Start with your layout before anything else. Your layout given your space you have to work with, including ceiling height. When you say "meet with companies", what kind of companies are you talking about? General contractors, design-build firms, interior designers, kitchen designers, or subcontractors (like for your flooring)? As a heads up, it is a mistake to talk to GCs and subcontractors without some kind of plan first.

As an example, you say you want a large single-bowl sink. How large can you fit? 30" wide, 36" wide, 45" wide? And depending on your answer, will that affect your appliances, for example, like if you wanted a wider fridge than the standard 36", or a wider range than most common 30", or, if you don't want a range, but want a cooktop and separate wall ovens. Your one decision about the sink can affect the layout and choices of everything else.

I would not do anything until I learned more about kitchen renovations so you have a knowledge base to start with.

Sounds like a fun project! You said that you're replacing several rooms of flooring, but is the new flooring going to meet other flooring anywhere else in the house? That will make a difference to the flooring material you select. To keep yourself focused, start with the items that you have the least choices with, then work your way out from there. I generally select counters before backsplash, and paint color last. At the beach, we're doing a lot of white or soft taupe gray colors in cabinets. Either choice mixes beautifully with quartz. There are some fantastic large, single bowl sinks that are work stations. If you're a foodie, they're great because they have cutting boards and colanders that sit right in the rim when you need them. Small touches of brushed gold can give you a nice wow factor. The main advice I can give is to do what you love instead of the trends and consider using a kitchen designer. Make sure they ask a lot of questions and listen to what you say. Have fun!

I'm not very good with wow and new, especially in kitchens, where I tend to prefer the time-tested and true for our family : ) . When we first started planning the kitchen for our new house several years ago, I was thinking of pot fillers and built-in coffee makers, and then realized that's not how we live or use our kitchen.

What are your goals for the remodel? Do you want more storage, an updated look, more countertop space, a more efficient layout? Of course, a lot depends on how you use your kitchen, and who uses it. Do you want a "one bum" kitchen, or one with room for several cooks?

My design must-haves are an efficient and strong layout, lots of countertop/work space, lots of efficient storage, lots of light -- natural and artificial; and for the latter, general lighting, ambient lighting, and task lighting. My preference is also to pick the best appliance for each job (and my budget) rather than a matching suite of appliances.

And for the base cabinets -- drawers, drawers, drawers.

An excellent starting point for this sort of project is the Kitchen forum FAQ which has all sorts of advice,

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5500754/new-to-kitchens-read-me-first#24315761

Because the thread has more than 500 comments, the first few comments/posts are "hidden", and you need to click on the "See XX more comments" link to reveal them.

Also a very good and helpful thread,

Looking for layout help? Memorize this first

My must-have would be that I could be blindfolded and yet move around the new kitchen instinctively, finding things I needed without a lot of "now where did we put that" and not bumping into things. (Removing the working knives before this blindfold test, of course.)

but we knew exactly what we were going to do before talking with a KD. I used her to get access to her DH who is the cabinetmaker.

*lol* OK, that is probably funnier than you meant it to be, but I get it.

I'm working with a KD/cabinetmaker team as well. Although they're a true team, and each bring their own brand of genius.

OP, think about how you work in your kitchen, the sorts of things you do. Are you a big entertainer? Do you need the ability to assemble dinner parties? Or are you more a dedicated bread baker? Or a pastry nut, in need of the thermal properties of real stone for keeping butter-rich doughs cool? Or more "take out" folks, where the kitchen is more for heating things up than really a true workspace?

Also think about how you want it to feel. Crisp and sleek? Warm and homey?

So, layout first. Then, choose your most limiting option. That's usually flooring. After that, countertops. And THEN the precise color of the cabinets, because that is more infinitely variable. Once all that is in you can pick a backsplash.

Now, you can have a general idea of what you want, but precise choices need to work together. For instance, you can start out with the intent of doing light countertops, medium brown floors, and sea glass blue cabinets. But don't pick the cabinet shade until you have the floor and countertop selected.

Where in Florida? I ask because the best thing I did before starting my kitchen remodel was 1) look at a TON of new model homes (in south Florida, I can recommend a few neighborhoods) and 2) started searching on Houzz for ideas and saving kitchens I liked. Get some ideas!

Really great advice above, thank you!

Karen, SW Florida. Anywhere from Fort Myers to Naples I am searching for great communities with new models built in the last year. Some of the models are a few years old and I’ve likely seen them.

