You know the old saying, right? "Cut once, measure twice." That's sound advice when wood and a saw are involved. With any woodworking project, being extra careful in your initial measurements saves you not only time but also money. And because installing kitchen cabinetry is often a high-budget project, you'll want to be even more cautious than usual with the tape measure.

Here are some tips to properly measure your kitchen for new cabinets:

1) Have all the tools you'll need at the ready: tape measure, pencil and paper.

2) Measure twice for accuracy then note those measurements on paper.

3) Be specific; round your measurements to the nearest one-eighth inch.

4) Work from left to right, starting at the leftmost wall and moving around the room in a clockwise motion. Begin by measuring the overall length of each wall in your kitchen.

5) When you encounter breaks in the walls (e.g., windows, doors, closets), measure from the corner of the break to the outside edge of the molding. Indicate these measurements on your paper. Permanent appliances, air vents, offsets and the like should also be included in this step.

6) Plumbing, ducting and electrical outlets should be measured to their center line. You should keep in mind that these obstacles can always be repositioned to accommodate your new kitchen cabinet design.

7) Compare measurement "4)" with the total for measurements "5)." The two figures should match up.

8) Finally, measure your refrigerator's height. If it's extra tall, the installation of a kitchen cabinet above it may be prohibited.

Following these simple measurement guidelines will make your kitchen cabinet installation a seamless one. You'll enjoy the new kitchen you've always dreamed of without any of the headaches associated with poor pre-planning. And remember, when it comes to woodworking/ kitchen cabinetry projects, the tape measure is your best friend.