Process

Every stage has a purpose, a deliverable and a decision.

This is how a Lakefront kitchen moves from a first conversation to a final walkthrough. It is written in full so you know what to expect before you commit to anything.

Professional range beneath a plaster hood with a full-height marble backsplash, an oak shelf and a brass pot filler

Initial project-fit conversation

What happens

We talk through what is not working in your kitchen, what you hope to change, and the practical realities of your home and timeline. We are candid about whether the project is a strong fit for the way we work.

Who is involved

You and a Lakefront design lead.

What you receive

An honest read on fit, scope and sequencing
A short list of things to have ready for the in-home consultation
Answers to early questions about how design-build works

Decisions made

Whether to schedule an in-home design consultation

What happens next

If it is a fit, we set a date to meet in your kitchen.

In-home design consultation and measurement

What happens

We walk the kitchen and the rooms around it, measure and photograph existing conditions, check utilities, ventilation and structure where visible, and talk in detail about how you cook, gather and store.

Who is involved

You, the design lead, and where useful a construction lead.

What you receive

Field measurements and photographs of existing conditions
Notes on structural, mechanical and building constraints observed on site
A prioritized list of what matters most to you

Decisions made

Priorities and non-negotiables
Which adjacent spaces are in play

What happens next

We take what we learned back to the studio to develop concept direction.

Concept direction and preliminary investment range

What happens

We develop layout directions that respond to your priorities and the constraints of the room, and pair them with a preliminary investment range so decisions are made with real numbers in view.

Who is involved

You and the design lead, with construction input on feasibility.

What you receive

Concept floor plans for the preferred directions
A preliminary investment range tied to each direction
A list of assumptions that will be verified in detailed design

Decisions made

Which concept direction to develop
Whether the investment range is workable

What happens next

With a direction chosen, we begin detailed design and selections.

Detailed design and material selections

What happens

We resolve the design in elevations and details, select every material and appliance, and check each decision against the layout and the investment range. Samples are reviewed together so the palette is chosen in real light, not on a screen.

Who is involved

You and the design lead, with cabinetry and fabrication partners as needed.

What you receive

Plans, elevations and cabinetry details
A specified schedule of materials, finishes and appliances
A lighting and electrical plan

Decisions made

Final layout and cabinetry configuration
Materials, finishes and appliances

What happens next

The completed design becomes the basis for an exact scope and proposal.

Scope development and final proposal

What happens

Trade partners review the design and confirm pricing. We assemble a line-by-line scope so you can see what is included, what is excluded, and where allowances apply.

Who is involved

The design lead, the construction lead and trade partners.

What you receive

A detailed scope of work
A fixed proposal based on the completed design
A clear statement of exclusions and allowances

Decisions made

Approval of the scope and proposal
Any adjustments to bring scope and investment into alignment

What happens next

On approval, preconstruction planning begins.

Preconstruction planning and scheduling

What happens

Long-lead items such as cabinetry, appliances and stone are ordered and tracked. Permits and building approvals are filed. The construction sequence is planned so demolition does not begin until the pieces are in place.

Who is involved

The construction lead, the design lead and trade partners.

What you receive

A construction schedule with major milestones
A plan for dust control, access and a temporary kitchen
Confirmation of permits and material lead times

Decisions made

Start date
Site logistics and protection of the rest of the home

What happens next

Construction starts on the agreed date with materials confirmed.

Construction and project communication

What happens

Demolition, rough-ins, inspections, cabinetry, surfaces and finishes proceed in sequence. You hear from us on a regular cadence, and any change that affects scope or schedule is documented before it happens.

Who is involved

The construction lead, trade partners and the design lead for site decisions.

What you receive

Scheduled progress updates
Written documentation of any change
A clean, protected site between work days

Decisions made

Field decisions that arise once walls are open, always documented in writing

What happens next

As finishes complete, we prepare for the final walkthrough.

Final walkthrough and completion

What happens

We walk the finished kitchen with you, resolve any remaining items, and hand over documentation for appliances, finishes and care.

Who is involved

You, the construction lead and the design lead.

What you receive

A completed punch list
Appliance and material documentation
Guidance on caring for stone, wood and hardware

Decisions made

Sign-off on completion

What happens next

You cook in it.

The concerns we hear most

What tends to go wrong, and how the process is built to prevent it.

Unexpected costs: A preliminary investment range arrives with the concept, and a fixed proposal follows the completed design. Changes during construction are documented and priced before they happen, not discovered on the invoice.
Poor communication: You have one point of contact from the first conversation through completion. Updates arrive on a set cadence, and questions are answered by someone who knows both the design and the schedule.
Construction disruption: Dust control, protected walkways, a temporary kitchen and working hours are planned in preconstruction. The site is left in order at the end of each work day.
Unclear timelines: Construction does not start until long-lead materials are confirmed and permits are in hand. The schedule you receive is built on those facts, and any change to it is communicated in writing.
Too many disconnected vendors: Design, selections, pricing and construction are coordinated by one team. Trade partners are chosen and scheduled by us, and they work from a single set of documents.
Decisions becoming overwhelming: Decisions are sequenced so each one narrows the next. You are asked to decide what matters at each stage, with a recommendation and the reasoning behind it.

Questions

Common questions about working with Lakefront.

Do I need to have a design before I contact Lakefront?

No. Most homeowners come to us with photographs, a list of frustrations and a sense of what they would like the room to do. The design is developed together during the consultation and concept stages.

Can I hire Lakefront for design only?

Our process is built around carrying a project from design through construction, because that is where coordination pays off. If you already have a contractor, we are happy to discuss whether the project is a fit.

When will I know what the project will cost?

A preliminary investment range is presented with the concept direction. A fixed proposal is prepared once detailed design and selections are complete, so it reflects the actual kitchen rather than an estimate of one.

Who is on site during construction?

A Lakefront construction lead manages the site and the trade partners. The design lead remains involved for field decisions so the built result matches the drawings.

Ready to talk through your kitchen?

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