website.  Eurocucina is a major biennial kitchen trade show that takes place in Milano, this year the very same week as KBIS.

Among the companies that exhibit at Eurocucina (this year some 145 according to the organizers, most of them cabinet companies and almost all Italian!) are the trendsetters in modern kitchen design. During my casual review of the listed participating companies, I found a few companies and products that stood out.

Here they are in alphabetical order.

Bordignon Camillo
This was somewhat of a surprise.  A traditional looking design participating in a show associated with contemporary design. This was not the only one company.

via Bordignon Camillo

Bravo
A new classic in minimalistic design.

via Bravo srl

Castagna Cucine
This company just celebrated its 50th anniversary.  May we all look as cool and collected in our 50s.

via Castagna Cucine

Muebles Pico
Muebles Pico has achieved success combining both traditional and contemporary styles.

via Muebles Pico, Spain

via Muebles Pico, Spain

Rossana
Rossana has a very rich and amazing product portfolio. With these new collections, the company has graduated to a new echelon, clearly a couple of notches up.

Well, at least in some cases the answer is yes. Look at the attached image and judge for yourself.

Cocina 785