By J Richardson

Step #1: Plan Ahead
As with most big projects, you must plan ahead. If you're completely restructuring your kitchen, consider changing the direction the kitchen faces. If you situate the kitchen to face the southeast or east, you'll enjoy natural sunlight in the morning hours as you enjoy your daily cup of java.

Step #2: Traffic Patterns
In order to avoid a continual path of dirt, mud, shoes and clothes, add an adjoining "mud" room to your kitchen. This way, you have an area to shrug off coast in the winter, remove shoes and ideally, keep your kitchen cleaner.

Step #3: Rule of 26
Necessary appliances within the kitchen include the sink, oven or stove range and the refrigerator. Most, if not all, 20th century homes feature this "triangle" of appliances. Be sure to create enough--but not too much-space between these objects. Too little space can make anyone feel claustrophobic, and too much space can make a simple task more tiring. An ideal rule to follow is that the "legs" or each appliance's distance to each other should add up from 12-26 feet.

Step #4: Get the Gadgets
In addition, you also might want to install a new sink or dishwasher. Ideal placement for sinks is directly in front of a kitchen window; not only will you be able to enjoy the view while washing stacks of plates, but you'll also be able to keep an eye on children. Depending on whether you're left-handed or right-handed, installing a dishwasher directly next to the sink will make dish washing much easier and convenient.

Step #5: Storage is Key
Any kitchen can become cluttered without the proper storage units. Cabinets below the "triangle" should store all pots, bans and baking dishes. Silverware and other utensils should be stored below or near the drying rack and dish washer. For tableware and place settings, store above in higher cabinets. To create additional areas to store Tupperware and non-perishable food, consider adding a pantry to your kitchen or mud room.

Step #6: Table for How Many?
A kitchen table is a perfect place to enjoy a cozy breakfast, dine informally, or even finish up homework. Choose a sturdy wooden table that can endure being banged into and nicked-especially if you have children in the home

Step #7: Hardware Basics
Picking and matching your cabinet hardware and cabinet knobs is easy. It's an inexpensive way to "dress up" your kitchen design. For more elegant, modern homes, choose a dark polish with matching bronze, antiqued or dark cabinet knob finishes. For cozy Southern-style kitchens, choose lighter finishes like chrome, nickel or pewter.

Step #8: Comfort Zone
Install a ceiling fan to help control the temperature without touching the thermostat. Most ceiling fans, like Hunter ceiling fans, are equipped with a directional switch to help maximize the current temperature in the house. For cooler months, allow the fan blades to rotate in a counter-clockwise motion to create the cool breeze. In the winter, switch the direction to clockwise to help mix the warm air evenly throughout your kitchen.

Step #9: Let the Sunshine In
Let the natural light in! Not only will sunlight help heat and keep your kitchen cozy, it also will help you and your family start the day right. In stall sky lights and bay windows that provide ample direct sunlight.

Step #10: Finishing Touches
Complete your newly redesigned look by adding something unique, artistic and stylish. If you're strapped for cash, browse yard sales and "curb alerts" and you may turn someone's antique trash into your newfound kitchen treasure!

By Lee Dobbins

If you are in a rut where your small kitchen design is concerned then you it is important that you remember that strategize on what you can fit in to it and where.

The most important things to consider when remodeling a small kitchen is that do you have sufficient storage space, what kind of appliances can you include and good lighting.

The best storage solution that you could include in your small kitchen design is by putting in a small island this will not only provide you with additional storage space but also extra space for you to work on. But if it is even too small for an island then it is best that you design the layout on your kitchen galley style. A galley style kitchen puts the cabinets lined up hanging on either side of the kitchen aisle and on the walls so that you are able to take advantage of the limited space that you have without them being an obstacle.

If you want you could take advantage of the ceiling by hanging pots and pans from a rack chained at the centre or anywhere on the ceiling of the kitchen. It also helps to add character and charm to any kitchen.

When installing new cabinets in a small kitchen make sure you include a pantry cabinet which goes all the way to the ceiling and the use top most cabinets for storing those items that you seldomly use.

The colours that you should use for your small kitchen should be as follows:-

Use light coloured cabinets with glass doors and add further storage to the inside of doors where you can place tiny bits and pieces (why not put a spice rack inside a door for your spices and herbs to be kept in).

When installing counters install deeper ones so that they can accommodate appliances and will also increase the amount of workspace that you have available. You also look for the many compact and space saving appliances that are now readily available. But when it comes to the sink keep it big as you need something that is practical for cleaning large pots and pans in.

Another good trick to use in your small kitchen design is to install under cabinet and under the counter lighting. This type of lighting will make your kitchen appear bigger and therefore much more inviting to your guests.

By Rob Stouffer

Before you even draw up a new kitchen design, you are going to want to talk over with your significant other what aspects of the kitchen you have now that you would like to change. This applies to everyone, no matter if you live in MD where I do, or on the west coast. By discussing these things ahead of time, your design process will proceed a lot more efficiently and the designer that you choose will have a better understanding of what it is you want in your remodel.
So, let us take a look at some of the design features that you might choose to make different in your new room.

The first thing that comes to mind is the layout of the appliances. Do they form the work triangle that is usually incorporated into kitchens. If they do, is there a certain appliance that you would like to add or increase the size, such as adding a dishwasher, disposal, over the range microwave or including a larger refrigerator.

Are there certain cabinets that you want to include in the new kitchen design, such as a tall pantry cabinet, a lazy- susan cabinet, or maybe a refrigerator cabinet that extends out to meet the front of the refrigerator. Are the wall cabinets that you have now tall enough or do you want cabinets that will reach to the ceiling of the room.

What about removing a wall to open up the room to the other areas of your house. This is one of the hottest trends right now and will create an overall entertaining environment within your home.

Countertops are another aspect of the kitchen design that you will need to discuss. If you have small children, is it really going to be practical to have granite installed instead of a laminate or solid surface such as Corian installed. Granite will scratch easily and the abuse that it could take with small children will leave you frustrated.

Flooring is another aspect of the kitchen design that needs to be discussed. If you are intending to replace the old floor, the new one should be installed before any cabinetry is installed. This is something that needs to be relayed to your designer before any renovation begins.

Are there any custom custom cabinets that you might want to consider for your new room. Maybe a custom island cabinet that will stand out and be a feature piece of the room. Maybe some of the wall cabinets or base cabinets will be larger than the others, creating a more custom look to the new room. Stain colors and door styles are one of the most important aspects of the kitchen design that you will need to decide on before you get really serious about the remodel.

These are just some of the ideas that you might want to go over before venturing out to find a designer that will incorporate all of your wants and desires for your new remodeling project.

By Yoga Priyakara

Think you're great at multitasking? I certainly think I can give just about anybody a run for his money in this department. No surprises then that I experienced pure, unadulterated glee when I got the enviable opportunity to add another feather to my cap- that of a diligent designer all set to demolish every prosaic rule in the interior design books. Thanks to the sustained efforts of a spate of tools, 'kitchen design online' does not really seem like rocket science anymore.

My Link To Sanity

My kitchen, like a majority of homemakers, means the world to me. It's sometimes an oasis of calm, and sometimes becomes the supreme inspiration for the most delightfully aromatic creations. If you too belong to this bandwidth, then a few clicks of your mouse are all that it takes to create a personal space that bears your signature stamp.

These extremely easy and interactive tools can help you exercise complete control over all facets of the layout of the space, without requiring knowledge of the vague rubrics of designing. Selection of architectural styles, lighting, materials for flooring, cabinets and countertops and other accessories like fittings, faucets, fixtures and practically everything else that has a persistent place in your imagination can come alive on your desktop with generous doses of help from these avant-garde tools.

