i am a kitchen and bath salesman and work hand in hand with a certified designer also so our company does everything from a-z so if i was you the first thing i would focus on is your work triangle that is the sink to fridge to cooktop and make sure it isnt too spread out then spacing you want plenty of space for people to walk by and plenty of space for the dishwasher and oven to open ...also i put a fridge where ppl can get to it without walking thru your work triangle that way visitors or kids can get a drink and not interfere with cooking a big meal ?...what do you think about that ?...any other questions?...

Welcome. You've come to the right place for support and advice. Just remember that even when it gets rough there is light at the end of the tunnel. So many of us have been exactly where you are and are now enjoying completed kitchens.

A modest 3 bedroom home can really do with a modest kitchen with a classic layout. Don't get too wrapped up in the trends :-)

Good luck, rawlings!

Been living with our total remodel for almost a year. Our favorite things (and we don't have pot fillers & 2nd sinks on islands, just a basic kitchen like you.)

- induction cooktop - DW would give up our firstborn before parting with her cooktop (I know, purist love gas, but this works for us!)

- lots of deep & shallow full extension drawers. We thought roll-out shelves were the greatest until we realized how functional these drawers are.

- French door fridge - DW LOVES it - very little bending

- double convection built-in ovens - NO bending

- convection microwave

You might have guessed, we are both over 55 and built our house 31 years ago. DW was tired of bending over so much!

My main advice would be...don't let someone talk you into something you don't want or like. Everyone wanted to change the location of our dishwasher, but that would have been a disaster. It's YOUR kitchen. Be sure YOU are happy with the layout.

Like palimpsest said, don't get too wrapped up in the trends. ( in fact, we did white cabinets, that are gorgeous, AND white appliances that are a breeze to keep clean. We ALMOST got SS..glad we didn't)

Good luck!

Welcome! There is lots of good advice on this forum.

Welcome!

1. If you have an island in your kitchen, be aware how much space you will need to open the fridge, oven, and dishwasher, and be able to walk behind it.

2. Think about where you want plugs.

3. Go look at lots of model homes and see what you like.

4. Look at lots of pictures in magazines and when you like a picture, ask yourself what you like about it.

5. When thinking about drawer placement and drawer sizes, take inventory at what you have and what sizes you have and decide where you want it--like you would want potholders near the oven, mixing bowls near where you bake, and make those drawers the appropriate size and location.

6. Decide if you want any open shelving or glass front doors.

7. Get all of your samples together that you like--floor, backsplash, countertop, paint, and post pictures here for opinions.

Welcome, Rawlings!

Before you jump in designing your kitchen, take the "Sweeby Test". This will help you define what it is you want from your kitchen. (This test works for the entire house, btw.)

See the link to the "Sweeby Test" in the "Read Me" thread linked below.

You will also find on this thread some of the new thinking about kitchen design...especially designing around and focusing on "work zones" rather than just looking at the "work triangle". As a new kitchen owner, I can say this site was incredibly helpful...from design to painting.

Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Read Me If You're New To GW Kitchens!

Rawlings,

Welcome!! When I first started, I looked at all of the finished kitchens in the Gallery and was totally overwhelmed.

What helped me the most was to actually walk into a few of the big box stores and look at their kitchens, opening and closing drawers and cabinets. That gave me a better idea of what worked for me.

For example, I love the look of little drawers beside the stove and thought I really wanted them. However, once I looked at the actual drawers, I realized they don't hold the things I want beside my stove, so I eliminated them from my plan.

I did the same with appliances, opening and closing the doors and drawers, looking at how easy or hard it is to move a shelf, measuring for the size of things I like to store in my fridge. I like to keep 2 liter soda bottles in mine, so I took an empty bottle in and tried it in various fridges. Surprise! Several of them don't have a good spot to stand the bottle upright.

Once I knew what appliances I wanted, I started haunting Craig's List for them. I also measured them so I knew they would fit in my new kitchen. When planning spaces for the fridge, stove and dishwasher, I made sure the appliances I want will fit in there, even if that means leaving a bigger space than is required for my current appliance.

Oh, and doing the tasks recommended in the "Read Me" thread will help eliminate confusion! :) Good luck!