It's true with any remodeling project, of course, but a well-designed, detailed plan is especially important when it comes to remodeling your kitchen. Regardless of whether you're planning to do it yourself or will be using the help of a professional, your first step will be working out a plan that will address three main kitchen criteria: food preparation, storage, and clean-up.

In the 1950s, and up until a relatively sort time ago, kitchens were designed in a triangular pattern, with the three points of the triangle being the stove, refrigerator, and sink. It was considered the most efficient set up at a time when most women stayed home during the day and worked by themselves, making the family's meals from scratch.

Of course, that's no longer the case, so kitchens have evolved to match people's cooking habits, since most women now work outside of the home, share cooking duties with their husbands or significant others, prepare only a few meals from scratch. To reflect those changes, modern kitchens are designed with multiple work areas, including islands, to allow more than one person to work in the kitchen at one time. Many kitchens even include two sinks, in the island and on the traditional countertops, to further facilitate the division of labor.

Since nearly twice as much storage room is required in modern kitchens, cabinets become a major issue when planning a remodel. You'll want to decide on the types of surfaces, colors, materials, and styles that match both your preference and budget.

The same is true with countertops. They should be durable and attractive, yet well within your price range. One thing to consider is that expensive surfaces such as granite or marble may be extremely durable, but they are very difficult for the average do-it-yourselfer to work with.

When it comes to flooring, modern kitchens are now generally done in vinyl, as opposed to the linoleum that was most commonly found in 50s kitchens. Whether you use sheets or tiles, you'll have a wide variety of styles and textures to choose from. Wood floors have also been making a comeback in both high end and moderately priced kitchens.

Kitchen sinks can be found in cast iron, stainless steel and plastic, and come in many styles and colors, as do the faucets to fill them. Whether you choose a single or double sink, with one handle or two on your faucet will again be limited only by your taste and budget.

A similar variety of will be available in stoves, microwaves, range hoods, refrigerators, and freezers. It's up to you to decide what works best for you, without breaking your budget, but regardless of what you choose, it all begins with sitting down and working out a detailed plan of what you want in your new kitchen.