Organize your thoughts on style
· Clip photos from design magazines to help illustrate your ideas
· Take photos of designs that you have seen in friends homes
Formulate your overall look
· Traditional or casual
· Wood tones or painted
· Architectural embellishments
· Textures and accents (example: do you want tile floors, granite countertops, etc.)
· Determine the focal points of the room (examples: range hood, island, a large window, etc)
Lifestyle Patterns: Think about how you use your current space
· Note shortcomings in storage space, work area, lighting, etc.
· Assess your priorities:
· Cooking Profile (how frequently, what do you make)
· Entertaining (how much/how often)
· Family size/age
· Is your kitchen the hub of your home?
· Is the eating area in kitchen?
Think Function: Storage and Convenience Items
· Drawer organization e.g.: cutlery trays, knife blocks, spice/can storage
· Island cabinetry/work tables
· Deep storage drawers
· Pull out trays (for easy access and optimum use of storage space).