Holly, I lost count on how many meetings were held trying to get the drawings right (gal in her office drew plan by hand - not too detailed). **I decided to delete the rest, this is the internet after all.

frostyfootball, also look at designers (not necessarily KDs) pages on Instagram for ideas.

I would not use model homes, specially in FL, as inspiration, unless you want a very trendy kitchen that will look outdated in 5 years. We just went house shopping in SW FL and the "in" style now is Coastal or West Indies! Most of the kitchens are white with some type of marble look white quartz.

But the interpretation of "Coastal" of these large FL builders isn't timeless ...just like Mediterranean wasn't.

All of these kitchens are beach/coastal kitchens.

All but the green kitchen (4th) are kitchens I would like, but until you actually post a photo of your version of a coastal kitchen we honestly have no idea what you want to achieve.

All but the green kitchen are kitchens I would like

allison, do you mean the first photo or the fourth one?

The first one is lovely and at least gives the illusion of being cool on a hot day : ) .

Nothing timeless with coastal.

Back in the 50's coastal meant homes with lots of glass and shed roofs opening to the rear of the house, terrazzo floors and having a somewhat sputnik feel.

In the 70's coastal meant turquoise and pink with shell and floral wallpaper, macrame, low ceilings, light wood cabinets, candles with wax dripped over chianti bottles and Florida ranch style homes with sliders to the pool out back.

Back in the 90's/early 2000's, coastal meant Mediterranean style homes with all the stone, saltillo tile floors, faux painted walls, "character" wood, iron beds.

Now coastal means light blues, turquoises and grays with fake wood beams on the ceilings, 12 foot + ceilings, nano walls to the pool, wood look tile floors, white cabinets with quartz and Tommie Bahama furniture.

And most of the model homes (million dollar plus) are still poorly designed and laid out. I'm just about 2 hours north of where you are and I'm totally underwhelmed by what I see.

So what do you mean by coastal and will it work with YOUR house?

Figure out your house style and then create a kitchen that will work with your house style.

Ideally you want to follow Ice, Water, Stone, Fire, which means Ice (take food out of the fridge/pantry) and bring it to Water (the sink to wash), then move it to Stone ( the counter between the sink and cooktop so you can prep the food still near your water source) and finally to Fire (meaning it's time to cook the food.)

Make sure your kitchen style matches your house style. If you do a contemporary house, don't put in shaker cabinets and subway tile. If you do a key west house, don't put in slab front sleek high gloss cabinets and make it look like it belongs in a contemporary box.

Heck I live in a coastal environment. I guess I could call my kitchen coastal. ;)

Becky, 4th.

Cpartist... I mean light, airy, clean, crisp. Not fussy. Not ornate. Not glitz. Leaning toward casual and carefree. Transitional and contemporary-coastal are fine, not modern or traditional. I want a feeling of relaxation that will go with the rest of the home. I like the porcelain, wood-look plank flooring. I like the pale gray cabinets, white cabinets. I like shaker but not married to them. Like light countertops. It's a smaller kitchen so keeping it light makes sense. Flooring color is a bit of a wildcard - thinking of the wood-look and like the distressed beachy colors, that will transition will into the carpeted bedrooms which are neutral. Prefer not to recarpet but if necessary....

Here is a picture of a shell/driftwood/seaglass mirror I have on my wall. My walls are in BM "Calm": ....very light. The colors, particularly the driftwood....are perhaps the colors for the floor wood...grays, beiges, off whites. In the reflection is a painting that belonged to my parents and while the frame is ornate, I can't bring myself to change it. I know it's not consistent with what I described for the kitchen. No worries on that. Can I just call it eclectic? :-) The wall is just one accent wall but the rest of the home is very light paint. The chandelier will eventually go when I pick out new fixtures. I'm not going to base any kitchen decisions on the style of the dining room.

Love your points about ice, water, stone, fire. I will have that layout after I move the frig.

Before you meet with anyone, you need to do your homework.

Please read the postings below to help you on your journey.

You will need to have some pictures of kitchens you like, kitchens you don't like and WHY you like/dislike either one. You need to know how you cook and what you want your kitchen to do for you and your family.

