People planning a new kitchen often ask who they should call first. It depends on how much of the house is changing. An architect, a kitchen or interior designer, a builder and a cabinetry showroom each own a different part of the work, and many projects use more than one of them. Knowing where each one starts and stops saves time and avoids paying twice for the same drawings.
Who does what
| Role | What they own | What they usually do not own |
|---|---|---|
| Architect | The house as a whole: structure, new openings, additions, how the kitchen connects to other rooms, and drawings for permits when a project needs them | Detailed cabinet interiors and product-level cabinetry specifications |
| Kitchen or interior designer | Layout, finishes, lighting and the look and feel of the room, often across several rooms | Structural engineering and construction |
| Builder or general contractor | Construction, scheduling and the trades: demolition, framing, electrical, plumbing, drywall | The design of the cabinetry system |
| Cabinetry showroom | The cabinet system itself: layout within the room, storage, interiors, finishes, production and installation of the cabinetry | Structure, permits and the other trades |
When you need an architect
You are more likely to need an architect when the kitchen is not staying inside its current footprint: removing or moving a load-bearing wall, adding windows or doors, building an addition, or changing how several rooms connect. Whether stamped drawings are required depends on your town and your scope, so ask your local building department early.
If the walls, windows and plumbing locations are staying where they are, many kitchen renovations go ahead without an architect.
Three common orders, by type of project
A kitchen that stays in its footprint
Start with the kitchen design. A designer or a cabinetry showroom can lead the layout, and a builder handles the trades. The showroom’s drawings set the dimensions the electrician and plumber work to.
A kitchen that is part of a larger renovation or addition
Start with the architect, because structure and room layout come first. Bring in the designer and the cabinetry showroom once the plan is stable, so the cabinetry is drawn to the walls that will actually exist.
A whole-house project with an interior designer
The interior designer usually leads the look across the house. The cabinetry showroom works inside that direction, turning the kitchen design into a buildable cabinet system and coordinating with the builder.
Can a showroom work with your architect or designer?
Yes. At DOCA Boston it is a normal way to work. If you already have a designer or architect, your design lead remains the design lead. We contribute product knowledge, cabinet-system coordination and installation planning, and we do not need to displace the architect, designer, builder or remodeler on your project. The trade page sets out how that works.
We also work directly with homeowners who do not have a design team.
Who handles permits, plumbing and electrical?
When cabinetry comes from a showroom, construction still belongs to the builder and the trades. DOCA Boston has an installation team on staff, and our installation scope is the DOCA cabinetry package. Surfaces, appliances, electrical, plumbing and the other trades stay with your project team, and we coordinate with them. The project process and the questions page describe that split in more detail.
What to bring to the first conversation
- Photos and rough measurements of the current kitchen, or the architect’s plans if you have them
- A list of what is changing in the house and what is staying
- Your appliance ideas, even if not final
- The names and roles of anyone already on the project
DOCA has made cabinetry in Spain since 1986 (more on who we are). If you are sorting out who should do what on your kitchen, book a complimentary design consultation at our showroom at 20 Boylston Street, Brookline. We will tell you where our work fits and where it does not.