Home and kitchen magazines are great sources for ideas. RELATED STORIES Too-Small Kitchen Redo Designing a Kitchen Just for You Remodeling Your Kitchen

More than any other part of the American home, the kitchen has become a showpiece, the one room where homeowners really want to spend time and money to get things just right. But before you start building a new kitchen or renovating an old one, you should take the time to sit down, go over your options and explore your preferences. There are lots of things to consider when designing a kitchen, and a little advice from an expert can help.

Known for her knack for bringing functionality and aesthetics together, certified kitchen designer Andrea Tobias of Heritage Cabinets Corporation has left her stamp on kitchens up and down the east coast. Tobias’ work can be seen in the Viking Corporation’s company headquarters and guest cottages and in numerous magazines, and she has appeared on television with the likes of Bob Vila. Here she fills us in on some of the basics of kitchen design and offers ideas for getting started:

• Magazines. If you’re thinking about kitchen design, Tobias recommends keeping your eyes peeled for photos of kitchens that impress you. There are dozens of home improvement and design magazines out there, and flipping through them and clipping out pictures is a good way to get ideas.

• Themes. A magazine photo may only have a single element or design idea that strikes your fancy, but if you collect enough pictures, a theme will most likely begin to emerge. This is a great way to gauge your own tastes and begin to get an overall sense of style for your dream kitchen.

• Elements. One important thing to consider is the relationship between two of your most important kitchen elements: cabinets and appliances. Stainless steel appliances, says Tobias, often look best when left alone and surrounded by beautiful cabinets, but many people like to cover appliances with wood panels that blend seamlessly with cabinetry.

• Budget priorities. Know your maximum budget and understand how you want to divide up the dollars. Think about your appliances, cabinetry, sinks, faucets and countertops, and determine which are most important to you. You may be the type of person who needs a real gourmet oven or refrigerator and is willing to spend less on countertops or flooring, or you might be dreaming of truly gorgeous cabinetry and have less concern for the size of your fridge. Once you’ve thought all of this through, you’ll be ready to start designing the kitchen you’ve always dreamed of.