THE KITCHEN QUESTIONNAIRE

Use this worksheet to assess what’s working, what’s not, and what you want to prioritize in your kitchen renovation.

1. WHAT’S STAYING? WHAT’S CHANGING?

  • What items in your current kitchen do you want to keep?

  • What absolutely needs to change?

2. FUNCTION & LAYOUT

  • Does your current kitchen have enough space?

    • Overall footprint

    • Countertop space

    • Pantry storage

    • Dish, glass, and utensil storage

    • Pots and pans

    • Utensils

    • Refrigerator and freezer space

  • How many people are typically in your kitchen at one time? Does that work?

  • Are there traffic jams? Where, and why?

  • How many people usually cook at once?

  • Do you entertain often?

  • Are you planning to keep the existing footprint?

  • Do you want to change the layout? (e.g., remove walls, add an island, expand storage)

  • Do you know what kind of layout you want?

3. WORKFLOW ZONES

Think through how efficient your current kitchen is:

  • Prep Area

    • Are you close to the sink, trash, cutting boards, and utensils?

  • Coffee Station

    • Are mugs, coffee, and filters nearby?

    • How far is it from the sink and fridge?

  • Cleanup Area

    • Is the dishwasher near the sink and trash?

    • Are your most-used dishes easy to load and unload?

  • Cooking Zone

    • Are your spices and oils near the stove?

    • Are oven mitts near the oven?

  • Daily Storage

    • Are baggies and food storage containers easy to reach?

    • Can kids reach their cups, plates, and snacks?

    • Are daily-use appliances (like a blender or food processor) accessible?

4. APPLIANCES

  • What major appliances do you plan to add or upgrade?
    (Examples: island, banquette, steam oven, built-in microwave, second dishwasher, beverage fridge)

  • Will any appliances require modifications to utilities?

    • Will you need to add a water line (e.g., for an ice maker, pot filler, or second sink)?

    • Will you need new venting for the hood or cooktop?

    • Will electrical need to be added or relocated for undercounter appliances?

    • Are gas lines staying in place, or will they need to move?

  • Where will countertop appliances go?

    • Stays on the countertop:
      (e.g., toaster, tea kettle, coffee machine, microwave)

    • Storedd in cabinet or appliance hutch with outlet access:
      (e.g., blender, food processor, milk frother)

    • Stored in pantry or low-priority cabinet:
      (e.g., crockpot, air fryer, bread machine)

5. MATERIALS & MAINTENANCE

  • How often do you cook?

  • How resistant do your materials need to be (stain, heat, scratch)?

  • Will your backsplash need to withstand messes like sauce splatter?

  • Will your island be used for daily seating?

6. LIGHTING

  • Are you satisfied with your current lighting?

  • Do you need:

    • Recessed lighting

    • Pendant lighting

    • Under-cabinet lighting

    • Task lighting in specific areas

  • Outlet Locations

    • Charging Location

    • Appliances

  • Lighgt Switch Locations

    • Think how you will turn on and off lights

    • What lights you want to turn on together and keep seperate

    • Dimmer

7. BUDGET & TIMELINE

  • What is your estimated budget?
    If unknown, which scenario best fits you?

    • Full gut renovation

    • Facelift (cabinets stay, some new materials)

    • Spruce up (hardware, lighting, stools, accessories)

  • Do you have a target timeline? Is it flexible?

8. STYLE & VISION

  • What are five words that describe your style?

  • How do you want to feel when you're in your kitchen?

  • What is your biggest design priority?

9. DESIGN PREFERENCES

Cabinetry

  • Do you prefer custom, semi-custom, or stock?

  • Open shelving or closed storage?

Appliances

  • What type of refrigerator, oven, cooktop, and specialty appliances do you want?

Countertops & Backsplash

  • What materials and colors appeal to you?

  • Do you prefer full-slab backsplash or tile?

Flooring

  • What type of flooring do you prefer? (e.g., hardwood, tile, vinyl plank)

Plumbing Fixtures

  • What kind of sink and faucet do you want?

  • Do you want a pot filler or built-in water filter?

Finishes & Hardware

  • What colors, metals, or finishes are you drawn to?

Furnishings & Decor

  • Do you need:

    • Barstools

    • Dining chairs

    • Window treatments

    • Rugs

Technology

  • Are you interested in smart features like:

    • Voice-activated appliances

    • Smart lighting

    • Charging stations?