Frequently asked questions

Yes, if you need guidance from experienced custom kitchen designers specialized in designing the right kitchen for your home and budget.

Yes, if you expect industry leading quality in the design, renovation, manufacturing and workmanship.

Yes, if you prefer supporting a West Island company with Quebec manufacturing and Quebec suppliers.

Yes, if you require that the schedule and timelines be well prepared.

Yes, if you want your money’s worth.

No, if you don’t care about quality and great service.

No, if you only want the lowest price in town.

Clients should start by visiting our web site and book an appointment to come to our showroom. On that first visit to Vima Design, either the owners or one of the Vima designers take the time to educate the customers as to what to expect during a kitchen renovation and what to look for in top quality kitchen cabinets and design. Once the customer is comfortable and interested with the Vima Design quality and process, we schedule a visit by one of Vimas designers to the customer’s home (for potential customers this service is free). At the customer’s home, the Vima designer takes measurements, brainstorms with the customer, discusses the wish list and, most importantly, the budget. Once the budget is approved, the design work begins. Afterwards, the designer presents the customer with the design and the costs analysis, one part for the renovation work (if a referral is asked) and the other part for the kitchen cabinets including countertops. Once the customer has fallen in love with the design and the budget is respected, the last steps of final measurements and plan verification gets done and the order is made. The kitchen will be delivered and installed according to our schedule availability at that time.

Phase 1: Kitchen renovation & preparation (by the general contractor)
10-20 business days depending on size of renovation project.

Phase 2: Kitchen delivery & installation + counter measurement if necessary
2-5 days depending on the size of the kitchen.

Phase 3: Waiting time for counter production & installation
10-15 business days. A temporary countertop and sink can be installed by your contractor during the wait.

Phase 4: Kitchen completion (by the general contractor)
1-5 days depending on the work remaining.

Yes you can, Vima Design will work with you and your renovation contractor. If you don’t have a contact, we can refer you a renovation specialist.

Vima Design’s cabinets are carefully crafted by one of Quebec’s top kitchen manufacturers. Top quality manufacturing and high quality materials are always used. The manufacturers and Vima Design recommend the following instructions for care and cleaning:

Care of the interiors

• Wipe all spills immediately. Do not allow them to sit or dry out.
• Wipe the interiors when necessary with mild soap and water, towel dry.
• Do not allow a buildup of grease and dirt to occur.
• Do not use abrasive type cleaners or pads.

Care of the exteriors

• Clean your cabinets with soft damp cloth and mild soap.
• Clean your floors with a humid mop around cabinet panels and toe-kicks
• Treat your Vima Design cabinets like fine furniture.
• Do not use abrasive type cleaners or pads and avoid hard rubbing and scrubbing. Excessive rubbing will cause additional sheen.
• Your cabinetry should not be exposed to strong sun light or extreme/sudden changes in temperature and humidity.
• Wood is a product which is in a continual state of expansion and contraction, causing hairline seams at the joints of the cabinets’ faceframe, doors and drawers. These hairlines and/or shrinkage lines will not weaken the finish or the construction and are considered a natural part of the beauty of wood cabinets.
• Humidity levels are too often overlooked in the home. Improper levels damage cabinets and building components. Maintain relative humidity levels between 45-55%.

Vima Design’s counters are carefully crafted by some of the most esteemed Quebec & Ontario manufacturers. Top quality manufacturing and high quality materials are always used. The manufacturers and Vima Design recommend the following instructions for care and cleaning:

• The granite surface has been sealed at the plant, but require regular resealing by the customer every 1-2 years for added protection
• Wipe all spills immediately. Do not allow them to sit or dry out.
• Clean when necessary, with mild soap and water, rinse and towel dry.
• Do not allow a buildup of grease and dirt to occur.
• Do not use abrasive type cleaners or pads and avoid hard rubbing and scrubbing.
• The use of a cutting board is highly recommended
• Hot pots and pans can’t go directly on quartz counters.
• Avoid rapid extreme temperature changes

A. Just changing the doors is a difficult and expensive proposition, remember the casings (melamine boxes with the shelves you want to re-use) is not the most expensive part of the kitchen, actually it’s only worth about 20% of the total amount of a new kitchen, therefore if you keep the old casings in place, you end up only saving 20% and you’re stuck keeping the same design with the same problems. Even though the casings are not expensive, the quality of the materials used to assemble the casings is important. Obviously if you change just the doors and install them on poor quality casings, it will be very difficult to do a good job.

Are all the casings installed level and correctly? Will new screws with new hinges be installable? If new doors are installed with the new hinges, what are the chances that the density of melamine will hold the screws? And what are the chances that the old holes will make it possible to install new hinges correctly? Will the melamine surface last many more years? You can’t just replace the doors without changing all the mouldings, casings edges and finished sides of casings.
This type of job is not done by Vima Design because it’s visually impossible to do an acceptable job and Vima Design only does jobs that they can be proud of. Cost wise, it can cost you quite a bit of money for not so great results.

B. If your kitchen cabinets are less than 10 years old, in great shape and you love the existing design and layout, but you just can’t stand the finish or color. Then you could consider just getting them refinished. The problem is that very few companies actually do this well. The job is not that simple to accomplish correctly, and rarely gives good results unless you chose the right company.

Vima Design is a highly recommended kitchen design and renovation company since 2002.

You will get your money’s worth at Vima Design.

Yes with a very experienced designer and the entire Vima Design team. We charge $100/hour.

*This service if offered depending on our availabilities

Yes, this way we can present you our team, explain our process, demonstrate our products, the finishes and door styles. We make sure you like what we propose and you understand how we work. After this appointment, your Vima Design designer goes to your house for a detailed consultation and to take measures.

Predominately we do kitchen projects, we also do beautiful bathroom projects and custom cabinets for all rooms in your house. Our renovation partners can at the same time as the kitchen do all other renovation work.

You can purchase your counter and plumbing items directly with Vima Design. For other choices of materials, your designer can guide you or refer you to our excellent partner boutiques.