How to Remodel a Kitchen Design

Working on a kitchen design.

Many homeowners reach a point where they know that their kitchen has problems. Often these problems include inadequate countertop space, cabinets that open and hit other appliances or doors, poor lighting, not enough floor space for two people to cook together, nowhere to sit and eat, poor window and doorway placement and not enough space. Before you can remodel your kitchen, you often have to remodel the existing kitchen design so that the function, as well as the appearance of the kitchen, will improve the value of the home and meet your needs if you intend to live in the home for an extended period of time. The good news is that by living with a kitchen for some time, these issues become clear and that knowledge goes a long way when you remodel your kitchen design.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• ¼-inch scale graph paper
• Tracing paper
• Mechanical pencil and eraser
• Construction ruler with ¼-inch scale
• Straight edge
• Triangle (plastic)
• ¼-scale template for kitchens
• Color pens

Instructions

1. Measure the existing kitchen, and draw the position of walls, windows, doors, cabinets, appliances, sinks and islands onto the graph paper. One inch equals ¼-inch on the graph paper. Draw adjacent rooms to the kitchen, particularly if walls between rooms will be removed during renovation. Draw exterior space adjacent to the kitchen's outside wall if the kitchen will be extended through an exterior addition. Indicate door swings, steps niches and other architectural elements that impact your new kitchen design. Label the plan well so that all of the elements are easy to recognize.

2. Trace over the existing floor plan, indicating just the walls, windows and doors that will remain on the remodeled kitchen design plan. Establish your new wall plan first, including areas where you are closing off old doorways or windows. Use a red marker to indicate the location of all electrical outlets and switchplates in the remaining walls. Use a green marker to indicate the location of all existing ceiling lights, and carefully label any vaulted ceilings or skylights. Use a blue marker to indicate the location of existing sink and refrigerator plumbing. Use a brown marker to note gas lines for stoves or ovens. This will give you a base plan to work from. When possible use existing utilities to reduce remodeling costs.

3. Trace over the new plan using a second tracing paper. (You may design several new cabinet layouts before developing your final layout.) Use the template to locate cabinets and appliances. Don't be afraid to play with the location of these at this stage. Keep in mind the design problems the remodeled plans are correcting for and redraw new kitchen designs until the best solutions are found.

4. Draw a final design plan on fresh tracing paper, and indicate the location of all walls, windows, doors, islands, cabinets, appliances and utilities. Label clearly. Mark those utilities that will not be moved in the same markers used before. Mark existing walls that will not be moved in black marker. Draw new utilities in pencil. This should clearly reflect the remodeled design plan and the remaining existing spaces so that a contractor and kitchen designer can easily create bids for the job. Because you started with a scale (graph paper) drawing, your finished tracing drawing should also be at ¼-inch scale. Make photocopies to give out for bids and permits.

Tips & Warnings

• Work your plans at ¼-inch scale so that it is easy to resolve finished room sizes using your construction ruler. By staying consistent, you have a better chance of avoiding measuring errors on critical features such as expensive countertops. If you intend to retire in your home, consider upgrading your plans to barrier free and easy access to accommodate reduced mobility in later years.

References

• Kitchen & Bath Ideas

Resources

• Ask Tool Talk