Step-by-Step Guide to the Perfect Kitchen

Now comes the time to make some decisions about the layout of the kitchen and how it will function in the house and for the family. Do you think you would like to have a kitchen island for preparation or would you like to be able to entertain on it? Where do the appliances need to go in order to have an effective work area in the kitchen? Once you have made those decisions and your designer and you agree on the function of the kitchen you will have to choose a cabinet style and that can range from very traditional with wood cabinets and scrolled details to a very modern look with high gloss flat panel cabinets. There are stained finishes and painted finishes and it is perfectly acceptable to combine the two in a variety of combinations. This is generally where things slow up as everyone has a different idea of what they would like to see and whether the appliances should be clad in cabinets or be exposed stainless steel. This is also where you will find that you may change the appliances to something smaller to suit the storage you would like to have in the kitchen. When you settle on the design, you can place the order.

Time frame: 1 to 2 weeks design, 6 to 16 weeks for cabinets to be constructed.

Source: Glen Peloso's Step-by-Step Guide to the Perfect Kitchen, Fall 2011 issue of Canadian Home Trends Magazine