We are having our kitchen remodeled beginning 1 June and we are using Cameo Kitchen in Falls Church. My friend had her kitchen done by them and it is beautiful.

I will give another plug for Heartwood Design in Afton, VA. I know they do work in the No. VA/MD area. They are a custom cabinet company who, I believe, could do all that you are seeking. Not sure if this is helpful or not, but they worked with us in our kitchen. We did have a basic floorplan when we started, but the designer we worked with helped us tweek it and then they built and installed all the cabinetry in both our kitchen and master bath remodel. We are very pleased with the work they did. They would have coordinated other portions such as countertop, appliances, etc., but I had these pieces sorted out myself.

Here is a link that might be useful: Heartwood Design

I appreciate the recommendations, but it seems that I nay not have made my question clear. I already have a general contractor who will do the kitchen install. And I have leads on cabinet makers, although more are certainly helpful.

What I am looking for is someone who does kitchen design consulting, as opposed to someone who works for a kitchen remodeling company or cabinetmaker. Thanks and I look forward to more responses!

The KD we had at EXPO in Columbia, MD, has become an independent KD. However, I do not have her contact information right now. As far as design is concerned, she is very good...just don't let her do the final measurements!

I would definitely use her again as long as someone else did the measurements.

She does her best to do what the customer wants but is not afraid to tell you why she thinks something may not work. If you want it anyway, she'll do it.

When we began planning, I had insisted I had to have an island. She pointed out to me that I didn't really have the room, but I insisted. So, she drew it up for me and pointed out the 22" aisles I had b/w the corner of the islands & the window area.

I realized she was right with that design so posted here asking if anyone could me come up w/a design w/an island. Everyone here worked very hard to come up with an island plan (and there were some very creative ideas!) but in the end they made me realize an island just wouldn't work...

So, I asked both my KD and the folks here to start from scratch and redesign...both my KD and all of us here came up with very similar designs in the end. The main differences were (1) she had put in cabinet pantry cabinets but we had a corner pantry (which is what I stayed with) and (2) I added a "mini peninsula" that my KD didn't have and wasn't totally happy with...but she told me to mock it up and if I was OK with it she would go ahead with it in the design...I was OK with it (I loved it!) so she put it in.

The problems I had with her later had more to do with EXPO policies that she had to follow and, of course, the measuring mistakes. (It took an anonymous GWer's intervention on my behalf at Home Depot Corporate to get our local EXPO to make good on the measuring mistakes without charging me.)

[I just asked my DH and he agrees with me on all points!]

One of the top kitchen designers in the DC area is Jennifer Gilmer. Many of her designs have won awards. A friend used her and was very pleased with the final product, although apparently she is a bit of a primadonna. I don't know if she would do design only, but I do know that she charges a design fee in addition to whatever she makes on the cabinets/appliances/etc.

Here is a link that might be useful: Jennifer Gilmer

I don't have a KD I can recommend, but I do have a great contractor. Our house is historical too & he did a great job. Good luck with your project.

Further on Jennifer Gilmer - there was a mention today on the Post's home decor discussion of her online desing service, which looks very cost effective. Here is the link.

Here is a link that might be useful: online design service