Part 2 of my House building tips series, to check out the first post, click here...

When designing or remodeling a kitchen, I start with giving the homeowner some homework. Take every thing out of your current kitchen--drawers and cabinets.

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First, go through it all and decide what will actually live in the new kitchen and throw away what is not. Pots and pans, utensils, plates, platters, coffee maker, tupperware, plates, bowls, cups, oven mitts--all of it!! 

Then, when it is all out, sort it into groups: plates, cups, pots, pans, etc..Then I ask them to take a picture of every single 'group'. Then they send the pictures to me.

Why??

Because I have learned that when I ask questions like: Do you have lots of plates? Everyday plates, party plates, Thanksgiving plates, Christmas plates? Do you have a collection of glassware--everyday and fancy? Do you bake a lot and therefore have a lot of baking pans? I would get answers like: I'm not sure....

Which is understandable because the term 'a lot' is relative. Perhaps it doesn't feel like you own a lot of dishes, or casserole plates, or mixing bowls, but, when it's all out AND you can show your stuff to your designer, then it all becomes very clear.

When designing a kitchen, you have the unique ability to customize it according to how you use it. When an inventory is done, then creating the system to house it all becomes very very clear. 

i always suggest deep drawers as opposed to lower cabinets. They are more accessible and they allow for much more usable storage.

An inventory is simply the first step of planning a new kitchen, but it certainly is such an important one!  

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 Need help in creating your dream kitchen? Email me: shannon at shannon berrey dot com