And the icing on the cake is the fact that all your myriad dreams can come alive in 3D. Just submit this to your designer and your custom-made layout could be ready sooner than you imagined.

Recipe For Success

Online design tools and copious amounts of your prodigious talent is a match made in design heaven. Here's what you can do to ensure eternal bliss:

* Pull-out all stops when it comes to selecting the right colors, textures and finishes. Durability, low maintenance and breathtaking looks are key factors.
* Efficient kitchen design gives due importance to storage. The pantry, corner cabinets and other options must utilize the available space judiciously.
* Harbor no doubts about the location of the cooktop, dishwasher, refrigerator and sink.
* The kitchen island must be central to your layout plans.
* You are in the danger of sacrificing a lot more if safety considerations, whether glass doors or sharp edges on countertops, are excluded from the design.
* A cozy breakfast nook or an informal corner adds dollops of sunshine to the place's dark, stolid appearance.

By James Mahoney

The kitchen today is the busiest room in the house and kitchen lighting is probably the most important element in kitchen interior design.

Since the kitchen is now being used as a home office, a homework area for children as well as a gathering area for friends and family good kitchen lighting is very important. The right kitchen lighting is able to create just the right atmosphere for entertaining.

Selecting just the right kitchen lighting can be a simple process. You first need to identify the main areas of the kitchen that need sufficient lighting. With specific tasks over the range or cook top, you can use an energy efficient fluorescent tube along with a standard range fan, or a recessed down light in the general area of the stove. One or two track lights over the sink area can provide the correct amount of illumination that would be needed for washing dishes and scouring pots and pans.

For the sink, and countertops a combination of track or recessed lighting, and under cabinet lighting will be to achieve best results in lighting up the countertop and creating a work area that is well lit and free of shadows. Mount the lights as close to the back of the cabinets as possible to avoid creating glare and off the work surfaces. Try to select energy-efficient fluorescent fixtures that will cover at least two-thirds of the of the counter's length.

For the breakfast area a good overhead light is useful since this area is also frequently used for reading. For more kitchen lighting ideas you can consider such lighting systems as chandeliers to high-tech flexible track lighting with decorative pendants. With a dimmer switch these ceiling-hung fixtures will produce adequate task lighting for family activities. You can also lower the light for entertaining.

When considering kitchen lighting design it is important to create muliple layers of lighting including ambient lighting, accent lighting as well as decorative lighting.

Examine the amount of space and try to imagine the opportunities that you have in considering different categories of kitchen lighting design to create an inviting and livable space.

Ambient Lighting - This is the general light in the room. This type of kitchen lighting is needed for all casual activities. This can be achieved through the use of reflected light for different surfaces. An example of this is track lighting.

Task Lighting - An example is under-cabinet lights since they make excellent task lighting. This kind of kitchen lighting is commonly achieved with small light sources using higher and more focused levels of light with a combination of under cabinet lights and overhead lights that are strategically located. This type of lighting will be mostly found in closets, pantries, cabinets, or drawers.

Decorative Lighting - This type of kitchen lighting can add sophistication and color to a space.

Down Lighting - Down lighting is energy efficient and consists of small aperture cans in the ceiling. They can produce a longer lamp life, minimize glare and produce a bright crisp light.

Low Voltage Track and Mono Rail Lighting - These lighting systems can offer an interesting and more flexible type of lighting and are easy to install. They can be hand-bent and shaped to provide architectural interest. Low voltage lighting dims more easily and lights decorative objects and surfaces dramatically.

By John Anthony Vanderkolk

A good designer often seems like a magician. This is because they can take a "hum drum" space and convert it into an ideal room for entertaining guests or just spending a few pleasant hours each day. When looking for kitchen designers in Toronto it is important to understand that you can turn to them for a whole host of solutions, including a new layout in the same old space, an expanded kitchen when room is added, and even more. Consider that kitchen designers in Toronto might help you add a butler's pantry, a breakfast nook, a storage area, and completely renovate the entire space.

Because a kitchen project tends to involve a large range of activities and because it is one of the primary rooms in which the inhabitants spend time it is absolutely necessary to ensure that the best designer is selected. After all, it would be unfortunate to expand the kitchen in order to use it as a major area of entertainment only to feel that the end result is not at all functional or that it doesn't really reflect your personal aesthetics.

This is the reason that it is important to seek out kitchen designers in Toronto who can really communicate with you and who demonstrate their abilities to bring their client's visions to fruition. How do you know that they can do this? You require portfolios shots of the work they have done, you ask for references, and you take advantage of every opportunity to explore examples of their work "in person". Many kitchen designers in Toronto actually work from showrooms where the latest innovations in cabinetry, surfaces, and décor are available for viewing.

A good designer is also going to demand that their clients have a great deal of input into the process. Certainly their work is always going to have some sort of reflection of their style or taste, but it should always be a truly accurate reflection of the client and the client's lifestyle. In order to achieve this goal most high-quality designers spend a lot of time with their clients going over samples of countertops, cabinetry materials, flooring, paint, appliances, and more. They will work to incorporate all of the little touches that make the kitchen project a true transformation, but which will also be somewhat impressive, welcoming, and pleasing to everyone who enters the space. In this way many homeowners can turn to their designers for a real "boost" to their social life.

By Franco Zinzi

Let's take a look at some common flow plans for food preparation that you'll discover inside the kitchen. The most basic, and most desirable, flow plan is the straight line, also known as the assembly-line flow. Materials move steadily from 1 procedure to another in a straight line. This type of style minimizes backtracking; it saves preparation time and confusion about what's going out of the kitchen area and what's coming back in.

The straight-line arrangement functions nicely for little installations because it can be placed against a wall and adapted to the cooks' duties. Wherever there isn't enough room to arrange food preparation in a straight line, a well-liked and efficient option is the parallel flow. There are four variations of the parallel style:

1. Back to back. Gear is arranged inside a long, central counter or island in two straight lines that run parallel to every other. Sometimes a four- or five-foot room divider or low wall is positioned between the two lines. It's primarily a safety precaution, which keeps noise and clutter to a minimum and prevents liquids spilled on 1 side from spreading onto the other. Nevertheless, placement of a wall here also makes cleaning and sanitation a lot more hard. The back-to-back arrangement centralizes plumbing and utilities;

you may not need to install as many drains, sinks, or outlets, as both sides from the counter can share the same ones. A back-to-back arrangement in which the pass window is parallel to (and behind one of) the production places is sometimes recognized as a California-style kitchen. When the pass window is located perpendicular towards the production line, it might be referred to as a European-style kitchen area style. The benefit from the European style is that each cook on the line can see the progression of multiple dishes that make up 1 table's order.

2. Face to face. In this kitchen area configuration, a central aisle separates two straight lines of gear on either side from the room. Sometimes the aisle is wide sufficient to add a straight line of worktables among the two rows of gear. This setup works well for high volume feeding facilities like schools and hospitals, but it doesn't take benefit of single source utilities. Even though it's a great layout for supervision of workers, it forces individuals to perform with their backs to one another, in effect, separating the cooking from the food from the rest from the distribution procedure. Therefore, it's most likely not the best style for a restaurant.

3. L-shape. Wherever room isn't sufficient for a straight-line or parallel arrangement, the L-shape kitchen design is nicely suited to access several groups of gear, and is adaptable for table service restaurants. It gives you the ability to place more equipment inside a smaller room. You'll often find an L-shape design in dish washing areas, using the dish machine positioned at the center corner from the L.

