• Do you have enough floor, cabinet or counter space?
• Is there more than one cook in your home?
• Are your appliances up-to-date and energy efficient?
• Do you have young children and is your kitchen free of hazards?
• Do you need more sunlight, access to a porch or connect
  to a great room?
• Do you entertain frequently and somewhat dread the process?

As you begin to ask these questions, you will soon know if the time is right for you to remodel?

The use of color is very personal and subjective. But it’s your new kitchen, the heart of your home. A little color psychology may help. Think warm, even hot colors. As an accent, RED attracts attention; it stimulates people to make decisions; it stimulates the appetite, which is why restaurants use the color profusely. When exposed to RED, your body experiences warmth and excitement, even faster breathing and heart rate. It’s emotionally intense and the most energetic color in the spectrum. While red walls in your kitchen may be too much, try an accent wall, chair or window coverings. Even a bold piece of art in the kitchen with a dramatic red color palette can create an amazing impact.
 

Clutter is the enemy of good design. Rather than filling your rooms with all those wonderful antiques your grandmother left you or your husband’s large collection of Aboriginal masks, stop and think about the space as empty. Then, begin to build your style with one or two really special pieces in any given room. A teak chair in the corner. A rich display of jewel-toned pillows on the sofa. One piece of bold art to anchor the room. You’ll be amazed at what happens when you leave space for good design to inhabit your home.
 

Historically, kitchen designers have recommended the triangle workspace; that is, range, cooktop and refrigerator equidistant apart in an even or odd-shaped triangle. But those days are giving way to new ideas. Now, you may see all sorts of exciting configurations that break with tradition. Imagine your refrigerator or dishwasher compressed into drawers under a counter, giving you more floor space. Picture your range or cooktop showcased in an art gallery environment. A central island may be the cornerstone of your kitchen with all your appliances in a linear layout on opposite sides. All configurations are now possible, as long as they deliver convenience, aesthetics and reflect your lifestyle.
 

Some of the most interesting ideas in interior design is to place a common object in a typically uncommon place or an uncommon object in a common place such as:

• A piece of sculpture or art in your guest bathroom or kitchen to enhance design

• An indoor warming drawer in your master bath to keep towels warm

• A deep sink above your laundry counter for soaking personal items

• Solar tubes to bring light into closets

• Unusual switch plates to dress up white walls

• Ideas are limited only by the imagination

When we think of a room, we think of the shape of a box or rectangle. But space today takes on all types of shapes. When working with your designer, consider other possibilities. Build a curved wall into a great room to give it added dimension or build angles into ceilings to create drama. A space becomes all the more interesting when you mix geometries. A curved chair alongside a square table; a three-sided table full of detail beside a simple, bold modern chair. Experiment. You’ll discover artful living.