OK, your kitchen has been designed, your order has been placed and you are anxiously awaiting your new cabinets. In the meantime, you should make sure that there is an open channel of communication between your designer and your installer.
Now sometimes the installer and designer have worked together for years and can practically finish each others’ sentences. Other times they may have never met or even spoken on the phone. Each kitchen is different, especially in New England, where some homes are quite old or have been renovated. This can mean that a design may have some quirks or unusual design elements that could surprise even a veteran installer when it is time to begin installation.
The floor plan and installation instructions should cover most if not all site issues, but nothing is better than a quick conversation between the designer and installer ahead of time. If they can touch base during the design process or while waiting for the order to arrive, it will allow the installer more time to become familiar with the design and the designer to get a better feel for how the installer works.
The initial conversation might be little more than a thirty second introduction on the phone or it could be a thirty minute strategy session on how to work around an uneven floor. Either way, once the channel of communication is open it will speed the resolution of any questions that arise once the cabinets have arrived at your home.
John Allen, Showroom Manager
Kitchen Views at National Lumber
15 Needham Street, Newton, MA 02461
Phone: 617-244-8020
Email: jallen@kitchenviews.com
Web: www.kitchenviews.com
Kitchen Views' Blog 
Do you recommend granite or Silestone for the countertop? I found this site Silestone prices and there a couple on granite but I’m not sure.
These are two different looks. My suggestion is to first look at the full slabs of both and finds out what colors and patterns you are drawn to. Granite has unique patterns that vary from slab to slab while Silestone is more consistent and offers a warranty against staining and other defects. Some find the beauty in granite is due to the varying patterns and color while others want a more stable finish. Do you place more value in stable colors and warranties than unique patterns? If so, Silestone is for you. Do you prefer having something that is not easily duplicated and distinctive? Then granite would be your choice.