4. U-shape. This arrangement is seldom used, but it's ideal for a little room with one or two employees, such as a salad preparation or pantry area. An island bar, for example the ones in T.G.I. Friday's restaurants, is an additional example of the U-shape at perform. There are also circular and square kitchen area designs, but their limited flow patterns make them impractical. Avoid wasted room if you can, by making your kitchen area rectangular, with its entrance on one of the longest walls to save steps.

The a lot more foodservice establishments you visit, the more you'll realize that the back from the house is really a separate and distinct entity from the rest of the business, with its own peculiar difficulties and unique solutions.

Correct flow planning occasionally means breaking each kitchen area function down into a department, of sorts, after which deciding how those departments ought to interact with every other. They must also interact using the other, external departments from the facility: your dining room, bar, cashier, and so on. A great way to begin the design process-both for the overall company and for the kitchen-is to create a bubble diagram. Each region (or workstation) is represented being a circle, or "bubble," drawn in pencil within the location you've decided may be the most logical for that function. If two different workstations will be sharing some equipment, you might let the sides of their circles intersect slightly, to indicate where the shared equipment might greatest be located.

The finished diagram will seem abstract, but the exercise permits you to visualize every perform center and think about its needs in relation to the other centers. You are able to also lay a kitchen out utilizing a diamond configuration, situating the cooking area at one point of the diamond form, and other crucial areas in relation to it at other points. Notice that this layout minimizes confusion (and accidents) with a separate kitchen entrance and exit. This allows the people who bus the tables to deliver soiled dishes towards the dishwashing area without having to walk via the entire kitchen to do so.

An alternative to drawing diagrams is to list every perform center and then list any other work middle that should be placed adjacent to it. Conversely, list any perform center that ought to not be next to it. For instance, it is most likely not a great idea to have the ice maker and ice storage bin adjacent to the frying and broiling center.

By Katrina Wagner

It is important that you know how each material and design option is crucial as it determines the space, functionally and aesthetically.

Moderate, rejuvenate, innovate, contemplate. This is the mantra to renovate a kitchen. While one can find ample options and suggestions, putting together value based information before the start of the renovation project can be the best companion for all the right answers one seeks for a new kitchen.

It is very easy to fall into the trap of being lured by the most exclusive looking kitchen and spend a fortune on it only to realise in due course of time that it never really suits you.

Trends are only an indication of popularity and for spaces like a kitchen, it is recommended to look into one's lifestyle and budget than look at what's popular. Lifestyle and budget are key factors that should moderate the renovation project. Ask yourself some basic questions first: How do you use your kitchen? How much time will you spend in the kitchen every day?

How many of you will be using the kitchen at a time? Will you all be dining there as well? How much of storage do you need and most importantly what sort of storage? Let a clear understanding of your lifestyle guide your choices. Budget is imperative to the choices as well as determining the extent of the renovation.

Getting a new look for the kitchen need not entail a complete overhaul. At times, a revamp of a surface or interesting additions such as accessories can bring in the much needed renewal. The wall surface can be the most apparent to start with. Retiling the walls can be a start.

While tiles are useful when it comes to maintenance, one has to be careful about the joints and the height to which the tiles are being laid. The pattern on the tiles are important for creating the ambience of the space and in making the kitchen seem larger or smaller than it actually is.

Light, especially natural, adds exceptional warmth to the kitchen. Planning for a window in the kitchen adds value, preferably away from the cooking area. Even if the natural light can be filtered in through overhead openings, it should be accommodated.

Integrating light fixtures as accessories is good too. Colours matter. They rule the psyche. Each colour has a perception significance, which has made its impression on our minds over centuries. Colour affects our moods, whether it is in our living and working environment or in the clothing we wear. For a kitchen, colour is vital. Be it through paints or stains of the wooden furniture or the cabinetry, colours can revive a space.

Most often, one ends up in predictable types of kitchens. The layout of the work areas usually follows the conventional open, L shape, U shape, corridor or island kitchen types. While these are tried, tested and successful options, one should innovate and explore combinations of these types for an effective use of space and to evolve a personalised and interesting kitchen.

Segregating a pantry and breakfast area from the actual cooking area, exploring lighting fixtures as accessories, placing planters, integrating a music system in the kitchen; these are some "out of the ordinary ways" of setting up a kitchen. However, maintaining the work triangle is important for ease of work.

Innovation will surely add interest and more importantly personalise it making the use of the kitchen more delightful. However, the path to remain innovative yet generic could also be tried if one anticipates renting the space in the future.

In either case, the exclusiveness and identity of the kitchen is established.

Certain parameters have to be contemplated upon for any kitchen design. Ease of maintenance, quality and durability of material and hardware used, ease of operation and most importantly ergonomics are principal factors. All these have set standards but it is advisable to determine them based on one's requirement especially the height of the countertops and overhead cabinetry.

Maintenance of different areas of the kitchen, especially the worktops and the underneath surface of the cabinets are critical. The worktops are the most used surface in a kitchen and the choice of the material for this has to be carefully evaluated. Stone tops like granite are the conventional ones. While they do not require a lot of maintenance, they can be aesthetically limited in terms of colour and pattern. The stone tops which are porous can become cold surfaces.

Acrylic solid surface countertops are a competitive option. Composed of nature's minerals and acrylic polymers, this nonporous solid surface can be fabricated and installed with invisible seams.

The choice of colours and patterns are plenty and can be customised as well. Fixture choices determine the durability in kitchen apart from the worktop. The hardware used, especially of the cabinetry, hinges of shutters and drawer pulls, are the most taken for granted elements in a kitchen.

These need attention and their detailing holds the key to the kitchen's longevity. The search for exclusivity and identity reigns in every section of the building industry. Base your kitchen renovation on personal choices than on market forces, making the smart picks to give your kitchen the right ambience it needs.

By Louise Harman

Your kitchen layout and design depends a lot on your work triangle. The kitchenette is one of the most important rooms in your house therefore before you consider a particular design for the work triangle it is very essential for you think about your lifestyle, floor plan, shape, size decoration and budget. A kitchen floor plan would surely help you to decide about the storage space, lightening, ventilation and the placement of different appliances.

The floor plan should be suitable enough to eliminate excess household traffic from your kitchen. So, now let us discuss about some floor plans that are gaining popularity these days.

1. U-shape layout
Such kind of a layout usually has three walls and the cleaning area is located in between. It is one of the most versatile layouts because it gives you sufficient cooking area, storage and work space. With such a design you can also include large windows, various cabinets and efficient lightening system.

2. L-shape design
L-shape layout is one of the most widely used designs and it is perfect for small as well as large kitchens. In such a design the sink is usually located in the middle while the storage area and the cooking area are located at each end of the cleaning area. If you have a sufficiently large kitchenette then you can also include an island is between the L-shape layout.

3. G-Shape layout
The G-Shape design closely resembles the U-shape design because it also provides you the same amount of cooking, cleaning and storage space. This design eliminates household traffic and can easily accommodate two cooks at the same time.

4. Double L-Shape design
One benefit of this kitchen is that it provides you a large counter space and a good cabinet area. This design is ideal for kitchens that are large and spacious. If you want you can also include a dining table in your kitchenette. The double L-shape design provides you two separate counters where two people can work.

5. Galley shape layout
This design is more suitable for small apartments and studios. This layout is also known as the corridor design. In such a layout the appliances can be stored on the opposite walls that provide a better work space.

6. Straight layout
The single wall design is ideal for small kitchens that do not have the required work space. If you want to add more work space then you can include additional space by adding various cabinets and wall pantry pull-out.

While planning out your room you must surely keep in mind the size and space of your kitchen.

