Ask almost any homeowner what room they'd most like to change in their house and the kitchen is likely to be the No. 1 complaint. They're either too small, too poorly organized, too outdated or just downright too ugly. Whatever the reason a homeowner cites for hating the kitchen, there are a number of routes that can be taken to make the room more workable.

Before jumping into a full redesign, it's important to examine the kitchen and decide what needs to be done to make it more suitable for personal needs. If it's too small, perhaps an extension would be in order or maybe some careful rearranging? Do you need more counter space? Cabinet space? Is it necessary to complete gut the room and start over or can the items in it be salvaged?

Once you answer the above questions, you'll be in a better position to decide what needs to be done. If you hate your cabinets, you have a few options. They include, of course, total replacement. Then there's refacing. Before you can decide between the two, you need to determine if your cabinet structures are still sturdy. If they are, they might be good candidates for refacing. This basically gives them a new look with new doors and hardware without having to pay for total replacements. A solid way to redo a kitchen, refacing can really make a great different in a kitchen at a fraction of a total replacement job's costs.

If a total redo is in order, here are some things to consider:

* Configuration. Do you want the kitchen arranged exactly like it is now? Or, would you prefer a different cabinet configuration? Before you can get a decent quote or quotes, you need to know the square footage the cabinets will cover, what size cabinets you'd like and so on. Draw out ideas for the way the room should look.

* Cabinet types. Do you want high to the ceiling European cabinets, or more modernized, back lighted cabinets with plate racks? The style will be a big consideration when it comes to pricing.

* Countertops. Generally these will need to be replaced along with the cabinets. There are a number of choices here in colors, materials and prices. Shop around for what you like and explain this to the kitchen store, contractor or whoever you're working with to get the remodel done.

* Use. If you hate your kitchen solely because it's not big enough to eat in, consider knocking down a wall, reshaping the kitchen or even using a countertop as a bar for eating breakfast with the family.

The kitchen used to be considered the heart of any good home. It was here people gathered to eat, chat and just share the events of the day. Many of today's modern homes minimize the importance of the kitchen in favor of enlarging other rooms. For homeowners with fond memories of pancake breakfasts with family, cookie baking marathons and so on, tiny, ugly kitchens just won't do. New cabinets or at least those with a new look can give the room a new feel and can help compensate for other shortcomings.

Whether you want to reface or replace, better looking and more serviceable cabinets can go a long way to making a kitchen a home's heart.

Copyright (c) 2006