When considering a kitchen remodel, the best place to begin is often with your current kitchen. That's the advice of Anthony DeGregorio of Kitchen Design Center, a Showplace Wood Products distributor in Woburn.

"Studying photos of different kitchen designs will give you a good idea of the colors or styles you prefer," explains DeGregorio, "but evaluating your present space will help you determine exactly what needs to be improved and what doesn't."

When rating your current kitchen, there are several things to consider in order to find out how functional and fashionable the room is. You must carefully consider cabinet storage, appliances, fixtures, surfaces, countertops, lighting and electrical systems, and room orientation and space.

The following questions, developed by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), are designed to help you evaluate your kitchen:

• Do the cabinets feature time saving accessories such as roll-out shelves, divided drawers and lazy susans?
• Is there enough cabinet shelf space?
• Are the cabinet doors style and color up to date?
• Is there a place to sort recyclables?

When rating your appliances, it's important to consider the following.

• Is the refrigerator/ freezer large enough?
• Based on the way you cook, are the oven and cook lop located where you want them?
• Do you have a microwave oven, conveniently located?
• Are all of your appliances in good working order?

Questions to ask when evaluating surfaces and countertops include:

• Are the surfaces easy to clean?
• Is there enough counter space?
• Is the counter space located, where you need it?
• Are the counters the right height for you to work comfortably?

You must also consider the lighting and mechanical elements.

• Do you have task lighting above the counter-top?
• Do you have enough electrical outlets?
• Is there good ventilation in the cooking center?

Further evaluation to consider is kitchen lifestyle use:

• Who is the primary cook?
• How many other household members cook?
• Do any of those members have physical limitations?

What type of cooking do you normally do?

• Heat and serve meals?
• Full course "from scratch" meals?
• Bulk cooking for freezing leftovers?
• Do you entertain frequently?
  • Formally?
  • Informally?
• Is the kitchen a socializing place?
• Where do you plan to sort recyclables?
  • Kitchen?
  • Laundry?
  • Garage?
  • Other?
• What type of feeling would you like your new kitchen space to have?
  • Sleek/Contemporary?
  • Traditional?
  • Strictly functional?
  • Family retreat?
  • Warm and cozy country?
  • Open and airy?
  • Formal?
  • Personal design statement?

Finally, you should think about the overall space of the kitchen. This entails some of the following questions:

• Does the kitchen relate to adjacent rooms the way you would like?
• Is the kitchen arranged so that "people traffic" is directed away from the cook's activities?
• Is there a casual dining/conversation area in the room?

The list is quite extensive and yet, it doesn't even cover everything! Suddenly, a kitchen remodel might seem like an impossible project. However, by evaluating your current kitchen, you will get a clear idea of what items need to be changed in order to create a space that's perfect for you.

According to DeGregorio, the evaluation will also be quite useful when you take the next step and visit a kitchen showroom.

"You will be able to clearly communicate to the kitchen design professional, such as a member of NKBA, what you are looking to achieve with your new space," says DeGregorio.

"At this point," warns DeGregorio, "budget becomes very important. The amount of money you would like to spend on your new kitchen will influence which components are included in the design."

Again, it's important to use a checklist. Your kitchen specialist can assist
you in this process. Make a list of various items that could be included in your new kitchen The list should include features such as new cabinets, a new floor, a new dishwasher, trash compactor, recycling bins, etc. When the list is complete, review the items to determine those that you "need" and those that you "want". By doing this you can focus on the features that are most important to you and ensure that they are included in the design.

Once you have completed your evaluation, decided on the style, color, appliances, and chosen a professional designer, the real work of designing and installing your kitchen begins. Since you have done all the preliminary work, this process will be much easier. It will also be smoother if you work with a professional kitchen designer.