3. Measure The Space
One of the first things to put in your design file is a measured drawing of your existing space. If you’re building a new home or adding a completely new wing to an existing one, you’ll have blueprints to work with from the builder. Get your own copies and use them to follow the process in this chapter. If you’re remodeling an existing space, you’ll want to make these measurements and sketches yourself to use as a reference and planning aid.
Start by making a quick pencil sketch of the room from an overhead perspective. This floor plan doesn’t need to be to scale but it should include doorways and windows with a basic version of the other rooms and outdoor areas connecting to the existing kitchen.
Now take your tape measure (buy a good quality 25’ tape measure, you’ll be using it all the time) and measure the wall lengths between corners, windows and doors. Add these numbers in feet and inches to your sketch. Measure the width of door openings and window openings and add to sketch. Then take your tape and measure across the widest point of the room in both directions and add these measurements to your drawing. Finally, measure ceiling height and doorway height(s) and make a note of them on the margins of your sketch.
Your measured drawing need not be an accurate rendering of the room. A simple floor plan with measurements written in and the relationships of walls, corners and doors and windows sketched in is fine. Bring copies with you as a reference when you’re researching various choices or shopping for appliances or cabinetry.