By Kristie Brown

When it's time to replace your kitchen cabinets, or if you're choosing cabinetry for new construction, it's going to be a difficult task, because so many beautiful and original designs are available. You have choices of styles, woods, and finishes, and every choice you make is going to make a different statement in your kitchen. This article is being written in order to give you some ideas of what is out there, what is popular, and the different looks you can achieve.

Cabinets can be configured any way you like to include different components. No matter whether you want a sleek, modern kitchen or a cozy, country feel, you can get cabinet designs that will enhance the décor while giving you all the functionality you need. In addition to basic cupboards, you can get modules that contain pantries, dish racks, glass fronts, wine racks, a matching stove hood, and other unique pieces that will give your kitchen a unique flair while adding to its usability.

Kitchen cabinets are available made of numerous different woods. Most have hardwood fronts with plywood interiors for economy. Beware of those made with particleboard interiors, because particleboard is notorious for absorbing the water from the kitchen environment and then buckling and cracking. You may want to choose the wood for your kitchen cupboards to match the rest of the woodwork in your home. That is the traditional way to select kitchen design. However, in a modern kitchen, anything you like goes. If you want different cabinet components made of several types of woods or in varying colors, go for it!

There is a wide selection of finishes that can be used for kitchen cabinetry. Even new homeowners these days are electing to have painted cabinets in various earthy shades. Just as the days of utilitarian, white metal cabinets gave way to the wooden designs of the past few decades, modern design is changing to reflect the personalities of those designing them. While you can still get wooden cabinets finished to allow the wood grain to come through wish varnishes and lacquers, you can also find an array of cabinets with thermo foil and other manufactured finishes.

Having mismatched cabinets, both in design and color, is one of the latest trends. Exotic woods, such as knotty chestnut and Canadian red birch are becoming more popular, and people are choosing cabinets with both horizontal and vertical graining to give their kitchens a unique look. In addition, many people are selecting cabinets in the European style which stand on legs and are made to resemble fine furniture. No longer are kitchens just basic rooms. Now they reflect the style and taste of the designer more than they've ever done in the past.

By Ken Johnstone

Why is it so important to get things right when engaging in kitchen design planning for a new home, or a remodeling project for an existing kitchen? It is true now, more than ever, that our kitchens have become the hub of the home. Keep reading for some useful tips to help you make good decisions as you start to plan a new design for this all-important room.

In times past, kitchens were more likely to be considered a place for cooking and food storage, but not much else. Today many of us expect our kitchens to serve multiple purposes, from food preparation and storage, homework station to family meeting place, and a central gathering room to share great food and fun together. In fact, when guests enter a home, one of their first destinations is often the kitchen!

Triangle Design Principle
From a purely functional view point, the main role of the kitchen is for meal preparation. Most kitchen design planning experts recommend stationing the sink, stove, and refrigerator in a triangular shape, not too far apart from each other, in order to facilitate ease of movement between the three most frequently accessed areas. Having to go around a corner, or through a corridor, to get to the fridge while cooking is not going to make life easy for cook or family. It would just create unnecessary stress!

Sufficient Work top Space?
Another important aspect of design planning for meal preparation is providing sufficient available workspace. Most cooks want at least one relatively large, completely clear, area from which to prepare their meals. Some prefer to have two smaller areas. It's also a good idea to include generous counter space next to the sink in order to make room for all those dishes that are sure to pile up. Although, having a dishwasher nearby should reduce the need for this counter top space.

More Than Just a Floor Plan...
In addition to food preparation, be sure to take into account food serving areas as well. Islands and "peninsulas" are popular choices for this purpose. Most islands or peninsula counter tops have a space for stools underneath one side, making for a convenient eat-in area. Some kids also like to do their homework in the kitchen after school, and these stools are also the perfect areas for this. Traditionally, some people would use a "butler's pantry" to stage meals, or as a serving area. However, in contemporary homes most people prefer to bring this activity front and center in the kitchen.

Lifestyle Matters...
Outside of the basic functional requirements, during kitchen design planning you also need to take into consideration the size and lifestyle of the family the kitchen is being designed for. Obviously, a larger family, or a couple who likes to entertain frequently, are going to require more storage space than a couple or single person would.

We haven't even started on style and decor considerations which of course are also essential elements to be included in your kitchen design planning phase.

By Bob Fischer

Taking a page from clothing fashions, kitchen designs come and go with the passing of time. What was once trendy and avant-garde can just as quickly become yesterday's news; or worse, fashion faux pas. While there are many kitchen design ideas and styles that have surfaced over the years, several have remained as popular themes that have a strong influence in the aesthetic of the entire home. There are several basic themes, each with their corresponding styles. Below are the major ones:

Traditional: Embodies the archaic and refined look of classical European architecture and design. Heavily influenced by the Greco-Roman classical period, kitchens possessing a traditional theme benefit from the formal lines these styles bring.

Transitional: This theme fuses the crispness of traditional themes without the complexities and intricacies, and in doing so, bring together the new and the old into functional styles.

Rustic: Kitchens that feature the rustic style harness and harmonize the organic elements of nature into a theme that is both earthy and style conscious.

Country: Leveraging the open spaces of the countryside, the country theme, which includes, among many others, the French Country style, can be found in both suburban and rural areas. This theme features the application of bold colors, particularly in cabinets, pantries and kitchen furniture.

Modern: Born out of the simplistic modernist movement of 20th Century Germany, and fueled by the Bauhaus movement, modern themes have made a big impact on the American kitchen. Simple lines and precise symmetry are key traits of this popular theme.

Post Modern: This theme resists the strict reliance on precise geometry of the modern theme and breaks any rule it sees fit in delivering skewed yet functional art.

When searching for the latest kitchen ideas, the Internet can be an excellent resource. There are multitudes of kitchen-oriented websites that can be found simply by performing searches on popular search engines, such as Google, Yahoo or MSN. Some of these sites feature a kitchen photo gallery where you may peruse the latest kitchen design pictures. If you seek inspiration for a kitchen remodel, there are also kitchen plans that you may access on some of these sites. Such plans are instrumental in the early stages of those types of projects, and the more information you can obtain before commencing the better. Finally, kitchen showrooms and home centers are also helpful in this process as many of them have charts and kits especially designed for kitchen remodels.

By Jo Alelsto

Kitchens are probably one of the important places in the home. This is where you store your utensils, food items, as well as prepare the food. Generally, homemakers spend considerable time in this part of the home; therefore it helps to pay significant attention to building a safe, clean and sturdy place for your cooking and food preparation chores. The choice of kitchen flooring is also vital, because the wrong choice could mean a lot of stuff. A slippery floor tile pattern may lead to possibly more slips and falls, making the work area unsafe.

Currently, there are a wide array of kitchen floor tiles and patterns that are available in stores. Homeowners could choose from linoleum, vinyl, laminate, hardwood and other stone tile variants. Those still unsure of which to buy need to determine the type of flooring which would be compatible with the environment you live in. According to home design experts, one major aspect to consider in choosing the preferred kitchen floor tile is to get one that is able to resist spills, especially if you have kids at home. In addition, you need to consider buying the floor tiles that are comfortable to your feet, and match the appropriate colors of your home. The type of floor tile color should also be an interesting topic. Buyers need to select the floor tile colors which help to complement the kitchen and your home as well. Some would prefer choosing light and neutral tones, which some say would be best in creating an impression of light and space in the room. Other design experts would also contend that it would be better to utilize stronger colors in smaller kitchens only, and not in kitchens with bigger spaces.

