New to Kitchens? Read Me First! (2020 Interim)

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

Welcome!

If you are new to Houzz's Kitchens Forum (formerly, GardenWeb's Kitchens Forum), you may find the following information and links to various topics helpful as you begin your Kitchen journey. These topics will help you navigate the world of kitchen remodeling and, in the process, introduce you to ideas that you may not have thought of or seriously considered.

We begin by helping you come up with a "Mission Statement" or "Goal" for your future kitchen and continue through the planning, implementation, and, finally, the unveiling of your final kitchen and the enjoyment of working in a kitchen that YOU helped come to pass!

In addition, there are a set of threads that form the Kitchen Design FAQs that will be useful for understanding kitchen design as well as asking for help. Read these threads to get not only an idea of the best practice design principles/guidelines, but also to understand the comments you will receive when you post your layout for comments.

When you have a preliminary layout, post it here for critiquing. If you have no layout and don't know where to start, that's OK! We can help you start. Simply post a blank slate of the space. Whether a new build or a remodel, read the "Layout Help" FAQ thread (see below) - it discusses what information we need to help you get the best layout for you, your family, and your space.

One very important note before we begin…

When asking questions (e.g., asking for layout help), please keep in mind that everyone here is trying to help, not criticize maliciously. Some of us can be blunt, but no one is out to deliberately insult or hurt anyone. When your kitchen is done, we want you to have a kitchen that functions wonderfully well and looks nice overall -- but the process will take time and may entail comments that many times you won't want to hear (e.g., when a layout is dysfunctional). We strongly recommend you "keep listening" to what others have to say but, in the end, you don't have to take any advice given here. It's your kitchen and you are the one who will make the final decisions!

Again, welcome and good luck! The journey is wild, sometimes bumpy, but fun and very rewarding in the end!

FAQ TOPICS (select the topic URL to navigate to the FAQ)

1. Defining Your Goal for Your Remodel: http://finishedkitchens.blogspot.com/p/the-sweeby-test.html

2. Asking for Layout Help…Please read this thread before posting your layout for help. This thread describes what we need to effectively help you with your layout. Without this information, people will only be able to give you general information and/or guesses as to what might work for you. Read the Layout Help thread and provide the requested information when asking for help (e.g., fully measured layout of the space, sketch of the entire floor, constraints, etc.): https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5500789/faq-how-do-i-ask-for-layout-help-what-information-should-i-include

3. Humorous discussion of workflow and other layout topics (a.k.a., the "Ice.Water.Stone.Fire" thread): https://www.houzz.com/discussions/2699918/looking-for-layout-help-memorize-this-first

4. Kitchen Design Guidelines/Best Practices…These threads discuss recommended guidelines and best practices for a functional Kitchen design:

FAQ: Kitchen Work Zones, What Are They?: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5500762/faq-kitchen-work-zones-what-are-they
FAQ: Aisle Widths, Walkways, Seating Overhangs, Work/Landing Space etc.: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5500771/faq-aisle-widths-walkways-seating-overhangs-work-landing-space-etc
FAQ: How Do I Plan For Storage?: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5500787/faq-how-do-i-plan-for-storage

5. Design Considerations…This thread discusses and illustrates several considerations needed when designing Kitchen components. E.g., why refrigerators need space between them and deep walls, why two seats cannot share the same leg/overhang space on an island with corner seating, etc.: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/4306236/kitchen-design-layout-considerations

6. IKEA Hacks: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/4306128/ikea-hacks-compilation-of-ikea-hacks

7. Stone Information…This thread discusses selecting a stone material, installing it, and maintaining it: https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/2558824/stone-information-and-advice-and-checklists

8. Preparing for and Surviving Your Remodel, including a Temporary Kitchen:

9. MiscellaneousOther Items: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5500839/faq-other-items-of-interest

10. Acronyms: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/faq-thread-acronyms-abbreviations-and-definitions-dsvw-vd~5364389

As you review the above threads, please check to see if there are more than 50 comments/posts on the thread. If there are, you will need to repeatedly select the "See xxx more comments" link to see the entire thread. [To see the number of comments, look at the "Comments (xxx)" text below the sharing links. The "See xx more comments" link is below the comment #s and just above the responding comments.]

One final note: Please do not post questions on this or any of the FAQ threads listed in this thread. If you have questions, search the Forum. If you cannot find an answer to your question or you think the answers are outdated, then start a NEW thread of your own - do not hijack someone else's thread or post to an FAQ.

