Kitchen Design: An Interview with Jim Morris from Grosse Pointe’s Morris Kitchen and Bath
Jim Morris is the owner of J. W. Morris Kitchen and Bath, located in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. I spoke to him recently about kitchen design. He offered up some great advice on how to go about renovating your old kitchen. Here’s what he had to say.
DH: Let’s start at the beginning. What’s your approach to kitchen design?
JM: I don’t take a whole lot of stock in the triangle thing. [This is a standard kitchen design procedure where the sink, stove and refrigerator are within a certain ratio.] We’re always working with older houses with constraints. That means we have to be more creative.
I design with function in mind first and aesthetics second. How the kitchen will work is very important.
DH: What’s the most important thing clients should think about before coming to see you?
JM: First, I recommend that they invest $30 or so in books and magazines on kitchens. Don’t dismiss a kitchen just because you don’t like the color, or a style. If you look closely, there might be things you really like. Bookmark those, or start a tear sheet file of things you really like.
Also, a client should think carefully about how they use their kitchen. What kind of appliances do they want? By that I mean do they need one oven or two? Do they want a large microwave? It is a one-cook or two-cook kitchen?
DH: What’s the biggest mistake people make?
JM: It’s more challenging to design for a client who comes in with a preconceived notion that won’t work, such as a peninsula or an eat-in kitchen. We work mostly in an area where the homes are older and space is predetermined. Getting your heart set on something without considering the reality of the space is not a great idea.
DH: What trends are you seeing?
JM: Grosse Pointe usually bypasses trends as far as the overall design goes. As I said, the homes are traditional, older homes. If a client wants a more contemporary look, we’ll do something transitional so that it fits the style of the home. We work mostly with The Grabill Cabinet Company. They have full custom and semi-custom cabinets that are really well made. About 20% of our clients might ask for a lower end cabinet like Kraft Maid.
As for counters, granites are still popular, though we’re using the honed look more and more. It’s much warmer and softer. Limestone is fantastic. I personally like Silestone, though it’s a bit more expensive. The benefit is that you never have to seal it and it always looks the same whereas natural stones can vary in color.
DH: What is the average cost of a new kitchen?
JM: A renovation involving a complete tear-out typically runs about $70,000. That might seem like a lot, but we’re also bringing everything up to code. That means new electrical and plumbing.
DH: How do you charge for your service?
JM: The initial consultations and preliminary drawings are free. After that we charge a design fee, which ranges from $500-1,500.00, depending on the size of the job.
If a client wants to hire their own contractor, I recommend that they check for references, and make sure they’re licensed and insured.
DH: Is there any interest in “building green”?
JM: Personally, I’m a green freak. I’m always taking things out of the garbage and putting them in the recycling bin. To answer your question, there are more people coming in and asking about it. But we haven’t quite turned the corner on that one really because of the added cost.
A green kitchen adds about 15% more to the cost. When you’re already spending around $70,000 that can be quite a lot more. Lyptus cabinets, for example, are 20% more than Cherry.
DH: What’s really cool when it comes to kitchens?
JM: Built-in espresso coffee makers are great. Miele has a nice one, but it’s expensive. Thermador has one that’s more reasonable.
I also really like the new technology ovens – steam ovens. GE’s Advantium ovens use halogen light and microwaves. Other companies make them, too. They cook food eight times faster than a regular oven. With families being so busy these days, any time-saver is a fantastic thing.
If you’re interested in talking to Jim, here’s some information about the company. They have been in business for over 10 years and specialize in kitchens, bathrooms, libraries, offices, and home entertainment centers. Their designers work with clients through the process of product selection, preliminary layout, and final design. You can find J W Morris Kitchen & Bath at 17864 Mack Ave. in Grosse Pointe Farms. Their phone number is 313-886-4898.
