Step one is the budget. If you start looking at designs without a budget in mind your prices are going to be crazy. Those cool features add up real quick and you need to understand that the backsplash you like is 40 dollars a ft and is totally unaffordable. This will save you time as you won't be looking at things that can't be had.

Step two is the design and layout. You can for free find designer programs that will layout your kitchen as it is now and give you an idea of price and of what it can look like. The programs are online, in the box stores, or you can buy a good version and put it on your home computer.

Step three choose your poison. If you aren't removing walls or if you are real handy it is possible for you do the project on your own and the benefit there is that you can spend more money on the finishing's. Or you can hire a contractor and spend less on the finishing if you don't feel comfortable. I say select your poison because both have serious drawbacks that need to be considered and one will get you a finished project that you like and one may end in a lot of debt with a pile of construction debris and little more.

Step four a) So you decided to hire it out. Research, research, research your contractor. Get lists of past projects and talk to people who has had work done by him. If possible find someone that has work 5 plus years old as that is how long it will take for some problems that can be hidden to come to the surface. Set expectations early and get everything in writing,

Step four b) So your going at alone. First add 2 weeks to the timeline. If this is your first rodeo or 10th rodeo it will take longer then expected because life happens and coming home after an 8 hour day to work another 4 gets old and you will take a night off here and there and unexpected issues will come up. Next you tube. For all the handyman books out there you will learn more via you tube then you will from them. Don't just watch one. Watch a dozen guys do the same style project and note the differences in what they are doing. Then figure out why there is a difference. You will learn a lot this way real quickly. If you think something is illegal then ask a professional to confirm.

Step 5) review everything and finalize the design.

Step 6) Hammer time. Start gutting. Once the room is completely empty you can mock up your future kitchen and this is the time to do any last minute changes since this is the first time you get to feel the space and see the end project.

From here is finish the project and enjoy the space.

There is of course a lot more details in between these steps but I am not going to write a novel so I tried to minimize it while giving you good information. Just remember your budget dictates your design. If you let your design dictate your budget you are either stupidly rich and can do what ever or you are going to have sticker shock and really put yourself in a pickle. Also remember that there are finishing's that can be done later if your budget is tight that are easy to do and won't leave your kitchen looking unfinished. A good example is draws pulls and cabinet knobs. They can add up quickly so if you need to save money don't install them for a couple years until you save up for them. Your kitchen will look great and your finances won't be stressed.