When you start planning your dream kitchen, it can be a little overwhelming. From new cabinets to appliances to countertops to flooring to fixtures, there’s a lot to think about. Our advice to you? Relax. Make the process of planning your kitchen a fun adventure, and you’ll find that making your dream kitchen a reality is easier than you thought. Below are a few steps to help you get started on your kitchen planning adventure.

Read Up: Before you get started, it’s a good idea to read all about kitchen planning, so you know all the ins and outs of remodeling your kitchen. You’ll find a wealth of information online, at your local library or at the bookstore. Some titles you might want to check out include The Kitchen Planner by Suzanne Ardley and Kitchen Designs That Work by Beth Veillette. (By the way, feel free to explore other articles in our blog archives for tips and ideas.)

Explore: After you read up, you’ll want to start exploring. Collect images you find appealing from magazines and online resources. Save paint chip cards and wallpaper swatches. Compare and contrast images you find of cabinet and countertop materials to find complementary colors and styles. When you can, get samples of the actual materials so you can see and feel what your wood and countertops will be like.

Take Pictures: If you have friends and family members who have great kitchens, don’t be afraid to ask if you can snap some photos. If you’re in Pier One and see a bowl that has all the colors and style elements that seem to encompass your dream kitchen, snap a shot of it on your phone. (Oh, and we’d suggest you buy it… we’d hate it if you designed your dream kitchen around it, went back to purchase it, and it was gone!) Even nature can give us ideas – if you see a wildflower in a meadow that is just the color you envision for your kitchen walls, by all means get a photograph of it! Talented paint color mixers can likely recreate that color for you easily.

Scrapbook: Now that you’ve collected images and samples to help you on your journey toward your dream kitchen, you’ll want to compile them. Creating a scrapbook or collage of your images can help you better envision your kitchen, and give you a visual illustration of what you hope it might look like. It’ll also make it much easier to share that vision with a designer, who can help you with all the details of bringing that dream to life.

Visit Us: Working with a qualified kitchen designer is one of the most important steps in your journey. Why? Because they’ve helped make dream kitchens a reality many, many times, and they have the tools you’ll need moving forward. They’ll take your vision and help you iron out all the fine details, and help you with your budget, time management and overall wants and needs.

At Fahy Kitchens & Baths, we have a team of talented designers who want to help make your dream come true! We’ll be happy to assist you as you embark on your kitchen makeover, and we’ll stay with you every step of the way. Call us at (315) 735-8181 or fax to (315) 735-2829. Fahy Kitchens is located at 1908 Oriskany Street West in Utica, N.Y. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are appreciated.