Featured Answer

Buehl
Original Author

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

Probably the most often request to posters from folks attempting to help is the request for basic information for layouts. Yes, I link to the Layout Help FAQ above, but most posters either don't see this thread, or they don't go to the Layout Help FAQ and just assume they know what we need. So, to make it easier to see the help, I'm posting what's needed here (as well as in the Layout Help FAQ, which has more information).

+++++ NEED LAYOUT HELP? READ BELOW BEFORE POSTING +++++

Please post a fully-measured layout of the space under consideration and a sketch of the entire floor. Both can be either hand-drawn, computer generated, or drawn up with computer/app tools.

By "fully-measured", we mean a layout with the widths of each wall/window/door/doorway and the distances between each wall/window/door/doorway labeled. See a sample below. If something cannot be moved or changed, label it precisely on your layout (see post in sample) and tell us why it cannot be moved/changed -- we may have some ideas for you.

The sketch of the entire floor lets us see how the Kitchen relates to the rest of the home. It doesn't have to be to-scale, but it should accurately show how the rooms relate to each other and should include all interior & exterior doors. In addition, it will help us see how traffic flows in, around, and through the Kitchen. Label the front entry and family entry. The family entry is usually a garage or side entry, but it might not be. It's helpful to know which door you use to bring in groceries.

Regardless of how you draw it up (by hand, computer, etc.), please be sure all measurements are labeled. (Note: Computer generated layouts often lack key measurements and, sometimes, measure to/from things like the middle of a wall or the middle of a window. Neither are useful. Measure each item and the distances between each item.)

Other questions...

Tell us about you and your family and how you plan to use your Kitchen. All-adults? Empty Nesters? Children (now or in the future)?
What appliances (& their sizes) do you plan to have?
Where are you flexible? Can walls/windows/doors/doorways change (move, change size, add, delete)?
Do you have a basement under the Kitchen or are you on a slab?

The above and more are discussed in the Layout Help FAQ.

Layout Help FAQ: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5500789/faq-how-do-i-ask-for-layout-help-what-information-should-i-include
Ice.Water.Stone.Fire, a humorous discussion of Kitchen design: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/2699918/looking-for-layout-help-memorize-this-first

Also see...

Work Zones, What Are They?: https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5500762/faq-kitchen-work-zones-what-are-they
Aisles Widths, Seating Overhangs, etc.: https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5500771/faq-aisle-widths-walkways-seating-overhangs-work-landing-space-etc
Storage Planning: https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5500787/faq-how-do-i-plan-for-storage

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Comments (12)

Buehl
Original Author
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
To keep this thread a manageable length, if you bump, please come back and delete the bump post once someone has bumped after you. Thank you!
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Since I cannot get the new links to work, I changed the originating post to match what I put in the new Read Me thread. It will have to suffice for now. Still around 1.1K comments, but at least the main information is immediately visible without having to try to get to the first few comments. BTW...has anyone else seen that the comments are all jumbled up and that it's almost impossible to find the early comments? [I did submit a ticket to Support. Let's see if I have any better luck this time than in previous attempts.]
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Another strange thing--I've been tagging the Test forum on the above threads, so see if they show up there. They do, but then they disappear when they disappear from the UH forum. I also noticed that the sample thread I started in March to send to Buehl is missing, and I did not delete it (could not have deleted it since it is so old). It still stows up in my bookmarks, and I can access it. This is a screen grab: An older test thread of mine is there, and the one I moved over there yesterday from Kitchens, then deleted the text and responses when Buehl posted her new thread, is there (title is 'deleted'), but a thread I did not delete /could not have deleted, is gone from the page. I edited the OP yesterday, to add some of Buehl's new links, so maybe it's the issue of links again.
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All my other threads have now mysteriously re-appeared (i.e., I suspect the Houzz bug has been fixed). Let's use the first one I created and let this thread slowly fade away. Here's the one to go to: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5972404/new-to-kitchens-read-me-first-2020-interim#n=1
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Everything should be to the same scale. What's better, and preferred, is a fully-measured layout with all dimensions clearly labeled of the space under consideration. Please see the New to Kitchens? Read Me First! (2020 Interim) thread for more information. https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5972404/new-to-kitchens-read-me-first-2020-interim
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just_janni
4 years ago
GREAT information here - especially on the layout help. - MEASURED DRAWINGS - overhead view - not renderings from the kitchen designer. NOT photos without scale. And please - not a huge run on paragraph without any pictures at all. YOU may know your space inside and out - but we're all guessing at the layout, the light, the limitations and dimensions.

Even bought sketches on graph paper is helpful - they do not need to be perfect.

