“Oh, I wish we had done that, or I wish we had done this…” Screams were heard from many homeowners who had just finished their kitchen remodel. We have all been there. I remember going to a friend’s house and telling her how much I loved her kitchen island. She said, “I hate it.” She couldn’t imagine why, she gave him a lot of counter space and food preparation area, but she didn’t like it and she wished she had never had it as part of her plan. “She’s in the way!” She screamed. “I can’t get from the sink to the fridge without walking around the island,” she was right, it looked beautiful, but the benefit of more counter space wasn’t enough to combat the hassle of having to walk. around that big piece of furniture. And although she warned me, my wife and I did the same, but with us, the benefit of the island far outweighed the extra steps to get to the fridge. “To each his own.”

Many of us want the dream kitchen we saw in the magazine or the model home we just visited, but in most cases, those kitchens are not designed as a conveniently planned workspace. We love our island because my wife likes to bake and it makes a great counter for the mixer and all the ingredients. In addition, we have children and they are always contributing throughout the island.

First, use a competent designer who gives you what you want instead of what they want to sell you. The overall design should be functional and look good.

If a designer says you can’t do that, make sure it’s because you can’t, not because he can’t.

Second, plan. It’s that easy. How do you use your kitchen? What are your morning rituals and how can you make your life easier in the kitchen? Plan a kitchen that suits your culinary needs. If you bake a lot, make sure you have flat racks near the oven.

Third, compare cabinets. Most people only look at the price, not the quality, fit and finish.

Look at construction methods, materials, hardware door materials, and solids vs. laminate. Check the construction of the drawer box; look for full extension drawer glides.

And make sure there are fully finished interiors, not laminated particleboard.

Buy cabinets with recessed doors so there are no exposed hinges.

Explore crown molding and custom sizes, not prefab boxes with attached toeboards, most prefab base cabinets have attached toeboards, quality engineered kitchens use common toeboard.

And lastly, don’t be fooled by the fluff and the outward appearance. Read between the lines for the right materials, a good kitchen looks good after years of use.

Good luck with your kitchen remodel…and be sure to plan ahead before the dust flies.