Main Line Kitchen Design Podcast

Paul and Main Line Kitchen Design’s Ed Sossich discuss some of the famous customers Ed has worked with. Both Paul and Ed have worked together at several showrooms. Very early in their careers they worked together first at The Home Depot and then at Lowe’s. Among the celebrities Ed has worked with are Brooke Shields, David Morse, Charles Barkley, and others.

Paul goes over Emily’s kitchen plans in great detail. He notices all the unusual custom cabinet sizes but thinks that these unusual sizes and dimensions are unattractive and impractical. Paul finds many dimensions that don’t work for Emily’s design. For example the microwave will not fit in the appliance garage, and the oven is so high off the floor that shorter people will burn their arms reachin...

Paul and Mark discuss Paul’s pet peeves as a kitchen designer. They go over the customer interactions that can be frustrating. Why Paul isn’t a big fan of builders like Toll Brothers. The different techniques kitchen designers use with their customers. And how top selling kitchen designer Doug Mottershead is able to break sales records wherever he works. Paul reveals what he thinks is wrong with H...

Paul talks with Cheryl who has a home built on a slab. After asking some questions Paul believes Cheryl’s contractor inflating prices for moving plumbing. They discuss how to find contractors and possible design changes. Below are Cheryl’s kitchen drawings and a hand drawing by Paul on how a two-piece crown molding is installed. This is the type molding profile Paul recommends for Cheryl’s kitchen...

Paul talks with Richard who plans on customizing kitchen cabinets in the new home he is building. Lots of red flags worry Paul. Inventing cabinetry of your own is far more difficult than people realize. Paul warns Richard about several problems he sees in some of Richard’s kitchen cabinet customizations. He critiques the kitchen layout, appliance locations, and other design choices. Most important...

Paul speaks with Rose and explains why it saves time working with a kitchen designer as early as possible when you are remodeling a kitchen. Kitchen designers can throw “monkey wrenches” into customer’s remodeling plans when they inform them about issues that hadn’t been considered. Paul brings up issues previously not considered in Rose’s kitchen. Both Paul and Rose go through possible tradeoffs...

Paul explains why island cooktops are undesirable and create venting and design problems. Episode 29 Paul talks with Debbie who among some of her design challenges has an island cook-top. They discuss why Island cook-tops create ventilation and counter-top problems. While critiquing Debbie’s design, Paul explains why 24 inch cabinets are not the most functional size. He also explains why double ov...

Paul breaks down the process of designing a good kitchen for Taylor and Lex. He moves one window and raises another. This creates a kitchen that will dramatically increase the value of their home. Later, Paul goes through the process of how to find a good cabinet dealer and kitchen designer. Main Line Kitchen Design uses this same process to find the cabinet dealers we recommend around the United...

Paul talks with Steve who has some really good questions. Paul explains what makes cabinetry expensive and why imported cabinetry bought through US suppliers is such a good value if you are on a budget. Paul discusses individual cabinetry brands at the lower price points and explains some of the dangers in some of those brands door styles. Paul also explains why assembling cabinets yourself isn’t...

Paul talks with an Shazia who’s an engineer with a great sense of humor. Besides going over design changes, Paul explains why engineers can be tough customers for kitchen designers. Paul talks about Main Line Kitchen Design’s funny video on why you need a kitchen designer and the engineer that appears in that video. Who the actor playing the video’s engineer is a very relevant surprise. For those...

Paul walks Kevin through his whole kitchen. They make changes after talking through each part of the kitchen. Kevin is so open minded that they just keep talking and changing and the final design turns out to be something Kevin likes a lot better. This is a good episode showing what happens when you discuss your design with a professional kitchen designer and make choices after getting additional...

Paul takes a break from answering calls and discusses nearly all the different types of kitchen countertops. He talks about the advantages and disadvantages of each type and what to expect. If you have countertop questions, there’s a good chance the answer is discussed in this podcast.

Paul talks with Anne who hosts family events that need seating for all her grandkids. Paul gives her a couple of design change possibilities that give both more storage and more space in her kitchen.

Paul talks to Jennifer who has a townhouse and a community board with homeowner renovation restrictions. Paul moves things around to create a better space with a banquette. Paul explains how connecting walls over doorways can make rooms feel more separated and defined while not changing the space. Paul explains how we find the other dealers we recommend outside our service area. He also explains h...

Paul talks to Eric who has a kitchen designed by Home Depot. While the design is OK, it could be better configured. Paul moves cabinetry around to create a more functional kitchen. Paul explains why you don’t want a speed oven with an oven door that folds down placed too high. Paul explains why slab doors look better in frameless cabinets.

Paul talks with Holly who was working with Costco on her kitchen. Moving a doorway and changing the direction of Holly’s island makes her design better. Paul eliminates the blind corners in Holly’s kitchen. Paul explains how moving a light fixture can create needed space.

Paul talks with PJ, who is considering American Woodmark cabinetry from Home Depot. His design is fairly straight forward but can still be improved. Paul talks about why home centers can be safer places to buy very simple kitchens then at private dealers. Paul talks about cabinet pricing and the advantages of Fabuwood over some brands.

Paul talks with Jennings, who is building a brand-new home down south. The views from the site are spectacular. The design is good but needing a few tweaks to make it the home it should be. Paul and Jennings put their heads together and give it a try. If you are building a new home from scratch this is a great podcast for you. It shows how collaboration leads to better design. And it shows the lev...

Paul talks with Allison and Sebastien who are doing a complex kitchen renovation, Sebastion is an architect. Paul explains why kitchen designers and architects have very different successful design criteria for any space. Paul preaches once again about ten pounds of sausage in an eight-pound wrapper.

Paul talks to Loretta who has an island that is far too large for her kitchen. Paul explains how to find a good kitchen cabinet dealer and how Main Line Kitchen Design rates cabinet dealers on our web site. Paul also explains why Main Line Kitchen Design sometimes get a 1-star review from a caller that Paul has annoyed and why Fabuwood is a good cabinet selection for a shaker white door style. Lor...

Paul talks with Laura who is planning on two kitchen renovations. One renovation is for a rental property. Paul explains the difference in less expensive brands like Fabuwood,,J& K, CNC, Forevermark, and GreenForest. Paul also explains why all good designers use 36″ wall cabinets and a two-piece stacked crown molding in an 8 foot high room. Paul also explains why you must check a ceiling with a la...

Paul talks to Elizabeth who has a kitchen designed with custom cabinetry but a simplistic design. Paul encourages her to not use such high wall cabinets and to possibly lower her ceiling in order to remove an unsightly beam and save by no longer needing custom cabinetry.

Paul talks with Eric and about Dekton and other countertop surfaces and the difference in price between different types of countertops. Paul explains the design challenges with Erics current design and recommends changes. Paul also talks about what color types make cabinetry expensive. Paul goes on the Kraftmaid website and looks at their colors.

Paul talks at length with Tina about a wide range of topics. If you are considering more expensive cabinetry this is an especially relevant episode. Painted finishes are discussed at length. As are custom paint finishes. What types of people make good designers is discussed. Design techniques used for 10 foot high ceilings such as stacked cabinets and moldings, and tray and coffered ceilings are c...

Paul chats with fellow podcaster Nancy Hugo, the host of the podcast Home Design Chat with Nancy, about the most dangerous kitchen design mistakes. Nancy and Paul go over what makes these design mistakes so dangerous and discuss how common they are. This episode is a combined podcast with Nancy.