Thanks for this as always, Buehl
Buehl
Original Author
3 years ago
🌺To keep this thread a manageable length, if you bump, please come back and delete the bump post once someone has bumped after you. Thank you!
Buehl
Original Author
3 years ago
~bump~
0
Buehl
Original Author
3 years ago
~bump~
0
Buehl
Original Author
2 years ago
Updated "Sample Layout"
Y WANG
2 years ago
I think I turned on messages, can you try to send me a message? I m not sure how to send a message to you. Thank you so much for your help.
0
Buehl
Original Author
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
***** HOW TO TURN ON MESSAGING *****

(1) Hover over your profile - where it says "Your Houzz" in the upper right corner

(2) Select the option that says "Edit Profile and Settings". Your Account Information page will appear.

(3) From the left navigation panel, select "Advanced Settings". Your Advanced Setting page will appear.

(4) Scroll down to the "Privacy settings" section (almost at the bottom).

(5) In the drop down menu for the "Who can message me" box, select "Allow anyone to message me"

(6) When done, select the "Update" button on the bottom right of the page.

.

To find your messages:

When someone messages you, you should see the message in two places:

The Inbox of whatever email address you have in your profile (you entered it when you joined Houzz)

-and-

The Inbox of your Houzz messages

To get to your Houzz messages:

(1) Go to your Houzz page by selecting "Your Houzz" in the upper right corner. Your page will appear.

(2) Under your name & picture (if you uploaded one), you will see 4 items to choose: Ideabooks, Orders, Messages, Activity

(3) Select "Messages". Your Houzz mailbox will appear.

(4) Select either "New Inbox" or "Old Inbox" (it doesn't matter which). Your messages will appear.

Note that the "Inbox" is not very easy to navigate as it includes both messages you received and messages you sent all mixed together. It may be easier to use your own email client instead of trying to use Houzz's.
Buehl
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Some comments have recently been made regarding this thread by newer posters. To address those comments and correct the misconceptions being bandied about, I thought a short history of this thread for those who have not been around since 2008 or so would be helpful (yes, that's how long we've had this thread!)

Back in 2008, we were constantly asking for all sorts of information when someone needed help. We realized that it would so much easier if we had a thread that listed what information we typically need when helping with layouts and pointing new people to it. Together a group of us came up with the Read Me thread idea that would later be a "sticky" at the top of the Kitchens Forum. It incorporated not just our information requests, but also FAQs that discussed Kitchen Design Best Practices & Guidelines, how to get started (e.g., goals & Sweeby Test), etc.

Know that it was not and never has been the work of one individual or one individual's ideas being forced on others. Yes one person keeps it up, but the content was a group effort.

Regarding the "sticky" & FAQs...Unfortunately, when Houzz took over GardenWeb, they eliminated a lot of functionality including but not limited to, the ability to have a "sticky" at the top of a Forum and a set of FAQs for Forums. (Kitchens, Appliances, Laundry, and other Forums had FAQs when they were part of GardenWeb.) To rectify these new issues, we:
- Continually "bump" the thread to keep it on the first page
- Expanded the Read Me thread to include other topics besides layout help.
I hope this helps others to understand why we have this thread and how it came about!
Buehl
Original Author
4 months ago
last modified: 4 months ago
>>> Posting Pictures - Your own as well as those saved on Houzz <<<

Your pictures: Getting the picture ready to post.
- Note that the picture should be in "jpg" or "png" format.
- If using a camera, upload the picture to your phone or computer/laptop or tablet.
- If taking a screenshot, save it as "jpg"
- Once you have the picture on your device, you are ready to post the picture.
There are two general ways to post your picture/image:

#1: Using the "Photo" icon
- Select the "Photo" icon in the message editing line
- Navigate to the location of the picture on your device
- Select the picture
- Select "Open"
- The picture will appear in the message box
#2: Using the "Houzz Photo" icon
- Navigate to the location of the picture on your device
- Select the "Houzz Photo" icon in the message editing line
- Drag & drop the picture to the right box that says "Browse"
- Once the picture is clear and the "Insert" button is selectable, select the "Insert" button
- The picture will appear in the message box
Editing Line with "Photo" and "Houzz Photo" icons:

Using the "Houzz Photo" Icon

Posting a picture saved on Houzz or via a Houzz URL
- Navigate to the location of the picture on your device
- Select the "Houzz Photo" icon in the message editing line
- > If retrieving from your saved pictures in your "Ideabooks", select the picture (box on left)
- > If retrieving from a Houzz URL, select the "Houzz URL" tab and enter the URL (box on left)
- In both cases, the picture will appear in the right box that says "Browse"
- Once the picture is clear and the "Insert" button is selectable, select the "Insert" button
- The picture will appear in the message box
Buehl
Original Author
18 hours ago
0