Seven questions to answer before you pick kitchen cabinets

1. Who cooks, and how often?

One serious cook needs a tight work triangle and lots of prep space. Two cooks need two zones that don't collide. A household that mostly reheats needs a great coffee station and a big fridge more than a six-burner range.

2. Where do people gather?

Everyone ends up in the kitchen. Decide whether that's at an island, a peninsula or a table — and keep that seating out of the path between fridge, sink and stove.

3. What do you store?

Count small appliances, bulk groceries, baking sheets and the things you only use at Thanksgiving. That inventory decides how many drawers, pull-outs and tall pantry cabinets you need.

4. Can walls move?

Removing a wall can transform a kitchen, but it's a structural, mechanical and budget decision. We confirm what's inside a wall before we design around removing it.

5–7. Light, budget and timeline

Where does daylight come from, and what's the plan after dark? What's the all-in budget, including appliances? And when do you need the kitchen working again? Those three answers shape every choice that follows.

Once we know them, cabinet style and color become the fun part — not the first decision.