Beauty & Durability: The aspects of beauty and durability also need to be given adequate consideration when selecting the appropriate floor tiles. The appropriate tiling material should be something that helps in properly accentuating your kitchen's existing appliances, counters and cabinets. You also should choose the ones which meet your planned budget and lifestyle as well. Spend some time researching, whether by going online or by hopping from one store to the other, and getting advice from experts on kitchen remodeling as well as from professional contractors. For those who wish to find durable, but quite affordable floor tile materials, you may check out vinyl or ceramic tiles. Design experts note that vinyl is affordable and durable, and has different patterns and designs offered. Vinyl also has many color patterns and textures, which makes it a popular tiling material in many homes today.

For more unique, and off-beat patterns, the use of laminate flooring for the pantry or cooking area should also be a truly unique choice. Lamination is done by laminating photos of stone, wood grain, or other surfaces on the flooring material, and many see this as a unique, unconventional way of making their kitchens look unique and appealing. The use of bamboo tiles is also fast rising, because of the spiraling cost of hardwood, as well as for the need to make kitchens environment-friendly areas as possible. Bamboo is of course, a truly beautiful and renewable resource, and should help to make this part of the home look as unique and fashionable as possible.

Finally, home design experts agree that the best method of choosing which floor tiles are appropriate for kitchens, would be to browse through home design catalogs and brochures and familiarize yourself with different designs and patterns, as well as finding out how much each pattern costs. However, it would all depend on your personal preferences and desires. In the end, you should ensure that the tiles you buy are able to withstand spills, scratches, soil and other elements, so that it would be able to last for years, and stay as beautiful as ever.

By David Freitas Ely

You no longer have to wait for the architect to show up to discuss your kitchen remodeling ideas. Simply log on to the Internet and there are numerous experts waiting to advice and help you.

Websites are dedicated to kitchen refacing ideas with amazing and varied photographs and there are floor plans, tile patterns, kitchen remodeling design ideas and kitchen design computer program available for you to pick and choose from. Before you decide on kitchen remodeling first and foremost decide on your cash limit and start through all options available for this project.

Then browse through a catalog of kitchen design before short listing some of them. There are various designs and special features for this subject on the net. If you go on line you may see many websites dedicated to kitchen remodeling and you can find precisely what you looking for.

They offer many tips and suggestions for storage solutions and pantry. All you need to do is be a little creative and use the space available to the optimum. For example if you don't have much money to buy new cabinets or cupboards just change the kitchen cabinet doors or do refacing for the cabinet doors. This will improve the look of your kitchen as well as save money for you. Kitchen refacing tips are given by experts in this field on line all the time.

When you buy an old house and redecorate it you have to breathe life into an otherwise dull place. At the time you remodeling the kitchen it can change into the most pleasurable place in your house. Kitchen refacing takes less time and is cost efficient. You can change them on a weekend itself. Kitchen remodeling ideas include changing the oven as well as tiles and curtains. Flooring is another influential aspect of kitchen remodeling.

Kitchen remodeling may also be aimed at meeting your objective. May be you wish to accommodate more space as there is not enough space for cooks to walk around. In that case you can avoid cluttering the place. Less furniture will give you optimum space to move around. Have true expectations from your kitchen remodeling ideas. If you wish to entertain in your kitchen then talk to your friends about it. Having a twin oven fitted on a same wall can save space as well as do your cooking and baking simultaneously.

Kitchen refacing tips are available on line and show your contractor the design of your dream. Make a deadline fixed with your contractor. This will make a obligation out of your contractor and your work will also be done without any hindrance.

So go and get the kitchen of your dreams and be a proud owner of it.

By James Mahoney

From so many sources we have been hit by all the latest in trends for the kitchen. On one thing do most kitchen design professionals agree: kitchens will continue to be larger, more open, and definitely the most important room in the home. The custom kitchen of today should create a space that is open for people to gather.

The perfect custom kitchen design can be suited to your every dream and needs of you and your family, and also to be able to fit the boundaries of your budget.

Below are 5 custom kitchen trends to be aware of when your are planning for your custom kitchen remodeling project.

1. Hardwood Mouldings to Create a Custom Look

Adding hardwood mouldings to kitchen cabinets can provide a richness not found in other features. Mouldings are available in oak, cherry, and maple. They can provide your cabinets with such details as fluted columns, valances, cornices, galley rails and open shelves. These can help to combine function and beauty to your kitchen. Mouldings can also provide a custom look to stock cabinets. Examples of the uses of mouldings on cabinetry include: installation around corners and along the face of cabinetry to minimize the square look of cabinet, using in soffit areas, and installing on top of cabinets to add a crown moulding.

2. Solid Hardwood Flooring in the Kitchen

Solid hardwood flooring makes a great choice for the kitchen because not only is it beautiful, it has practical features as well. It is thicker than other flooring materials which makes it good for insulation, and sound proofing. It will last of many years because it can be refinished many times.
If you just want to change the look and color of your hardwood floor, you can just sand it. You never need to replace the entire flooring.

3. Free-Standing and Unfitted Cabinets

The trend toward free-standing cabinetry from the desire to get away from the cookie cutter look by creating cabinets that look more like furniture, including such features as molding, feet, and valances. This type of custom cabinetry is available in both traditional and contemporary styles. Unfitted custom kitchens are those that are classically designed pieces used to conceal full-size appliances such as ovens, stoves, dishwashers and refrigerators. Custom kitchens with the unfitted look can also create more room for windows, columns, displays, and any other design element that can give a kitchen more character.

4. The Custom Look in Countertops

In designing a custom kitchen it is becoming easier to create the look of custom countertops because of the availability of so many materials being used today. Many of these materials can be mixed, like using concrete embedded with bits of glass and metal. While stone materials, such as soapstone and marble are still highly prized by homeowners, stainless steel, sealed concrete, and engineered quartz are being used in more low-use areas of the kitchen.

Other trends in custom countertops include: solid surface materials and granite look-a-likes that are easily repairable, and are available in many colors. Also popular is the use of ceramic tile, particularly on backsplashes. Other materials that are part of this trend is stainless steel, and butcher block in certain specific areas

5. More Sophisticated Appliances

Kitchen appliances are becoming more and more sophisticated and allowing for greater customization, personalizing, and convenience. This has helped make the kitchen the high-tech center of the home.

The following appliance reflect the changes that are being introduced in kitchen appliances today:

Duel-fuel ranges: The debate over whether to use gas or electric for cooking is an old one. Some manufacturers of stoves offer ranges that are professional-quality, and can feature both the power of a gas cooktop with an electric one.

Refrigerators: Refrigerators today offer such features as: multi-zone temperature control. They are offered in both free-standing units and integrated versions that do not look like a refrigerator, but can be concealed by the use of cabinet fronts into the surrounding cabinetry. Some counter-height refrigerators are even being used in kitchen islands or butlers pantries.

Designer Dishwashers: As with some refrigerators, the dishwasher is offered in the integrated version that can be concealed by cabinet fronts that can wash and store away dishes.

By Sue E Krippner

It's time to update your loved but tired kitchen. Traditionally, the next step is to hire a professional and spend a huge amount of money for their services.

True, they will help you each step of the way to decide on cabinet color, grade and design. They will offer several design options in respect to reconfigurations of the kitchen's traffic patterns, appliances and island placements.

Most professionals will do a fantastic job designing your new kitchen but, expect to pay hundreds to thousands of dollars during this planning phase before starting on your kitchen remodel project.

You do have another opiton - kitchen design software! Believe it or not most remodelers rely on some level of kitchen design software to assist them with client's projects.

Did you know you can take advantage of this very same type software giving you the power to create your own custom kitchen design?

