2. Start A Design File
When you first considered creating a new kitchen, you probably started looking at kitchens in magazines, friend’s kitchens and kitchen appliances and cabinetry in stores. These things took on a different light as you started to consider what you liked or disliked about them. A large part of starting the creative process is this focusing of your attention on a previously unconsidered area. And early in the process it helps to gather information with an open mind as you discover available materials, play with color and texture and research choices in everything from ranges to flooring.
For now we recommend that you start assembling a design file of anything and everything that catches your eye or contains information that might be relevant to your kitchen project. This file could be a folder full of photos and samples, a bulletin board filled with clippings, pictures and swatches or a box full of laminate chips, appliance brochures and objects that have some relevance to your project. One project we worked on started with a photo from a magazine tacked to a refrigerator with a magnet. While the final kitchen bore little resemblance to the picture, it served as a source of inspiration and a reminder of the final result during the deepest and darkest parts of the construction.
Your design file shouldn’t be limited to magazine tear sheets and manufacturer’s samples. Sometimes a favorite photo, painting or an object can serve as a basis for the look of your kitchen. One of the outcomes of starting a design file is that you start to build a palette of color, texture and detailing choices and begin to see the relationships between these elements. Some will fit in well and others will may end up being taken out of the process. Your file can help you visualize a coordinated palette for your project. As you walk through the many steps in the design process, add notes and information to your design file. Even if you work with a designer or architect, this file will serve as an invaluable resource for them, giving them a better idea of what appeals to you and of how you visualize using the finished kitchen. Don’t limit what goes into the file, especially at the beginning. You’ll find yourself subconsciously organizing and reorganizing the various ingredients as you go through the process.
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