Amazing Home Makeovers

Transform your home with expert makeover tips from MyHomeIdeas and our sister sites.

Invest in Your Kitchen

Before remodeling, consider these planning checklists for the best return on your dollars and your dreams.

» From Southern Accents

Antoine Bootz and Jeff McNamara

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Beautiful Homes, Gracious Living, A Sense of Place

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Where To Start?

Research is the first major step in creating a dream kitchen. Gather kitchen ideas from your favorite magazines, books, Web sites, and dealer showrooms. Ask friends what they love about their kitchens. Identify colors, styles, and materials you like from paint chips, swatches, and cabinet samples. Collect plumbing, lighting, countertop, and flooring catalogs and brochures. Once you have a folder of ideas, it’s time to do a reality check on needs vs. desires.

Remodeling tip: If you’re selling in a few years, for example, it may not be best to invest in high-end appliances and custom cabinets. On the other hand, if you plan to remain in your home another 10 years, you have more latitude because you’ll have time to enjoy the space.

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