Don’t design the new kitchen yet.

Most kitchen remodels begin with a picture. A range you saw in a magazine, an island you saved on Instagram, a backsplash you can’t stop thinking about. I understand the pull — I’ve spent more than 25 years surrounded by beautiful kitchens. But before I ever start designing a client’s kitchen, I need to understand something else entirely: the house, the people who live there, what isn’t working, and what we’re actually trying to accomplish.

That conversation is the foundation of everything that follows. Here are the four questions I start with.

01. What are you trying to fix?

Start with what doesn’t work now. Not enough prep space. A trash pull-out that’s always in the way. Two cooks who collide at the sink. A pantry that swallows everything. Make a quick note of anything that frustrates you — storage, workspace, flow, seating, lighting.

Not every frustration carries the same weight. Once your list is written, choose your top three. Those are the problems your remodel absolutely needs to solve, and they will guide decisions long after the inspiration photos have faded.

Identify problems before solutions.— Shelley

02. How big is this project?

Is this an update or refresh, a major remodel, or a full gut and structural change? The same space can hold very different goals — and very different levels of work. Scope drives complexity, timeline, disruption to your home, and investment. Naming it early keeps everyone working on the same project.

03. Does it make sense for this house?

Step back and look at the home as a whole. What is the approximate value of your home, and is your planned investment appropriate for your neighborhood? How long do you realistically expect to stay — two years, five, or for good? If you might sell in the next few years, what other areas of your home may need attention first?

04. What can you realistically invest?

You don’t need a final price yet. You do need a realistic comfort range — a level of investment you can genuinely feel good about, not simply what you hope the project will cost. That range will shape every conversation that follows.

Then — and only then — start designing

When you can answer these four questions, you have something most homeowners don’t bring to their first meeting: a project, not just a wish list. Write it down. If you can explain your remodel to a designer in one sentence, you’re ready for the conversation.