Planning Your Project

Here we guide you through the process of realizing your kitchen ideas into a design that meets all your expectations. Whether you have a large or small kitchen space, a bathroom, Rec. Room, Office, or simply a different woodworking project, we can help you with you design. In larger kitchens, an island (or two) can break up the space in attractive ways, help direct traffic, provide convenient storage, and present the cook with useful countertop work space that borders (but does not block) the work triangle. For good traffic flow, islands should have at least 3 or 4 feet of aisle on each side. A small peninsula may be a good alternative to an island in kitchens where space is limited. Never put an island in a kitchen where two points of the work triangle are on opposite walls; it will get in the way. As you move items around in the plan, always remember your work triangle.

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Kitchen Planning

Galley

Efficient, but counter space is limited.

L-Shaped

Popular. No foot traffic crosses through work triangle.

U-Shaped

Surrounds the cook with appliances and counter space.

G-Shaped

(Peninsula) Cozy. Lots of counter space.

Work Triangle

As you prepare food, you naturally move between three places where you do three different tasks: cleanup, cooking, and food storage—your sink, cooktop and refrigerator, respectively. Imagine a triangle that connects them. This is your work triangle, and it’s the heart of your kitchen design. Ideally, each side should be at least 4 feet long, but less than 9 feet long. Of course, you’ll also need a place for food preparation like cutting, and the most efficient place for that is within your work triangle. It could be a counter top on an island, or between the cooking and food storage zones.

Cabinetry 101

When making cabinet design plans, you want to create kitchen space that's as beautiful as it is functional. Although you may have an idea of how you want your new space to look, seeking cabinet design help from a professional can be advantageous when it comes to choosing cabinetry that is balanced in proportion and scale. A designer will also describe certain design factors that can impact how those cabinets will look in your new space.

Here's some information that explains how a professional designer will bring your cabinet design ideas to life during your kitchen remodel. Knowing these cabinet and room design basics will help you choose a layout that works for you and your family.

What You Can Expect from Your Cabinetry Designer

In addition to offering cabinet design plans for door style, wood type and color selections, a designer will typically prepare three types of documents for your review, including a floor plan, an elevation drawing of all of the walls that will receive the cabinetry, and a perspective view from one or more vantage points within the space.

Following is an overview of the cabinetry design documents a designer typically provides. Availability of these documents is usually contingent upon making a contractual agreement and/or down payment to your designer.

Floor Plan

A floor plan will show the wall layout from above, and an outline of all the components that will fill the space, such as base cabinets, wall cabinets and tall cabinets. Sometimes lighting and electrical detailing are also shown on the floor plan.

Elevation

A "flat" drawing will show each wall of cabinetry as if you were standing and facing it. This elevation view is good for seeing the detail of the cabinetry components that aren't visible in the floor plan view. It is also good for establishing the heights of various components within the room.

Perspective

A perspective drawing is one that is "3-D," or three-dimensional. It shows the room as it would be actually seen from the viewpoint of a person 5 foot, 6 inches tall. Perspective drawings of cabinet design plans provide details such as areas that are increased or reduced in depth, a dimensional quality that goes beyond what is included in the elevation drawings.