Kitchen Remodel Planning Guide

Start With How You Use Your Kitchen

Before you look at a single inspiration photo, document how you use your kitchen today. Where does traffic flow? What do you use constantly and what's in the way? What frustrates you most — lack of storage, poor lighting, bad layout, inadequate counter space? The answers shape every decision that follows.

• How many people cook at the same time?
• Do you need more storage, more counter space, or both?
• Do you want to open the kitchen to adjacent living areas?
• How important is a kitchen island?
• What appliances do you want to upgrade?

Layout Options

The kitchen layout — the arrangement of the work triangle (sink, stove, refrigerator) — has the most impact on livability. Major layout types include:

• Galley — two parallel counter runs, efficient for single-cook kitchens
• L-shape — two perpendicular counters, flexible and common
• U-shape — three walls of cabinetry, maximum storage and counter space
• Island — adds a central work surface, storage, and often seating
• Open plan — removes the wall between kitchen and dining/living, most popular for new builds and major remodels

Cabinet Selection

Cabinetry is typically 30–40% of a kitchen remodel budget. The three tiers:

• Stock cabinets — standard sizes, limited finishes, fastest delivery, lowest cost
• Semi-custom cabinets — more finish and configuration options, 4–6 week lead time, mid-range cost
• Custom cabinets — built to exact dimensions, any finish and style, 8–12 week lead time, highest cost

Countertop Materials

The countertop is the most visible surface in the kitchen. Key options:

• Quartz — most popular today, durable, non-porous, wide range of colors, requires no sealing
• Granite — natural stone, each slab unique, requires annual sealing, excellent durability
• Marble — beautiful but more maintenance-intensive, marks and etches more easily
• Quartzite — natural stone often confused with quartz, very hard and durable
• Laminate — significantly lower cost, improved quality vs. older generations, less durable

Timing Your Remodel

Kitchen remodels move faster when all decisions are made before work begins. Order cabinets early — custom cabinetry can have 8–12 week lead times. Plan for 4–8 weeks of active construction depending on scope. Set up a temporary kitchen (microwave, toaster oven, coffee maker) in another room to get through the project.

Working With Your Contractor

A good contractor is a planning partner, not just an installer. Before signing anything, your contractor should: review your existing space in person, explain what's structurally feasible, provide a detailed written scope and estimate, clarify what decisions need to be made and when, and give you a realistic construction timeline.