Some of those showpiece kitchens can be found right here in mid-Michigan, designed by Dave Hagerman, owner of Hagerman Kitchens, Inc. in Lansing.
Hagerman, a Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD), founded his company in 1993. Over the years his designs have won national awards and garnered attention from professional publications. He’s attracted clients like Jeff Smith, of the Frugal Gourmet, whose career on public television ended in the 1990s. He even once redesigned the kitchen in the governor’s residence for the State of Michigan.
Hagerman, the son of a carpenter, gained experience by working at a variety of job sites many summer days with his father. It was on those projects that he fashioned the start of his career by drawing remodeling jobs.
“I loved studying blueprints. I think that is where I began to enjoy the drawing and design part of the process, and developing my interior design skills,” Hagerman says. “Learning how to build cabinets as a young man helped me understand how everything fits together.”
Hagerman’s knowledge of architecture is evident in his designs, but it’s the functionality and versatility of his contemporary and traditional kitchens that are the hallmarks of his style.
“The Food Network has inspired a lot of people with great ideas, but it’s important that a kitchen designer understands the work flow of a kitchen, such as moving from the dishwasher to the cabinets to the food prep areas. Convenience is important,” Hagerman says.
He adds that good architecture remains long after fads come and go. “It’s important for designs have real character and interest.”
Traditional kitchen design is still the top pick of homeowners across mid-Michigan, Hagerman says, with cherry cabinets and granite countertops all the rage. However, maple has made a resurgence because it can be painted either cream or beige.
“People love traditional but with some embellishments. Across the rest of the state we are seeing more of a refined traditional with some contemporary design work. It’s a softer look with less of a high tech feel,” Hagerman says.
Open kitchens are very much in style, he adds. Hagerman’s clients want to be able to cook, entertain and eat in one centralized location.
Hagerman, who works by himself, launched his own private label line of cabinetry three years ago. That allows him to add special custom details not always available from the other name brand lines of cabinets he sells. He uses a cabinetmaker in the Detroit area, familiar with his architectural style, to produce his custom cabinets. 2009-oct-hagerman1
Granite remains the most popular countertop material, and the thicker the better, he says, with some clients asking for two-inch thick tops. Marble isn’t as popular since it requires too much maintenance for most of his clients; it’s also prone to nicks and scratches.
“We are also doing more with glass, which you can do a lot of fun things with. We use it on a lot of bar tops. It gives you the illusion there’s nothing there because you can see right through it,” Hagerman says.
The design process begins when Hagerman meets with potential clients to start discussing and drawing plans. He uses several computer-aided drafting and design programs, including Squiggle® and Google’s™ SketchUp®, to create 3D models.
“With SketchUp® you can literally walk right through the new design, open the drawers and sit at the island,” he says.
Once the design plans are approved, Hagerman advises clients to hire a general contractor to supervise the day-to-day construction activities. He also recommends clients hire subcontractors that are familiar with his designs.
“They know how the trim works and how we like the electrical. They are just accustomed to how our kitchen designs go together,” Hagerman adds.
While the economy has certainly slowed down new home construction across mid-Michigan, Hagerman says people are excitedly tackling smaller remodel projects—and the kitchen is typically a good place to start.
“Fortunately our workload has been very steady. Obviously there has been a shift to remodel projects away from new home installations, but a particular strength for us has been the northern Michigan vacation home market,” Hagerman says.
His quarter of a century of experience designing kitchens has taught Hagerman there will always be crooked walls and uneven floors to deal with on site, and even more importantly, homeowners who are prone to over-estimating their budget.
“Designing with a budget in mind, whatever that budget may be, that is really the starting point. I always speak with my clients about what they want and then whether the budget is compatible with it.”
Hagerman Kitchens also offers custom crafted furniture.
Author: Randy J. Stine.
