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The kitchen often becomes a family hub, the heart of the home for daily activity and entertaining. For this reason, the design of a kitchen space should address how the room is used on a daily basis. Identifying how you like to cook, eat and entertain are important steps in creating an efficient kitchen space.

Whether you are building from the floor plan up or simply reorganizing, kitchen tools and space planning have the most powerful impact on a kitchen's effectiveness.

THE KITCHEN PRO Ask any chef and they'll tell you that cooking with the right equipment makes all the difference in the world. While a full kitchen overhaul can be costly, here are a few innovative ideas that blend functionality and fashion. Mix and match. It is perfectly acceptable to equip your kitchen with appliances you like, one by one. Most culinary experts don't choose an entire matching set of appliances from one manufacturer. Instead look at individual appliance features and stick to easy-to-match finishes like black, white and stainless.

Stainless steel fixtures and appliances are in vogue for good reaso. They work with any color palette and many are built for standard sizes so they are easily retrofitted to your space.

Streamline food preparation and cleanup with specialized fixtures. American Standard's new Culinaire Collection offers coordinating kitchen sinks, faucets and accessories that work extra hard. For example, the remote access drain feature allows you to drain the basin without sticking your hand into dirty dishwater. The line also features nonslip cutting boards and metal dish racks sized to fit snugly over the sink surface.

If frozen dinners come flying out of the freezer door every time you open it, consider adding refrigeration or freezer drawers in your kitchen work island. These products are specifically designed to keep certain items, such as produce, at the exact temperature and humidity to stay their freshest. These compact units can add as much as 30 to 40 percent more refrigeration and freezer space to a kitchen.

CONQUERING SPACE What's good for your wardrobe is good for your kitchen -- donate items that you have duplicates of or that you no longer use and replace them with sleek versions of must-have kitchen elements. Sinks with integrated accessories, like the Culinaire sink and its integrated drainboard and colander, are more efficient, stylish and eliminate kitchen clutter. Create more counter space by adding a small center island or rolling cart. Look for a cart that is decorative but also offers storage space below the work surface. Trade in your kitchen table for a bar-style counter and stools. Not only will this free up floor space to add more cabinets or extend counters, it will also prompt you to use your formal dining room more often for family meals.

Annex space from another room to create a walk-in pantry. This is one of the most popular features for homebuyers. It allows for storage of bulk food items and large appliances like chafing dishes that are used infrequently.

Get creative to better utilize deep cupboards and organize drawers. Lazy Susan rotating trays and stackable spice racks are just the tip of the iceberg -- install shelves that pull out for easy access items in the back. Also, fit a horizontal knife block next to your flatware caddy to protect your fingers and the life of the blades.

Article Courtesy of ARA Content

Links for Kitchen Home Improvements

20-20 Kitchen Design - Plan a kitchen online. Dealer locator.

Better Homes and Gardens: Kitchen Decorating Ideas - Collection of articles.

Cabinetry - Quality Standards - Cabinet Estimating Formula - Cabinet selection criteria, money saving tips, and formula to compare costs between styles.

CMHC: Renovating Your Kitchen - Detailed checklist, questions, and issues to assess when renovating a kitchen. Includes a printable kitchen assessment worksheet for prioritizing and budgeting.

HGTV: Kitchen Products/Designs - Several short articles and program synopses highlighting a variety of kitchen design and decorating ideas. Includes articles on colors, fixtures, backsplashes, and kitchen islands.

Hometime: Kitchen Remodeling - Collection of articles, tips, and diagrams for remodeling kitchens. Topics include the kitchen triangle and work stations; demolition, re-framing, and plumbing and electrical concerns; cabinet, countertop and backsplash installation; flooring; and fixtures and appliance installation.

Kitchen Design - Article discussing factors to consider when planning and designing a kitchen renovation project.

Kitchen Design Guide - Tips and advice with planning and designing a kitchen.

Kitchen Refacing - Illustrated tutorial on cabinet refacing and measurement techniques.

Kitchens.com - Information on kitchen design, remodeling, decorating, budgeting, working with designers, and the selection of appliances, cabinets, and countertops.

Renovating Your Kitchen - Article discussing kitchen renovation costs and ideas, including suggestions for feature dimensions to improve efficiency.

SuperKitchens.com - Kitchen remodeling ideas and planning advice with links to manufacturers for cabinets, countertops, appliances, sinks and faucets.

The Sociable Kitchen - Article with tips on how to design a kitchen to improve its social atmosphere and usability.

This Old House: Kitchens - Collection of articles with tips, suggestions, diagrams, and steps. Topics covered include hanging cabinets, design, maximizing efficiency, working with contractors, budgeting, hardware, and lighting.