You don't need a Design degree or an extensive knowledge of what is available in kitchen remodeling options. Every choice has already been preloaded into the program.

Here's how it works:

Step 1) Start by creating a sketch of the room, by drawing the basic floor plan, with accurate measurements. Make of a note of the placement of windows and doors, where they are now and where you want them to be.

Step 2) Enter those measurements into the kitchen design software program as instructed, this provides the basic room space to view on screen.

Step 3) Now it's time to begin introducing different design ideas. You will have more design and style options than you will ever need, all with 3 Dimentional features.

With easy point and click manipulations you can add cabinets, counter tops, wall paint colors, flooring and anything else you desire as you create your custom 3 D kitchen.

You will be able to change the stains on the cabinets. See how the appliances work in the room with your color scheme. Find the best position for your new kitchen island. Oh, and let's not forget the backsplash, top trims, crown moulding, and lighting options.

Yes, it's that simple!

By starting your project with kitchen design software you can make "mistakes" without any financial consequence. You have the luxury of pasting and erasing any crazy combination or out of the box design ideas. You can add a pantry or serving bar and designer sinks in any style you want.

You never know, what you may think is radical today may be your perfectly redesigned kitchen tomorrow!

The point is, you can have a lot of fun with this software. And, just as importantly, it is a money saving tool that will give you the confidence in knowing where you are going with your kitchen redesign project.

Once you've got the design worked out, click the blue print or 3D layout option and send it directly to your printer for easy reference.

Discuss your plan with a contractor or save even more money by doing it yourself.

By Chris Smitts

Whether you are going to give your kitchen a complete overhaul or you have chosen to do just a few updates, you'll find that with the right choices, you can get a return rate on your investment of approximately eighty to one-hundred percent. In layman's terms, this means your home should increase in value by just about the amount you put into it. The key, however, is to make the right choices in your kitchen design ideas.

One of the main aspects of your kitchen that needs to be considered is the layout. The cooking zone is often overlooked when it should be your top priority. Generally, you will want to center everything around your stove and the cook top. Along with your microwave oven, any other major tools, such as toaster oven, should be close by, as well.

When designing your kitchen, make certain you also consider where your spice drawer will be kept, as well as the drawers where you plan to keep your pots and pans. These items will all need to be kept close to your cooking zone. If not, you'll find yourself wandering all over your kitchen and wasting precious time.

Another aspect of kitchen design ideas to be considered is whether or not you need your kitchen to be kid friendly. If you have young children in your home, you may want to create an area that allows your children easy access to countertop space so that they may assist you and learn from you when cooking. Often, a kitchen island space works well for this and, if your kitchen does not allow for an island, set up a space that is not too close to your cooking zone.

Ask any chef what the most important aspect of their kitchen is and they will most likely tell you it is organization. You will want to implement some great organizational ideas into the design of your kitchen. Also, keep in mind that you do not want to interrupt your work triangle (the imaginary triangle between the stove, refrigerator, and sink) with a lot of foot traffic. In other words, if people are going to be running to the pantry all the time, make sure you put it out of the center area.

For those who are concerned about the environment, you will also find a lot of great ideas that you can implement into your design and help you to conserve energy. Your light design should include lighting controls and you can choose energy efficient appliances, as well. Another great idea is to use recycled cabinets, as well as flooring in your design.

Making sure that your kitchen is easy to clean is also an important factor in your decisions. Choosing countertops made of easy-to-clean materials and a countertop with raised edges to prevent spills are just a few ideas you can utilize in your design. This is especially important when you have young children and your time in the kitchen is limited.

Designing your new, updated kitchen can be a little overwhelming at times, as there are many things to be considered. However, if you do the research and make a list of your needs, you will find the task to be exciting, as well. As there are many kitchen design ideas to choose from, take your time considering each one, before you make your decision.

By T Agee

One of the most important elements in any kitchen redesign is your kitchen cabinets. This one simple part of your kitchen is one of the most important elements, and the way you decide to go with your cabinets will greatly affect the look and feel of your kitchen. You may want to even go so far as consulting a professional. Making the right choice here, perhaps as much as any other, will either make or break your kitchen.

Something that a lot of people are doing these days in their kitchens is choosing cabinets with a unique finish. The finish of your cabinet should flow seamlessly into the overall theme or design of your kitchen. The right finish can greatly enhance what you're attempting to achieve - be it a country look, a sleek, modern look, a traditional woody look, or whatever.

An example of the right kind of look for your overall theme might be a crackled-looking finish for someone hoping to achieve a French country style. Though the look may be old, the cabinets themselves need not be, of course. You should also think about color when thinking about your finish. Though one color may look good in one type of finish, it may not be exactly what you want in another type of finish. The texture of the finish itself may change everything, so be prepared to try out different possibilities. Insisting on what you thought you wanted in the beginning may leave you unhappy in the end.

Another example of a popular trend in finishes is the sleek, modern look. In place of the traditional wood cabinets, some are using a variety of materials to achieve this modern look, including metal and plastic. Those who are interested in ultra-modern, pared-down design often find inspiration in commercial kitchens (those found in restaurants, for example). And not only do they find their inspiration there, they often find their actual appliances and materials in commercial kitchen stores and warehouses. If this is your style, be sure to check out your local restaurant supply store. Even if they don't have exactly what you want, you're bound to pick up a number of ideas that will suit your modern-loving fancy.

Of course, the finish and look of a cabinet isn't all that's involved in choosing what's right for you. The "practical" aspect of the cabinet's design is equally important. Modern kitchens allow for much more storage than those of kitchens in the past, and modern home-dwellers have come to expect many of these differences as a given.

If you have an older home, you may be able to easily update your kitchen simply by installing some of these more modern amenities into the kitchen. Having a trash can that sits on rollers inside of a large trash bin drawer is an example of what we've come to expect in a modern kitchen. An older kitchen, of course, would not have such an amenity.

In general, like the trash can, the modern kitchen is built to put storage away from public view. But there is also a nice mix of old and new that many people are turning to - a design where some storage items are purposely exposed. A colorful, neatly arranged pantry that is exposed to the kitchen can make for an interesting design element. However, it should go without saying that if you choose this type of cabinetry you should make sure that you're someone who's willing to keep your stored items neat and tidy. If not, instead of an added design element, you end up with an eyesore.

By James Mahoney

Custom kitchen design requires development of many details in several areas to be able to create the plans for your custom kitchen. Being able to create a custom kitchen design can be a very challenging task. It is important to satisfy the needs for style of the kitchen, as well as cooking, dining, socializing and your budget. This can be a very tall order when it comes to being able to design a beautiful kitchen where many hours are spent creating delicious meals, that can combine aesthetic beauty and function, and that will inspire compliments and serve as the focal point of your home.

Renovating a kitchen usually starts with a design for convenience, organization and functionality.
Many people want to change the look of their kitchen by developing great kitchen decorating ideas and also find ways to create a new feel for their kitchens and provide an atmosphere that they can be comfortable in and create a kitchen in an efficient and organized way.

As to where to begin, well you might want to start be browsing and saving ideas you may come across in magazines, online sources, the library and other resources. After you have put together enough design ideas you can start to plan your custom kitchen design. Good kitchen design depends on knowing about the latest trends in kitchen design.

There are many things to consider when you are planning your custom kitchen design. Among them are the areas of the kitchen to be used for storage. These areas include the pantry, cabinets, drawers, shelving, and pot racks and rails.

