By Jack Gorman, eHow Contributor
So you want to know how to plan a kitchen remodel on paper. When you know what you want, you can design a kitchen remodel on the back of a napkin, or on architectural blueprints. With a pencil, piece of paper and a ruler, you too can plan your kitchen remodel on paper.
Difficulty:- Easy
Instructions & things you'll need: Paper, Ruler, Pencil, Tape measure & Home magazines
1. Read a lot of home magazines. Visit Home Depot Expo center, and any other stores in your area with furniture and home needs. Visit your homes of friends. Figure out exactly what you want out of your kitchen, and keep notes as you go along.
2. Draw a few freehand sketches of your kitchen with a pencil, and try to visualize what you want things to look like and where you want them to go. Do this several times, or even dozens of times until you find an arrangement that feels right.
3. Once you've determined all of this, go out and measure everything; appliances, cabinets, sinks and so on.
4. Measure your kitchen. Establish what you have that can't be moved (bearing walls, windows, doorways).
5. Establish a scale that works for your paper; for instance, one inch equals one foot, then draw out your kitchen to scale. Using your measurements, add in your design, adjusting for any impossibilities based on sizes and dimensions.
6. Once you've established your scale drawing, go out and price everything you want. Invariably, there will be some changes based on prices. Once you've established your budget and made everything work within it, then adjust your drawing one last time based on any possible new dimensions.
7. Start to interview contractors. You will get more ideas from these folks, and, once again, adjust accordingly.
TIPS & WARNING!
Before you even get started, open up your yellow pages and have a series of kitchen designers come to your home (at least five) for an initial consultation, even if you don't plan to use one. What this will give you for no cost (other than your time) is a few off-the-cuff ideas from professionals. You might even find one that you want to hire, and then you won't need to do your own drawings. Kitchen remodels aren't cheap.
