Consider these very basic questions and answer them honestly:
- what style appeals to you
- what is your budget
- when do you want the project completed
- what items do you absolutely must have
- how extensive will your project be (often dependant upon budget and time)

Most kitchens have the same basic elements: appliances, cabinets, countertops, flooring, sinks and faucets. Inside your kitchen, you'll also have walls, a ceiling, doors, windows, etc. They all factor into your final result.

As a designer, my job is to help clients define their style and their wants and needs. Then we consider the available budget and time, along with any restrictions the actual space will convey onto the project.

I advise my clients to take into consideration the overall style of their home, and making the kitchen a complement to the overall flow of the home, rather than a great departure. We really spend a lot of time thinking about kitchen needs and habits - if the client loves to cook, if they don't but want a beautiful showcase, if there is a large family or if the client loves to entertain. An at-home gourmet will have dramatically different kitchen needs than a busy family of four more interested in efficiency and accessibility.

Once you have laid the groundwork of defining the style, budget and time, the fun starts! You should begin by selecting cabinetry first, as it will make the biggest impact in your new kitchen, and many decisions will be based on their style and color.

The next big selection will be your new appliances and where they will be situated. Once you have those two important choices out of the way, the remaining elements of the countertops, flooring, faucets and accessories should flow fairly smoothly. The best way to have a comfortable kitchen with an overall pleasing effect is to choose elements that complement each other, not that precisely match.

Basically, these are the steps you need to take get started, broken down into accomplishable small tasks.