How to Prepare for Your Design Appointment and What to Expect

How to Prepare for Your Design Appointment

Starting your kitchen journey is an exciting step and your design appointment is where everything begins to come together. With a little preparation and the right guidance, you can make the most of your time and ensure a smooth and inspiring experience.

Gather Your Measurements

Before your appointment, it’s helpful to collect any information you have about your space. Don’t worry if you don’t have every detail, as your designer can guide you through any missing measurements.

Bringing room dimensions, ceiling height, window and door positions or any existing plans and drawings provides a valuable starting point, helping your designer visualise your space and create a kitchen tailored to your home and the way you live, whether that’s busy weekday breakfasts or relaxed evenings entertaining family and friends.

Think About How You Use Your Space

A successful kitchen design is about much more than aesthetics, it should complement the way you live every day. Before your appointment, take some time to consider how you use your kitchen and what you need from it.
Think about how you cook, entertain and spend time with family and friends. Consider who uses the space most often, what works well in your current kitchen and what you would like to improve.

Many homeowners know exactly what frustrates them about their current kitchen before they know what they want their new one to look like. Perhaps you need more worktop space, better storage, improved lighting or a more sociable layout. Reflecting on your storage requirements and any must-have features will help your designer create a space that is both practical and beautiful.

Create Your STORI Moodboard

One of the best ways to prepare for your design appointment is by using our STORI Moodboard. This online tool allows you to gather all your favourite design ideas in one place, from door styles and colour palettes, to handles, finishes and inspiring room designs.

By curating a collection of images and products that reflect your personal taste, you’ll arrive at your appointment with a clear vision of the look and feel you want to achieve.
It’s also a great way to identify recurring styles, colours and features that you may not have realised you’re naturally drawn to.

STORI Tip: Share your moodboard with your designer before your appointment or bring it along on the day. This gives them valuable insight into your preferences and helps fast-track the design process, allowing them to focus on creating a scheme that truly reflects your style.

Consider Your Budget

Having a budget in mind before your appointment can make the design process more focused and enjoyable. It doesn’t need to be an exact figure, but having a general idea of your investment allows your designer to recommend products, finishes and solutions that align with your expectations.

Being open about your budget helps your designer strike the right balance between style, practicality and value, ensuring every recommendation is tailored to your home and the way you live. It also means you can explore ideas with confidence, knowing the designs discussed are both inspiring and achievable.

What to Expect During Your Appointment

Once you’ve gathered your ideas and prepared for your visit, your design appointment is designed to be both inspiring and straightforward. Your designer will guide you through every stage of the process, helping you explore possibilities, refine your choices and transform your ideas into a space that perfectly suits your home and lifestyle.

Understanding Your Vision

Your appointment will begin with a relaxed conversation about your lifestyle, design preferences and aspirations for your new space. This is where your preparation, measurements and STORI Moodboard become especially valuable.

By sharing your ideas and inspiration, you’ll help your designer gain a clear understanding of your vision and what matters most to you.

As Mr & Mrs Donnelly discovered during their own STORI kitchen journey, taking the time to understand your vision from the outset is key to creating a space that truly feels like home:

“From our first consultation through to completion, the experience with Exorna was exceptional. The team took the time to understand exactly what we wanted and guided us through every stage of the process with confidence and expertise. We felt listened to from the very beginning and their personalised approach gave us complete confidence that our vision would become a reality. We couldn’t be happier with the result and would highly recommend Exorna and STORI to anyone considering a new kitchen project.” Mr & Mrs Donnelly – Ardavon

Mr & Mrs Donnelly – STORI Tavola Collection in Hacienda Black

Experience the Details Up Close

One of the most exciting parts of the appointment is exploring the materials and finishes in person. Seeing and touching products up close helps bring your ideas to life, allowing you to appreciate the quality, colour and texture of different options.

Your designer will introduce you to a range of door styles, colour palettes, worktops, appliances and innovative storage solutions, helping you discover combinations that suit both your personal style and practical requirements.

As you explore the different options, your vision begins to take shape. It’s often the moment when a design starts to feel real, as colours, textures and finishes come together to create a space that’s uniquely yours.

Bringing Your Design to Life

Using your measurements, ideas and lifestyle requirements, your designer will begin bringing your vision to life. Through design visuals, you’ll start to see how your new kitchen could look and feel, with the layout, appliance placement, storage and room flow carefully planned to suit the way you live.

Working with an independent STORI retailer means you’ll enjoy a truly personal experience. With expert guidance and time to explore your options, you’ll never feel rushed into making decisions, giving you the confidence to create a space that’s thoughtfully designed around your home and lifestyle.

Refining the Details

Once the overall design is established, it’s time to add the finishing touches that make the space uniquely yours. Together, you’ll explore options such as handle or handleless doors, open shelving or concealed storage, lighting, colours, finishes and family-friendly, durable materials, ensuring every element reflects both your personal style and everyday needs.

To help inspire these final choices, our STORI Moodboard is the perfect place to explore colour swatches, finishes, handles and real STORI projects. By discovering the styles and finishing touches you’re naturally drawn to, you’ll give your designer valuable insight into your personal taste, helping them create a kitchen that’s truly unique to you.

Next Steps

At the end of your appointment, your designer will explain the next stages of the process, including costs, timelines and any follow-up actions. In many cases, a detailed home survey can also be arranged to ensure every aspect of the design is tailored perfectly to your home.

From installation through to aftercare, your independent STORI retailer will be there to support you every step of the way. As a trusted local expert, they’ll be on hand to answer questions, offer guidance and provide the reassurance of ongoing, face-to-face support whenever you need it.

Your Journey Starts Here

With an extensive choice of styles, colours and finishing touches available across the STORI collection, your design appointment is the perfect opportunity to discover solutions tailored to your home and lifestyle.

With the right preparation and expert guidance, your STORI design appointment becomes an inspiring and rewarding experience. By gathering your measurements, considering how you use your space, creating a STORI Moodboard and arriving with your ideas ready to share, you’ll make the most of your appointment and take the first confident step towards creating a kitchen that truly feels like home.