Your family spends considerable time in your kitchen and you want to make the most of that time together. A kitchen redesign can help you do that, but how can you ensure the new layout of your kitchen is one that is functional, inviting and livable? These tips can help you make the most of your kitchen redesign project.

1. Start online with a kitchen cabinet provider that offers a kitchen design tool. This tool will allow you to preplan your kitchen layout and see exactly what the finished room will look like before you shell out major dollars on a design that doesn't work for you. If something doesn't appeal to you, try again. Kitchen redesigning is as simple as a few computer mouse clicks. Mill's Pride offers a free kitchen design tool at http://www.millspride.com/getstarted/kitchentoolintro.cfm

2. Consider what other activities will take place in your kitchen besides meal preparation and eating? Will your kids be using it to do their homework while you cook? If so, a center island might enhance the bonding experience.

3. Do you need extra kitchen storage space? Then consider a built-in pantry with rollout shelves, a drawer base cabinet, oven cabinets and lazy susans

4. Evaluate your personal style and build it in to your kitchen redesign. Are you a fine china collector? Then opt of glass-paned cabinet doors to show off your collection. Decorative touches like crown mouldings and cabinet finishes also reflect your interior design personality.

A kitchen redesign is an expensive proposition, but it's also an investment in your home and family togetherness. Make those dollars count. With a little planning and ingenuity, you can make your kitchen redesign project one that you and your family be pleased with and proud of for years to come.