Top Five Kitchen Design FAQs from a Professional Designer

These are the questions I'm asked most often - and my best answers for your consideration. I hope they're helpful to you as you consider remodeling your kitchen, or building your dream home.

FAQ 1: How do I get more storage in my kitchen? The best way I know is to order base cabinets with roll-out shelves instead of standard bases with half shelves. Other strategies include using backsplash organizing systems for spices, knives (in households without young children), mugs and pots/pans, adding cabinets or storage furniture in nearby areas and (carefully!) adding double-stacking organizers to cabinets that can handle extra weight.

FAQ 2: Which kitchen element should I pick first? I've seen so many people glaze over in kitchen showrooms, not sure where to start and overwhelmed by the entire process of picking cabinets, countertops, flooring and appliances. Relax, I tell them, pulling your space together can be fun and easy. Just start with the element you love the most. If there's a door style you've adored for months, start there. If you've got a gorgeous tile picked out, we'll work up from the floor. If you've fallen in love with a particular granite, we'll find flooring and cabinets that ties in with its beautiful colors. If you've only started to look at kitchens, but have an heirloom furniture piece in the adjoining, open plan family or dining room, bring in a door and we'll find kitchen components that will look great across the way. You already have a starting point, you just didn't know it!