Expert Matt Lavine "tests" a kitchen; New York City

A floor plan is a blueprint, a map of your space that lets everybody know exactly where everything is going to be. In planning your kitchen, try to incorporate these design principles:

• The sink, stove and refrigerator should form a triangle in relationship to one another, which will put the most frequently used "stations" in close proximity.
  
• Plan to keep tools near the place you use them — pots and pans near the stove, glassware close to the dishwasher and so forth.
  
• Envisioning that center island in the middle of the room? Some love the extra counter space, but the island can be really intrusive. Instead, opt for an open floor space or something that's not as permanent, like a table in the middle of the kitchen where people can sit and enjoy talking with you while you cook.
  
• If you're brave enough to tackle kitchen design on your own, there's plenty of help out there. Check out the many websites where even the novice can draft like a pro. Architect software is also available for your home computer and will allow the average consumer to experiment with different layouts. But still make sure to run your plans past an experienced kitchen professional.

To protect yourself against change orders and extras, finish your plan completely before you even engage a contractor, because that drawing is what he'll base his price on. Think everything through ahead of time, don't make any changes and make sure the drawings are really tight and clear.

Walker Zanger (tile resource)
www.walkerzanger.com

Real Simple magazine
Elizabeth Mayhew, Style Director
www.realsimple.com

DesignWorkshop
www.designworkshop.com

Kitchen Renovation Price Tags

• For just a facelift — meaning new cabinet doors, hardware, faucet and fixtures — expect to pay $2,000-$3,000.
  
• For basic cabinetry, counters, appliances, flooring and paint you'll pay $8,000-$10,000.
  
• For medium-quality in the same amenities with some custom work expect to pay $11,000-$20,000.
  
• For the crème de la crème — custom work and lots of upgrades — count on paying $20,000 or more.