Kitchen Countertop Materials

Other areas to look at include kitchen countertop materials. Should you use marble or granite? These are the most expensive materials for kitchen countertops, although it is the most attractive. Other countertop materials are Corian, which is more affordable than marble and granite, and has a seamless design that look clean. Stock laminates make up the most affordable kitchen countertop material, although it is not seamless and the seams can catch dirt. Ceramic tile is best if it is used on the walls between the countertops and cabinets - the backsplash area. This is a better place for the use of ceramic tile because it will not get as dirty, particularly the grout area.

Kitchen Lighting Design

The right kitchen lighting design is important in that the kitchen serves as the hub of the home and provides a good place for family gatherings as well as a place to cook and prepare meals. There are many different light sources that can be used in most kitchens. These include pendant lighting, track lighting and recessed lighting as well as ceiling elements with dimming controls that can be arranged.

Task lighting is available in many different shapes and colors and they have a lot of flexibility. You can place separate lighting over the stove, sink, island and other work surfaces

Under the cabinet lighting should be considered in the kitchen as well. Use them to illuminate countertops.

Kitchen Appliances

Remodeling your kitchen provides a good time to evaluate your old kitchen appliances. You can consider new appliances that include professional grade.

New Electrical Outlets

Consider adding more electrical outlets just in case you might need them in the future. This should include adding outlets to a kitchen island.

Kitchen Flooring Choices

Ceramic tile is both durable and attractive, but make sure the grout is sealed well so spills and traffic don't ruin the clean look. Hardwood flooring can really express your style, but require some maintenance. Laminate wood flooring is a less expensive than hardwood flooring, and it can provide both looks and durability. Vinyl is the most affordable choice in kitchen flooring, is easy to maintain and is available in hundreds of patterns, styles and colors

Now is the time to begin to plan your custom kitchen. You should immediately establish a budget before you actually have the plans drawn. Without having done this kind of planning, you may have some unexpected and unwanted surprises in creating your new kitchen design. Your goal during the budget process is to spend your money on what is important to you and that is how the perfect custom kitchen is created.

You will find that there are all kinds of help available to you. For instance there are also many types of kitchen design software programs that are being used by kitchen professionals that you can also use to help you with developing your custom kitchen design.

By James Mahoney

Today's modern kitchen serves as a family hub of household activity and entertaining. They are now well lit, open places. The kitchen's size and design should address your family's lifestyle and how your kitchen is used for cooking, eating and entertaining. Since the kitchen is called on to fill more roles than any other room in the house they have had to increase in size as well. Today's kitchen design challenge is in creating an open-faced kitchen - one that's part of a dining area, family room or so-called great room.

Both the function and style of the modern kitchen play important roles when tackling a kitchen design or renovation project.
If you're remodeling an existing kitchen or planning a kitchen addition or a new home, here is some current kitchen design trends to keep in mind.

One of the more recent trends in modern kitchen design ideas is to make the kitchen part of a 'great room', that is to combine the kitchen with an adjacent family room. To create the great room the wall separating the kitchen and family room or dining room is completely removed creating a more open space centered by a spacious kitchen island or peninsula.

There are some definite advantages to expanding the kitchen. You can open up the space and in so doing you make both the kitchen and the other room look and feel more specious. Also since kitchen cabinetry, countertops and appliances are beautiful pieces of furniture in their own right you can now show off your new kitchen. Your remodeling costs won't really increase all that much by opening up the kitchen other than the cost of extra cabinetry. Anyway the added cost that would be put into this type of kitchen design would be more that offset by the increase in the value of your home.

Furniture-style cabinetry will continue to be a popular trend in kitchen design at least according to the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). These furniture-style cabinets are considered to be especially popular in the development of kitchen islands. Features that give cabinets a furniture-like appearance are legs or bun feet, corbals onlays and mouldings. Cabinet doors are made with solid hardwoods, the most popular being maple and cherry. As for finishes light and medium finishes continue to be popular, although kitchen designers and trendwatchers also see a growing interest in deep, rich browns as influenced by the furniture industry to some extent and to create a more formal look for the kitchen.

Cabinet manufacturers and kitchen designers are starting to design more individual and freestanding pieces of furniture instead of the usual built-in cabinetry for expanded 'great room' kitchens. This is known as the 'unfited' kitchen design first popularized by English designers and cabinetmakers. This also leads to another trend of incorporating features from heirloom quality furniture such as glazed, distressed and antique finishes.

Undermounted sinks in both cast iron and stainless steel are among recent changes in kitchen design because homeowners like the clean smooth look which blends with modern designs. The advantages of an undermounted sink are that it is functional, beautiful and very easy to install. The bowl is attached underneath a countertop. No sink rim shows above the countertop and there is no lip to collect water and catches dirt and crumbs. Instead debris is easily swept into the sink so that the counter can be cleaned faster.

Other recent trends in modern kitchen design include:

Countertops: Natural stone remains most popular countertop material with the most popular being granite. Limestone is another popular choice. Mixing different materials is becoming more common, using stone on some counters, butcher block or concrete on others.

Appliances: Commercial quality appliances are becoming popular particularly ranges, as are built in refrigerators and European style dishwashers. Warming drawers and convection microwave ovens that can be used as a second oven are also popular.

Putting pots and pans into drawers. With heavy-duty drawer glides one can put large, heavy pots in drawers instead of cupboards now.

Cabinet door thickness is likely to be 1 inch instead of 3/4 inch since this size is more considered as being of higher quality.

Glazed, distressed and antique finishes are being used more and more to replace traditional ornate details once used on many high-end cabinets.

Painted finishes now include colors as cranberry, white, off-white and oyster.

According to kitchen designers as today's kitchen expands in size and complexity, "mixed orders" are becoming more commonplace. Kitchen islands, wet bars, baking centers and butler's pantries are being incorporated into more and more kitchen designs creating the need for more contrasts-in cabinet styles, colors, types of wood and finishes.

By James Mahoney

If you have a small kitchen to design then the problem of designing a great kitchen boils down to just what you can fit and where. There are many different cabinet designs and surface patterns that can help you provide your small kitchen design with a sense of space.

To create the small but efficient kitchen design, you need to work on three major areas of small kitchen design: storage, lighting, and appliances.

Small kitchens may seem to be a very difficult design challenge, but they can also be functional, beautiful and efficient. Even with a small budget and building restrictions, you can find that there are many options open to you to transform your kitchen into something more ideal for your needs.

To create a more spacious look for your small kitchen design the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) recommends designing more unique storage solutions, mixing natural and ambient lighting, taking advantage of more space saving appliances, and adding personalized touches.

A small kitchen design requires creativity in coming up with storage solutions. Some ideas to try include:

· Putting an island in the center of the kitchen that can provide freestanding storage that is also convenient from any spot in the kitchen.

· Using a galley kitchen design in which the cabinets and appliances line up on either side of a corridor can work out very well for a small kitchen space.

· Today's appliance manufacturers have come up with more compact space-saving appliances make small kitchen design easier, such as refrigerators that are 24 inches deep instead of 30 inches deep, as well as appliances that can be hung underneath cabinets like microwaves.

· Other small kitchen design tricks to create an eating area in the kitchen include using a drop table or a small sized round table with two small chairs that can be tucked into a corner. Or a built-in counter along the wall with chairs to provide an eating nook.

· Another interesting challenge in small kitchen design is creating an illusion of space with under cabinet lighting or under the counter. With the proper type of lighting the kitchen can be made to appear larger and more pleasing.

· The use of light colored cabinets with glass doors.

· Installing deeper counters that can accommodate more appliances and increase work space.

· Flooring tiles can be placed on a diagonal, and in a galley style kitchen hardwood flooring can be run the length of the kitchen.

