Craving a better kitchen? Go ahead and indulge—experts say kitchen remodeling is one of the best home investments you can make. But before you start, consider ways to update your kitchen without draining your pocketbook on a complete remodel. More modest improvements could produce the results you want.
Whether you're on a frankfurter or fillet budget, the following tips can help you cook up a kitchen design that sizzles.
Count the ways
What do you love about your current kitchen? What really steams you about it? Brainstorm a list of everything you like and dislike about your space as it is. For example:
Great morning light
Sturdy, but scuffed, hardwood floors
Not enough storage space
Outdated appliances
Gather inspiration
Once you know what you like and dislike about your current space, start thinking about how to maximize the positive elements and minimize—or eliminate—the negative ones. The best way to find kitchen ideas is to look at other kitchens, either in pictures or in person. The Design Gallery at www.servicemagic.com features photos of a variety of popular kitchen styles. In addition, you'll find a bevy of books on kitchen design at your local bookstore or home improvement store, and cooking and remodeling magazines offer a rich source for photos of kitchens in every size and style.
Also, remember sources close to home. Talk to your friends and family, tour their kitchens, and note what might work in your own space.
Design, design, design
Just as you can't unbake a cake, undoing a poor kitchen design can be nearly impossible without substantial rework. Here are some important things to consider before you begin:
Size: Will you add on to your house to expand your kitchen? Will you demolish load-bearing walls? The answers to these questions will help determine your project's size, scope and projected cost.
Cabinetry: New cabinets can be a great way to enhance the look and storage capacity of your kitchen. But you might also consider changing just your cabinet doors, swapping the hardware, and adding bins or pullout shelves to your existing cabinets.
Countertops: You may want to add an island or new countertops to your kitchen, but other options include relocating bulky appliances, such as your microwave oven, to free up work space.
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Kitchen Update
Whether you go down to the studs or simply update surfaces, you'll never regret the time you spent at the drawing board when you're savoring your newly remodeled kitchen.
The stages of kitchen remodeling
Kitchen remodeling can be one of the most complex home improvement projects you undertake. Understand how all the required tasks fit together, and you'll minimize inconvenience and maximize success.
It's important to track your project's interdependencies to help ensure a smooth transition between tasks and to spot potential roadblocks before they become problems.
The typical stages of a large-scale kitchen remodeling project include:
Seal off the work area
Demolish walls or other required structures
Frame new kitchen walls and windows
Preliminary plumbing, heating, gas and electrical "rough in" tasks
Pass required inspections
Insulate walls
Install trim and floor
Install electrical switches, fixtures and outlets
Install cabinets
Apply paint, wallpaper, borders, etc.
Finish the floor
Install countertops and sink
Install new appliances
Obtain final inspections 
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