If you have the architect's preliminary layout/designs, you could post them here to get input on tweaks (like adding drawers) and a final design. But, if you aren't up for being more hands on with the layout (with help), then do go find a kitchen designer.

A sub, your cabinetmaker in this case, submits ((submittals) detailed drawings to your architect for approval. I had to pay a guy to make those drawings, but they saved my butt. Commercial owners objected to the silicone seams in their window sills. Pulled out the shop drawings with the detail their architect approved and didn't hear another word.

You need a kitchen designer. ASAP. Architects may be great for major space planning, but most do not cook and shouldn’t design kitchens.

So a cabinet maker submits shop drawings to me when I sign a contract or do I pay him extra for that? Last time I had someone design a vanity for me the size of the drawers were so narrow they couldn't hold a blow dryer. I want to make sure that doesn't happen again.

I had a lot of custom cabinets for my recent remodel. They were made by a local cabinet maker.

I had a designer for the remodel (as well as a GC) and she provided intensive plans for everything. How else can someone bid on a project because the final cost is going to depend on the small details.

We worked together on the design and configuration. Choosing the wood and the wood stain and designing a door. She provided a basic layout in terms of what cabinets/size would work best in the space and then we spent A LOT of time fine tuning it together in terms of how deep drawers would be and exactly what the roll out features would be - I never knew there were so many details from what I wanted the roll outs to be constructed of; whether the sides were clear; how high the sides would be. And the spacing of the rollouts.

But before proceeding find a talented designer to work with. And also start looking at cabinet configurations so that you have a good sense of all the ways interiors can be configured for your needs.

Architects are usally poor kitchen designers and why custom at all for rental properties unless very high end units fetching high end rents. I agree an independant KD will be worth every penny you spend since it does not sound like this is something you have done before.Obviously you are not in NA so some of this will be a much different process than here as to finishing and who does what.

my kitchen designer designed the layout and the cabinet maker designed the cabinets to the exact measurements of the space. I was supplied a drawing to sign off on, as well as a capital improvement form. my kitchen designer was not associated with my cabinet maker.

Did you talk to the cabinetmaker about the drawings?

I talked to the cabinet maker after posting this and he told me that he would come and painstakingly go though the details so he can make the drawings. Still I might hire a kitchen designer so there is one more step checking details. The units are high-end and two are small so I need to eke out all the space by going custom.

I have a small kitchen and needed to use every inch of space. People on this forum helped me with the layout - that is, where to site everything; I took that plan to a local cabinetmaker who measured and discussed my wants with me (such MW in the tall pantry, and on which shelf, pullout for dog food bin, and so forth), then submitted his drawings to me for my approval. His input was needed for the corner base cabinet, to be sure it was as small as possible while still functional & easily accessible when squeezed in next to the stove.

He would have provided even the pulls, but I already had some purchased - however he specified the placement on the drawings.

He also would have installed them but I already had installation written into my contract with the GC doing the rest of the work (the Cabinetmaker would have been a better choice, though!)

@Paul F. you should also provide the cabinetmaker the specs on appliances and sinks. Mine used all of those measurements in designing my cabinets.

I was going to go to the Consumer Electronic show in Vegas Jan 3rd to see the new appliances but with the new covid variant it looks like that will be an online visit now. I do have another older thread where I'm trying to work out the layout from the most difficult kitchen. You can see it's tricky.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6200952/cabinets-over-a-corner-sink#27349011

I am going to be dead honest with you. I would not purchase a unit with a knee wall in the kitchen. I lived most of my adult life in Brooklyn with small kitchen being the norm, even by those standards the kitchen tucked under the stairs is just awful.

Its a vacation rental mostly not a condo. I do however want to eke out all the storage space for people that stay a couple months at a time.

Honestly vacation rentals IMO need minimal storage in a kitchen as most vacationers eat out . I would like to see floor plans . We stay in Paris in atiny apt. for usually a month at a time the kitchen has everything we need even for cooking in a tiny space . IMO without floor plans there is no way to help here I for one am working in the dark .In my experience the cabinet maker is best left to make cabinets not design the kitchen .

Patricia, I do have another thread from when I was trying to work out the layout by myself. This thread is me giving up trying to do it myself. You commented on the corner sink I had planned in that other thread. https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6200952/cabinets-over-a-corner-sink#27350161 My vacation renters are mostly older people in town to see their adult children. They eat at the property and even have holiday dinners there. Now that I have chance I want to shoehorn as much storage as possible in there.

Hi there Paul F. Just starting this process. Went to a cabinet dealer, but wasn't happy with the design and quote. The price keeps ballooning, so now I am looking into custom cabinets. Have you started with your cabinet maker? Are you happy with him? Is he doing the installation or just making the cabinets? Can you recommend your cabinet maker so I can explore using his services?

You're in Los Angeles?

No, Brooklyn. When I searched discussion groups on this topic, I specified NYC and Brooklyn. Guess it narrow the discussion down to local.

Too bad. I found the perfect guy for my cabinets and he's very reasonable. If anyone in LA area wants his contact info let me know. Here's a pic I took of a project he was working on that convinced me to hire him. Good luck.

"Went to a cabinet dealer, but wasn't happy with the design and quote. The price keeps ballooning, so now I am looking into custom cabinets."

Well you're really going to be unhappy when you get the numbers for custom.

That's not my experience. Several kitchen stores priced my kitchen cabinetry anywhere from 34k-120k. Custom cabinetry was less. Well, I would imagine if you have a pro between you and the cabinet maker it will probably be more.