· For storage you can hang up pots and pans. This is a perfect way to free up cabinet space, and they add a certain charm and character to your small kitchen design. The insides of cabinet doors can be used to hang up everything from utensils, oven mitts, and other miscellaneous items. Pantry storage with units that go all the way to the ceiling with the upper cabinets to provide more space for seldom used items while making the lower cabinets more accessible with rollout shelves, lazy susans, and tilt-out bins.

· Install a large kitchen sink, since larger sinks are considered to be more practical than small sinks when it comes to cleaning pots and pans.

Remember most kitchens are small. When you look in kitchen design magazines you naturally notice that the kitchens featured are large and so you might think your small kitchen in inadequate. But good small kitchen design means being able to create space and incorporating ample storage facilities and being able to fit in all the necessary appliances.

By Hywel A Merrett

Let's get right to it and discover what we need to think about in terms of kitchen layout and what you should consider before moving a hob or sink...

Planning - Section 1

Existing kitchen layout

o How old is your house? If it's relatively new I would recommend staying with the same basic layout - certainly location of sink, oven and hob. A qualified architect will already have designed the room with the best (and safest) use of space in mind. (You don't have to change things just for the sake of it - new units and worktops will transform it anyway).

Existing room features to be worked around

o Modern houses normally have rectangular shaped rooms with few physical features to hinder your design. However if your bathroom is directly above the kitchen then there might be a pipe-box in one of the corners or a sloping section of ceiling if the staircase is in that part of the house. (Remember this when planning wall or larder units).

o In older properties you may have to contend with a chimney breast or an old pantry that might need to be worked-around or removed before the new kitchen will fit. (Now that we have modern refrigerators, many people do away with pantries in favour of a larger kitchen).

Existing equipment features to be worked around

o The usual culprit here is the central heating boiler. Older style, large, floor-mounted boilers are obtrusive and inefficient compared to modern equivalents. Consider renewing and/or relocating it if it's getting in the way and your budget allows.

o Likewise if the kitchen has a heating radiator installed, it may make sense to relocate this or change it for a narrower towel rail type if it's spoiling your plan. This would be straightforward if you have access under the floor, but if the pipes are buried under concrete it's not going to be so easy

Is room being enlarged or changed shape?

o If you're enlarging the kitchen with an extension, or knocking a wall through to a dining room maybe, then your options are greater. But if you do think of moving the sink etc, remember that water, gas and electricity supplies may have to be moved too and this can get expensive.
(Despite what a kitchen salesman might tell you, you don't have to fill it all with units just because you have extra room available - sometimes a room can look too 'busy' with no open wall space).

Tip: We've done a few kitchen/dining room knock-throughs now and created some pretty spectacular rooms - BUT if the wall is a 'supporting wall', then you must get a Building Warrant so I would highly recommend seeking specialist advice (having your upstairs rooms downstairs is not good)

How many people live in the house, how many will use the kitchen, what ages are they - do you have a young family?

o Who is in the house, their ages and their ability to reach cupboards (young or old) should be on your mind here. Are you single, a couple, a family with young children or teenagers? Or maybe looking after an elderly parent? Kitchens are often multi-functional for most families ranging in use from food preparation to hobby and homework areas.

Tip: we rarely specify extra tall wall units (900mm) anymore as they're just too high for most people to reach without steps - as a result the top shelves become a home for clutter and things you'll never use. Also, the smaller gap between ceiling and the top of the unit tends to make the room look smaller and darker.

o Think whether you want a breakfast-bar area to sit at for snacks, coffees and reading the paper, or maybe you need space for a proper table and chairs. Of course, a lot depends on the size of the room and this will largely dictate how you use it and what you put in it.

o Also give thought to who's cooking in it and what their cooking style is - are you the next Gordon Ramsay or more of a microwave-meal cook? This will also reflect in your choice of oven & hob, sink & tap and fridge freezer - basically all your food preparation and cooking equipment.

Existing location of sink, oven & hob

o Think twice before moving any of these items. If your plan shows them any more than about a metre away from their existing location then the plumbing and electrical work might take a larger part of your budget than you thought. Having said that, in some situations it makes sense to do so if these items were in a poor position anyway.

Also moving the sink, oven or hob to an 'island' location in the middle of the room can look amazing and become a focal point of the whole room (and house!). Just be aware of the practicalities of moving the services (the type of floor is your biggest consideration here - wood: easy, concrete: not!)

By Marci McFarland

The latest look in kitchens is spacious, pristine, neutral clear cut lines and totally clutter-free. This was the look that carried off the 2008 Regional Chrysalis Award for The Best Kitchen Remodel. It is indicative of the look favored by Arclinea who worked on the design with architects Ruhl Walker.

Supreme care has been taken with every detail in this kitchen, with a silent stainless and glass hood fan ensuring total peace. The most functional parts of the kitchen are enclosed behind large streamlined closet doors, which blend in so well with the room that they almost appear to be another wall.

Simplicity would appear to be the hallmark of this company. In one of the designs favored by them, much of the functional clutter (i.e. the dishwasher, all the smaller kitchen appliances and the food storage areas) are enclosed behind huge tall closet doors.

However, there is no cramped feeling inside, there is space for pantry storage and room to maneuver trolleys on wheels etc. With most of the working of the kitchen kept here, the need for clutter is gone. In the kitchen proper, a large deep kitchen sink and stainless steel stove complement the palest of silver gray granite work surfaces.

With walls, doors and paintwork in white, neutrals and stainless steel, one almost gets the feel of an office rather than a kitchen. In this respect the designer does give a whole different feel to a 'kitchen'. Even the handles of drawers and cabinets are shaped and concealed rather than being displayed as a drawer knob or door handle.

Many of the drawer units are designed along the lines of a 'filing cabinet' look, adding to the efficient atmosphere of the kitchen. The seamless look of the kitchen integrates perfectly with a modern floating fireplace.

In one design a large floating pantry, touching neither floor nor ceiling houses a special fridge and dishwasher just for the children and joins into the breakfast room.

Great attention has been paid to detail, with features such as non-drip edges molded into the stainless steel ledges. Each cupboard and drawer interior is a gasp of amazement as innovative ideas rush at you. One cutlery drawer has a wooden butchers block inside with vertical slats to house each knife.

If you want to look at your kitchen and see only pristine spaces instead of work-related items 'decorating' the surfaces, perhaps you should think of remodeling along these lines.

By Lisa A Mason

Organization is the key to designing the perfect pantry. It maximizes storage capacity and increases your efficiency in the kitchen. It also allows you to take advantage of good sales to ease your budget.

You should be able to see everything you have stored at a glance, when you plan it out carefully.

One wall should hold shallow shelves from top to bottom. This should be for spices and canned goods.

Keep vegetables, fruits, soups, tuna fish, etc. all in those shallow shelves. Your deeper shelving should be used for packaged goods, cold cereals, pasta, rice, jarred tall items like condiments, jellies, bottled sauces, syrups, juices, coffee, tea canisters and other beverages.

If you do a lot of baking, those things should have their own wall of shelves. A good way to set them up is with deep shelves, but shallow ones above them. That allows you to store large bags of flour, sugar, big boxes of cake mix, corn meal, etc., on the deep shelves, and put things like baking powder, soda, flavorings, cocoa, decorating items etc. on the shelf directly above . It's not a bad place to store cookbooks either!

Under the deep shelves you can store baskets, bins, a kitchen stool and such. In a deep corner you can use a lazy suzan for things like salad dressings, seasoning packets, and so on. On the back of your pantry door, hang a hook that you can snap your broom into, for easy access. Another one for your dust pan and you are all set.