Whether you are designing the kitchen of your dreams or remodeling your existing kitchen, one thing is certain: You’re going to have to do some serious measuring.
A man measuring his kitchen
Source: istockphotos
All great kitchen designs and remodels begin with precise measurements. You need to know exactly what you’re dealing with–how much space you have, what obstructions your need to consider, and which windows and doors will affect your plans.
Yes, measuring a kitchen is the first step towards making your kitchen dreams come true. So without further ado, here is a step-by-step guide to measuring a kitchen:
Get your gear — You’re going to need a tape measure, straight edge and some graph paper.
Draw an outline — It doesn’t have to be to exact scale, but you will need a rough outline of your kitchen, including where the doors and windows are located (and which way they open). Make sure to include obstructions–radiators, pipes, etc.–on your outline.
Measure clockwise around the room — Begin measuring at the top left corner of your outline and make your way around the room in a clockwise manner. Mark the distance between each corner to each window or door. Windows and doors should be measured from the outside trim on one side to the outside trim on the other side.
Measure top to bottom — Once you’ve measured your way around the room, measure the ceiling height at various spots in your kitchen (ceiling heights can actually deviate by an inch or two in the same room). After you’ve measured the ceiling height, measure from the floor to the bottom of each window. Then measure each window’s height.
Measure obstructions — Obstructions can either be eyesores or an assets. They are more likely to be assets if you have accurately measured them. Measure them, mark them down and let your building partners help you figure out how to incorporate them into the kitchen’s overall design.
Check your math — The final step in measuring a kitchen is to check your math. Add your top wall measurements. Add your bottom wall measurements. Compare the two and make sure their totals are equal to one another. If they are not, you need to check your measurements.
Consider the countertops — Once you know how much space you have, it’s time to consider the countertops. For assistance measuring your countertops, and figuring out how to create more countertops space, contact the experts at Arch City Granite & Marble.