(some info in this blog is courtesy of new BKRPros.com remodeler blog - used with permission)

In order for a cut tile to fit correctly, it must be marked correctly. There are no absolute rules; you merely make enough notations on the til itself to ensure an accurate fit in your new kitchen or bathroom area. A few pointers:

On glazed tiles, use a fine-tip felt pen to mark cut lines. On unglazed tiles, which might absorb ink, use a scratching tool such as a nail, or attach a piece of tape to the tile and mark the tape with pen, pencil, or grease pencil. The latter method is suitable for any masonry product.

When an entire row of cut tiles is required, do not assume that each tile should be cut to the same size. Check the distance between the last set tile and the wall at several points along the row.

Indicate anything you feel will be helpful while cutting. For example, draw a scribble across what will be the waste area so that you know on which side to allow for the amount lost by the saw cut. Code marked tiles as to their locations. Remember to write the code in an area that will not be cut off.


Drawing cut lines

The following are specific descriptions of how to mark tiles in order to fit them accurately around different obstacles you may encounter.

Wall and floor edges:  Simply measure the distance between wall edge and the last bathroom tile set during a renovation. Or use the following method: Set tile to be cut exactly on top of last full tile that was set. Place a shim equivalent to width of two grout lines vertically against the wall, and then set a marker tile on top of the other two.

Corners: Use a straight cut method twice, once for each side.

Around fixtures: These can be marked by measuring the distance from last set tile to edge of fixture and marking that measurement on the tile to be cut. Since cut edges will be covered by escutcheons, these small cuts need not be exact.

Can someone else do the drawing?
Drawings can be prepared by designers at home centers and by architects and designers, but it's helpful to map the space and have some idea before you meet with a professional kitchen remodeler. Better preparation means more productive work sessions.

What if I'm doing it all myself?
If you will be actively involved in the construction phase, then your drawings are much more critical and must be very accurate. Numerous online tools are available. Have your drawings checked by professionals, and comply with all local codes.

What if I'm not moving appliances?
With many kitchen remodeling and renovation projects, the homeowners choose to leave the refrigerator, sink and dishwasher where they are. If that is your plan, you probably don't need to go through all the trouble of drawing floor plans and elevation views but you will still need to measure and consult with a professional.

What's the difference between a floor plan and an elevation?
A floor plan is an overhead view of the entire space on one piece of paper. This is the view that best shows the layout and traffic patterns, window and door placement, and locations of appliances and cabinetry and fixed objects. An elevation view is drawn from the perspective of one looking directly at an interior wall. It indicates scale and proportions, but it is a two-dimensional drawing and will not show perspective.

What tools do I need to get started with a remodel?
Two tape measures, and a stepladder. You also need 1/4 inch graph paper, tracing paper, a notepad, pencils, a scale, ruler and erasers. Recruit a helper for measuring; the results will be more accurate.

Kitchen cabinets, arguably the strongest overall design statement in a kitchen, are a great investment. A particularly noteworthy feature is the appliance garage. The front rolls up when appliances are needed but otherwise stays down so that the kitchen stays neat.

Inside the garage are a shelf and an outlet in the granite. An appliance can be plugged in and used on the spot. In fact, it's important to place outlets and switches at each workstation. Even with two cooks, no one is inconvenienced. By being positioned at counter level, this storage unit prevents unnecessary bending or reaching up for heavy appliances.

Installing cabinet drawers ensures easy access. It's wise to store items needed on a daily basis on the top drawers to minimize bending down.  Stooping for cookware causes a sore back, especially if the pots and pans are heavy. They, too, belong in a top drawer. In this kitchen, drawers make up most of the cabinets. Although many conventional drawers pull out three-quarters, these are full extension so that every inch of space is reachable.

Locating utensils in a drawer as close as possible to the work space where they will be used cuts down on extra movement. For example, mixing bowls can nest in a drawer immediately below the countertop where the whisk, spoons, and other tools are clustered. The brushed-nickel pulls have a slim, traditional line. They're easy to grab and pull. 

Keep a desk are adjacent to the kitchen as a control center for the family. This keeps clutter off countertops and out of kitchens. Upper cabinets in the desk area are provided for storage for cookbooks and binders. Lower cabinets features hanging file folders to keep family business in order and close at hand.

When planning a desk area near a kitchen, consider how you will use the space. Provide enough surface area for a printer, computer and writing space for homework, if necessary. Desk-area cabinets can be fitted with inserts suitable for books, files, computer hardware, and other specific storage functions  Under-cabinet lighting in this area provides task lighting to illuminate desk work.

The cook has unobstructed movement between the sink and stove in a good kitchen. Sleek black or stainless steel appliances - a large double oven and side-by-side fridge, for example, recess into the floor-to-ceiling wall of cupboards.

In any kitchen, lighting is of paramount importance and a big consideration during a remodeling job. Adequate task lighting is essential for food prep and cooking, while multiple sources of ambient light are highly desirable. Upper cabinets above the sink and cooktop are placed high enough to allow in natural light from windows in the sitting room. Soffits rimming the kitchen on all sides contain recessed lighting canisters, as does the ceiling. They're carefully positioned to illuminate counters and opened cabinets  A fan with a light fixture brightens the central island for eating or homework.

Light-colored surfaces provide maximum reflectivity. The ceiling is classic white. Honey-tone glaze on the cabinet doors accentuates the rectangular contours of the raised paneling. The glaze was also applied to the island's bead-board side and paneled doors and drawers. The solid-surfacing countertops, once edged with a golden band of shiny metal, were updated with a softer painted edging, highlighted with the glaze used on cabinets.

