Do You Need to Remodel?
Rating Your Current Kitchen.

Perhaps you are thinking about remodeling your kitchen but you are not quite sure... You are wondering whether you can "make do" with what you have, whether a large remodeling project will be worth it, and more. As most of us know, renovating a home can be complicated, and remodeling a kitchen is no exception. The following is a checklist, provided by the National Kitchen and Bathroom Association, to find out just how functional and stylish your present kitchen is or isn't. This checklist will give you some insight as to the most important components of a new kitchen, and help you determine what you really want and need.

Storage

•  Do your cabinets feature time saving accessories such as roll-out shelves, divided drawers and lazy susans?

•  Do your cabinets have adjustable shelves?

•  Is your cabinet hardware (hinges, slides, pulls) in working order?

•  Do you have enough shelf space?

•  Is all of the available wall and floor space used for organized storage?

•  Is your cabinet finish in good condition?

•  Is your cabinet style classic or up to date?

Countertop

•  Is there enough counter space?

•  Is counter space located where you need it?

•  Is the material easy to clean?

•  Is the countertop undamaged and in good condition?

•  Is the color/pattern up-to-date?

Mechanical Elements

•  Do you have task lighting above the countertop?

•  Are light switches located in convenient places?

•  Do you have enough electrical outlets?

•  Are the pipes free from leaks?

•  Is there a good ventilation system in the cooking area?

Major Surfaces

•  Is the flooring easy to clean?

•  Is the wall covering easy to clean?

Appliances/Fixtures

•  Is your sink in good condition?

•  Is your sink large enough

•  Is your sink conveniently located?

•  Do you have a food waste disposer?

•  Do you have a dishwasher?

•  Do you have a microwave oven and is it conveniently located?

•  Are your refrigerator and freezer large enough?

•  Is your refrigerator conveniently located?

•  Do all of your cooktop burners work?

•  Is your cooking surface easy to clean?

•  Are the oven and cooktop conveniently located?

•  Are all of your appliances a modern color and matching?

Room Orientation

•  Does the kitchen relate to adjacent rooms well?

•  Is the view from your kitchen where you want it to be?

•  Is there a casual dining/conversation area in the room?

•  Is the kitchen arranged so that "traffic" is directed away from the cooking center?

Overall Look

•  Does the room look attractive to family members and guests?

2. Does your kitchen provide enjoyment, comfort and good function?

As you can see, kitchen design requires quite a bit of thought and planning. If you answered NO more than YES you should probably be in the market for a new kitchen! The first step is to begin looking through design magazines and visiting showrooms of qualified and licensed kitchen designers. Have with you a list of what you are looking for and magazine photographs of styles that appeal to you. Spend time with each designer until you determine who you trust to best create your new dream kitchen!