May 17, 2023

This article was originally published on May 17, 2023; it was updated on May 23, 2023 and June 13, 2023,

We recently spoke with designer Casey Ridley of The Designery. He shared with us his tips on avoiding common mistakes designers can make if they don’t fully understand the installation requirements for the products they specify in our new From the Tap podcast.

Our conversation with Casey kicked off with a run-through of his day-to-day experience at the firm. One of the hats he wears is managing various design teams. He explains how this is important for both the business side and the client side of his practice. Key to this is helping designers balance speed and efficiency with quality.

Next, Casey walks listeners through specific examples of how incomplete knowledge of a product can snarl installation. He cites case studies of common missteps – and solutions – in selecting cabinetry, kitchen appliances, sinks and countertops, identifying problem areas and their repercussions. One instance Casey zeros in on concerns about the meeting of a range and surrounding cabinets. He points out that fillers are often placed next to the stove, but recommends against it because it doesn’t provide adequate counter support. Another tricky installation he targets is designing the base cabinet for a farmhouse or apron-front sink.

Casey wraps up the podcast by sharing his recommendations to designers about a business model that will help them be more efficient, without compromising their creativity.

To hear more about Ridley’s take on avoiding costly specification mistakes, listen to the podcast on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Pandora and other outlets.

—By Leslie Clagett, KBB Managing Editor