At least that's the plan. You really want it to turn out just right, and that means a lot of careful planning. It's easy to wonder if you're going to get it right.

There are several factors to take into consideration that will help you to get things moving and to be happy with your final results.

1. Set your budget.

Your budget should be comfortable, but not the absolute maximum you can spend. You should give yourself some leeway, and also just not overstress your finances.

Remember that you may be making payments throughout the process. You absolutely do not want to run out of money before your kitchen remodel is complete.

2. Get ideas.

Inspiration is all around. Tour local model homes. Watch remodeling shows on television. Search for ideas on the internet. Buy home improvement magazines.

Take notes and even sketch out ideas on paper. Some people even buy software programs to let them play around with layouts.

3. Know what you want from your kitchen.

A good kitchen goes beyond just having a nice stove, sink and refrigerator. How much space do you need on your countertops? Will you be hosting a lot of parties or tend to have multiple people cooking in your kitchen at the same time? How fancy do you get when you cook?

You may not be able to get your dream kitchen, but if you figure out your wants you can pick the features you are most willing to pay for top quality on, versus the things that can be a more standard quality, as your budget may require. Just don't go low quality on a major remodel. You will regret that.

4. Get estimates.

Not just one estimate. Get several. Each contractor will probably have different ideas as to how to make your ideas into reality.

You will also want to check on each contractor's licensing, work history and insurance. Unlicensed contractors are a problem in many areas, and many are quite unreliable. The cheapest estimate may not be the smartest one to go with.

5. Finalize the design.

Once you've picked a contractor, make sure all possible details of your kitchen remodel design are agreed upon. Even the little details such as the faucet used on the sink matter.