Cambridge Construction created this remarkable kitchen that was feted during the Colorado Awards for Remodeling Excellence.

By Casey Cisneros

Who are some of your favorite performers? How did you pick the Denver area as a place to live? What’s your favorite restaurant? These are some of the questions that you could ask of a new friend or business associate in order to get to know that person a little better. But, have you ever tried asking someone to describe his or her kitchen. Probably not, but it turns out our kitchens can speak poignantly about our personalities.

That is why it is important to keep lifestyle in mind when coming up with a new plan to remodel any kitchen. If a five-star chef lives in the home, maybe there should be a prep station and overhead pot fillers above the stove. If you like to entertain friends for the Broncos game, then lots of counter space and a flat screen TV are must haves.

Matching the personality and the goals of the homeowner will make a pleasing kitchen, not just the newest appliances or the highest priced items in the show room.

When Jeane Dole, principal of A la Carte Design, meets with new clients who want to remodel a kitchen, she wants to get to know the people before she starts to think about possible designs for the new kitchens.

“I ask questions like, ‘how many cooks are in the home,’” explains Dole. “Then I take lots of pictures of the space and come up with different options of how to remodel the kitchen. I tell (the clients) that it takes time to work on design.”

After patiently choosing a plan that fits you, then it’s time to get more practical and start creating a budget for the project.

Some online references, such as Kitchen.com, can save precious personal time and money. With a wide range of subjects from calculating a budget to the first meeting with an interior designer, such web sites can make any remodeling first-timer more knowledgeable.

That’s not to say that being a professional interior designer comes over night.

Dole’s job is more than picking out colors and counter tops. She wants to accommodate all the people that live in the home. Helping set a budget and drawing designs in AutoCAD are part of the mix, but she’s also there to observe and find fresh perspectives.

“One problem for homeowners is to see their old space in a new way,” comments Dole on the importance of an outside voice. “When I go in I like to take many photographs, ask questions and then sit down and try to plan out what is feasible to do with the space.”

Casey Cisneros is a Loveland-based freelance writer.