While working at the sink (provided that lighting is right), cooks can enjoy an unbroken view of the outdoors. State of the art fixtures include an aerator, a spray hose with a brush that pulls out from the faucet, and a separate faucet for filtered water. A single lever on the mai faucet allows for easy adjustment of hot and cold water almost instantaneously. 

Today most kitchens have double sinks, but the size of each bowl may not be well-planned. In some kitchens, the left-hand sink is large enough to accomodate two pots or an oversize pan that needs to soak. The other sink, though smaller, is an adequate size for the garbage disposal. Although granite and stainless steel were initially considered for the sinks, cast iron was the ultimate choice. From a design perspective, the white sink echoes the appliances and the framing around the windows. Equally important, however, is the fact that cast iron offers easier clean-up and low maintenance.  Stretching more than 4 feet to the left of the sink and ending where the refrigerator stands, additional counter space makes an ideal location for cleanup. A cook can spread out to store a number of leftovers in containers. Also, dirty glassware and plates have a place to sit until they can be loaded in the two-drawer dishwasher. -Anthony Adams

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Whether you are planning a simple facelift or a major remodeling, your goal should be a design that gives you the largest and most functional area of work and storage space possible while creating a look that is open, light and aesthetically pleasing to you.

Kitchens come in all shapes and sizes. Your choice of layout will probably be determined by the size and configuration of your available space. The following layouts, ranging from the single wall and gallery to the larger open plan (coming January 2013), each have advantages and disadvantages, which we will discuss in depth. They are all based on efficient arrangements of fixturs and appliances that create effective work triangles and adequate storage. Use these ideas as a starting point to design the kitchen that works best for you and your family.  Space is compressed in a gallery arrangement and is most efficient when the sink is placed between the stove and refrigerator on the opposite counter.

Single Wall or Gallery Kitchen Layout - Two layout options for tight, narrow spaces often found in small or older homes and apartment are single-wall or gallery kitchens.  If a single wall kitchen, where the fridge, stove and sink are placed along one wall is the best choice, put the sink in the center and the fridge and stove on opposite ends to maximize counter space. Make sure the fridge hinges on the side away from the sink so the door won't open into your limited work space. Allow for 4 feet of counter space on either side of the sink and a space between 9 and 15 inches maximum for the range.

The gallery kitchen (often called a two-wall or corridor kitchen) is more efficient than the single-wall option because it offers more counter and storage space. One design option places the sink and refrigerator on one wall and centers the cooktop between them on the opposite wall. The other places the sink on one wall and the stove and fridge on the other. You need at least 4 feet of clear floor space between the counters. Try to avoid traffic patterns that cut through this tight work space if possible. While space is limited, this isn't a bad option to consider and many cooks like the layout.

U-Shape Kitchen - To allow for at least 4 feet of work space in the center of the kitchen during a remodeling job, a U-shape kitchen requires an interior space of at least 8x8 feet. Many designers consider the U-shape to be the most efficient and versatile kitchen configuration. This popular layout allows for storage and counter space on three sides. It works best if each of the three walls hosts one of the three elements of the work triangle; the refrigerator, the sink and the cooktop. Another advantage to this dead-end design is that it naturally cuts down on traffic interference. Be careful not to make the kitchen or the work triangle too large, or you will end up out of breath as you job through the kitchen from point to point.

If you have a large space, an island can house the cooktop or a sink, reducing the size of the work triangle but allowing room for many of the specialized centers desired by many of today's homeowners. U-shaped kitchens, especially those with small footprints, are not ideal for use by two cooks. In general, U-shape kitchens are extremely efficient, using available space efficiently to create easy prep and cooking flows.

by anthonyadams

When planning your kitchen, reflect on the many activities, from cooking to working to socializing, that take place in your kitchen, and gear specific areas of the kitchen to those activities and other special interest. For example, if you or other cooks in your family love to bake, design an area that will conveniently house all your baking supplies and cookware, and consider installing a cool marble countertop, which is perfect for rolling out pastries. If possible, this countert space area should be at least 36 un-interrupted inches, and you should consider making this section of your counter a little lower than standard, for greater comfort when rolling out dough.

Would you enjoy a coffee or beverage center? If you frequently entertain, you should scope out a spot outside the main work triangle and design an area with a second sink, a small refrigerator, a separate ice-maker, a wine cooler, and perhaps a mini media center.  If you have pets, consider installing a pet feeding station into a lower drawer in the kitchen. If you want to do chores like ironing near other activity centers, consider installing a pullout or fold-down ironing board, which disappears if not in use.

If you have space for a keeping room or other area with a fireplace, you will be able to capture and savor that precious moment of relaxing in front of a fire, sipping your morning coffee before heading out for the mad rush of the day.  If your children do their homeowner in the kitchen, make sure you include a place for their supplies and other often-needed items. Gardening and potting lovers should plan for a special nook themselves.  Keep everything you need for gardening in a handy spot so you can sneak in your hobby during any spare moment. You might also consider a craft center for you and your kids or a place for a sewing machine and other mending supplies.

Today's kitchen truly is the center of the home. The key is to make it accessible, open, light and friendly, not to mention - efficient. Weighing options before you beging your remodeling job will only increase your enjoyment later.

by Anthony Adams