Avoid too much pattern or color

For fixed items like cabinetry, tiles and countertops, anything with a lot of detail can become tiresome and feel dated. Also, by the time you bring in kitchen accessories, it will look too busy. If you're going to spend a lot of money on a kitchen, it should last a long time, so beware of trends.

Analyze how you live, not how you aspire to live

When people decide to remodel a kitchen, they often imagine they're going to start living differently. They think their habits will go away, but old habits die hard. For example, some people say they want a spice rack, but in reality, spices end up shoved into a drawer or a cupboard.

Plan a year in advance

People never start early enough. It takes three to four months to gather thoughts and look around for inspirations, then two to three months to design and plan. Then you have to get it all built, which can take six months.

Work with a kitchen designer right from the start

Unlike architects, who tend to think about the kitchen in relation to the other rooms, kitchen designers focus on the interior detailing and function of the room. They ask about how you live in your kitchen. Clients tend to concentrate too much on individual details. They'll say they love this handle or this marble, but those elements may not look good put together. The designer thinks globally about the aesthetics, the feel of the kitchen.

Expect to pay a lot to do the job well

A lot of people don't give enough thought to the entire package. It's not just the cabinetry, appliances and countertops; it's also the finishing, as well as the electric, lighting, plumbing, painting and tiling. It's not just about picking an expensive or inexpensive cabinet company.