Kitchen websites that are helpful

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5500754/new-to-kitchens-read-me-first#n=533

http://starcraftcustombuilders.com/kitchen.design.rules.htm#.Wq1aeWrwaM8

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/2767033/how-do-i-ask-for-layout-help-and-what-information-should-i-include

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/3638270/faq-kitchen-work-zones-what-are-they

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/3638304/faq-aisle-widths-walkways-seating-overhangs-work-landing-space-etc

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/3638376/faq-how-do-i-plan-for-storage

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/2699918/looking-for-layout-help-memorize-this-first

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/4273188/things-you-added-or-removed-that-you-love-regret-in-your-kitchen-renov

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5332686/10-tests-for-you-and-your-contractors-first-meeting#n=25

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/10-common-kitchen-layout-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them-stsetivw-vs~116563485?m_refid=us-ocnt-reg-ocnt-stories-ktichen-116563485&fbclid=IwAR2VNIFLSZEN3skfRbCDsZdylbGcyCVJO5cRAEvIJyyMAgPz0PLdReOkX-s

Wow, good reading! Thanks. Got a lot out of that. Have to digest all of it.

Draw out a rough plan of what you're thinking with dimensions and then we can help you refine your plan.

Also from a design standpoint don't get married to grays unless you truly love them and have loved them since before they were in style. I say that because grays are starting to trend down and out. If you love them though, they will always work for you.

For example, I have always loved tans, soft greens with some red accents and have used those colors in some form or another for well over 20 years. All I've managed to do is change the proportions of each of those colors depending on the house. My colors have been in and out of style but I don't care because they work for me. Make sure your colors work for you now and long into the future, whatever colors you love.

As for the wood tile look, we're seeing more tile that looks like stones such as slates. I think the wood look is also trending down. Again if it's a look you love, go for it.

Hubby likes wood and I am trying to avoid actual wood. I haven’t seen the slate flooring but that sounds interesting. I do love gray. LOVE it. But I want a pale version. I redid my baths recently and did white cabinets in one and blue/gray in the other. Grays would work but other than whites I’m not sure what color I’d like more. Thanks, CP

How will guests access the rest of the house from the new guest room/ former breakfast room (I realize that your drawing hasn’t been adjusted), and how far away would the guest bath be? Sorry if this seems irrelevant to your thread, but it’s easy to lose track of things like this. And will the door to the outside remain? As a guest, I would love this. :-)

I guess my definition of coastal would be clean and cool and airy, with lots of watery marine colors and cool (nickel, stainless, silver) glints, and minimal fuss.

Otherwise, my requirements for a kitchen would be as I posted above: smart, intuitive layout.

Hubby likes wood and I am trying to avoid actual wood.

We put in engineered wood with tile in our friends entry. Anyone coming in from the pool uses the friends entry where we have cement tile. Otherwise it's the engineered oak flooring and it's been great so far.

I haven’t seen the slate flooring but that sounds interesting.

When my friend gets back in 2 weeks, I can run over and take a pic of her floors. They really are pretty. Remind me by sending me a message.

I do love gray. LOVE it. But I want a pale version. I redid my baths recently and did white cabinets in one and blue/gray in the other. Grays would work but other than whites I’m not sure what color I’d like more. Thanks, CP

If you love grays, then you need to do grays. You need to love your house and be happy in it. What I try and steer folks away from is doing what is trendy because it's safe or it's all they're used to seeing.

I have a wonderful neighbor. Her whole house is gray, white with brown kitchen cabinets and black granite. She does have pops of color in small doses. It's a very modern house and it works for her. And the reason I know it works for her is her whole wardrobe is blacks, whites, grays, tans and beiges. And once in a while she'll throw in a navy something. Compare that to my wardrobe where I have reds, greens, blues, turquoises, peach, brown, black, etc. Our houses reflect who we are.

Look to your wardrobe to see what other colors you like. :)

We just finished a new home build and I’ll share what I love most about my new kitchen!

I love my big island - I originally wanted a small prep sink in the island, but decided it was unnecessary in a kitchen our size (not huge), and I am SO GLAD. I LOVE having a big open workspace.

Drawers. I put a ton of drawers in and I freaking love them.

A big powerful range hood. My husband and I have sensitive noses, and that “food smell” bugs us. We got a nice powerful range hood to vent the air outside and it is so wonderful. I mean I love Brussels sprouts but I don’t need my kitchen to smell like them for hours after dinner :)

Big windows by the sink. We got a big unequal sink- so we still have a small side to plug up and soak water bottles, small stuff, but have a big sink to work with. I know you mentioned one big sink - it will be awesome! I put three big windows along that wall and I LOVE it.

Good luck, have fun, and post tons of pics along the way! :)