Now that you've gathered 40-50 images, start looking at them to see if any themes become apparent. These questions will help you decide what your design drivers are and help you in defining your vision.

Is there a selection of colours that you’ve been drawn to?

Neutrals, Blues/greens, Yellows/Reds?

Is there an emotion that you feel every time you look at a particular pile?

Is there a high contrast?

Maybe it’s the cabinetry & the countertops that have a drastic colour difference or maybe it’s a colour palette within the space altogether.

What are the cabinetry style details? What about the door and drawer details?

Are they painted? Stained? Maybe they’re flat on the front or maybe they’re Craftsman-style looking. Shaker doors for instance.

*Defining Your Vision: Shaker style drawers*

Is the whole look of the kitchen uniform?

Is it the same colour uppers and lowers or maybe each area has a different personality? For instance, is the island a different colour? Or are the uppers different than the lowers?

What about the layout?

Is there an island? Is the shape of the kitchen an L-shape or U-shape? Maybe it’s a kitchen that has lowers only and then a whole bunch of windows. Or maybe there’s floating shelves or cabinets that have glass doors, giving it a light and bright feel.

What about the backsplashes and the countertops?

*Defining Your Vision: White subway tile backsplash with red herringbone detail above stove*

Appliances

Are they freestanding? Are they integrated? Do they have a specific kind of finish? Are they stainless steel, black, white, maybe they’re paneled?

Is the hoodfan visible or is it hidden? Is it a statement piece?

Sinks and associated plumbing fixtures

There’s apron-fronted, farmhouse-style, stainless steel or a variety of stone-looking ones. Some are made from the countertop material, there’s square and round bowls, there’s some that are deeper and shallower than others.

Consider the finishes for the plumbing fixtures that accompany the sink. Is it a single-functioning faucet, or widespread with two faucets that have a cold and a hot? Is there a sprayer? A soap dispenser? Some people like a direct hot water filter or maybe just filtered water altogether.

What about electrical fixtures?

Maybe there is a light fixture over a dining table that you just love and think “oh I’d love to have that over my dining table”. Is there a lot of lighting in the kitchen itself? Under the cabinetry for instance. Maybe there’s some pendants over the island or a peninsula.

Some clients find this step hard because they don’t really love anything in particular. Sometimes knowing what you don’t like can help provide clues as to what you might be open to. Or even if you know one element that you’re in love with, that can provide a jumping off point for the rest of space.

In my next post I will go over editing your inspiration photos to figure out what will really drive your design.

For more information, check out our podcast All Things Renovation at www.AllThingsRenovation.com. The second series of episodes focuses on kitchen renovations.

Click for more photos of our work!

Defining Your Vision - Part 1