Remodeling a kitchen may include anything from repainting the walls to redesigning the entire structure of the house. Designing a good one is difficult because of all the interrelated aspects encompassed. The secret to success is to systematically work through the process, one step at at a time. Let’s begin…
The Kitchen Planning Process
The planning process begins by determining three very important things: your budget, how the kitchen will be used and the size of the space that the new kitchen will occupy. How you determine your budget is beyond the scope of this presentation. We will focus intended use. For a discussion on measuring you kitchen, go to the Kitchen Measurement Page. The kitchen is the most important workshop in the house so often more goes on there than just cooking. Take the time to list and review the features that you want. Then prioritize those features so you can fit as many as possible into your budget. Virtually anything can be done to a kitchen: walls can be moved, services can be changed and features can be added or subtracted. The less you spend on major structural or mechanical work, the more money you will have to put into cabinets, flooring and more fixtures.
The following questions will lead you through important issues that should be resolve before starting the design phase. Be patient and take the time to finish the planning phase before settling on a design. There are no right or wrong answers to the questions below. They are used to discover your individual preferences so you will be happy with your new kitchen. Carefully consider each question; make notes as needed, be open to new ideas and do further research when needed. A kitchen is the most complex area in your house. It is your domestic workshop. Hopefully, this guide will help you match your new kitchen to your real needs and lifestyle as closely as possible.