I cannot read your drawing on my screen. You should peruse magazines, Houzz, Pinterest, and save any kitchen designs pics that appeal to you. Your designer needs to have something to start with - do you like modern, traditional, transitional? Though don't get hung up on meaningless marketspeak design names like "modern farmhouse", "industrial chic", or "the horsey-set look". Pictures tell a thousand words.

In any case, here are the questions I would start with:

- what is your budget. This one is the lynchpin for any plans you have for your kitchen. Nothing - nothing - can proceed without a ballpark of what you want to spend. Is it $40k, $75k, $100k? You will need to buy cabinets, counters, appliances, sink or sinks, faucet(s), ceiling lighting, undercabinet lighting, hardware, backsplash, maybe flooring. Think about what you want to spend for all that.

- appliances - what kind of cooking do you do, and for how many? That would help to determine your appliances. Is a 36" fridge enough, or do you need larger, or do you have ability to have a spare fridge in the basement for overflow. Do you want a rangetop plus wall ovens, or a range? Do you have a gas line for a gas cooking, or do you want all electric? And most of all, no matter what, come hell or high water, make sure to budget for hood exhaust, including making sure your duct from the hood to the outside is 8" or 10" diameter. This is not negotiable.

- counters - do some online reading about the various counter types such as granite, marble, Quartz, quartzite, soapstone. There is no "correct" counter. It's what appeals to you in the way of looks, budget, and upkeep.

- cabinets - it is sometimes hard to know whether you would want wood, white painted, or color-painted. Again, look at kitchen pics and see what appeals to you. Also, take your kitchen into acount with this decision - if your kitchen won't get a lot of light, perhaps dark cabinets isn't what you'd want. How high is your kitchen's ceiling? I think 9' is ideal. Taller than that adds issues of cost, lighting, and practicality.

Thanks. I have a huge pinterest board so we can definitely start there. We even have our countertops selected (Quartz Soapstone). The cabinet budget really stumps me. I want nice, quality (all wood) cabinets that will last. We're going with white, probably shaker style. I'd love to get a sense of cabinet costs. I understand RTA, in stock, semi custom and custom. We're probably in the semi-custom category. I've searched the internet and they seem to be all over the place anywhere from $100 - $650 per linear foot.

Dimension-wise, we only have 7.5 foot celiings. The kitchen is 13'6" x 11'5" with some of that being taken up with refrigerator, DW, Sink, Window, Range, etc. We have an island that is 7'6" x 4'9" and assumes 30 inch deep cabinets on one side and 12 inch deep cabinets on the seating side. Plus we have cabinets planned in the breakfast nook that run 6'6" (I will add a wine fridge there which reduces my linear feet on the base cabinets). All in all, I come up with +/- 70 linear feet of cabinets. Is $25 - $35k a decent budget for cabinets alone? Or am I way off the mark?

Assuming that you've been referred to a true professional KD and not a draftsperson, then I recommend you put yourselves in their care and let them guide you from where you are (basic kitchen layout) through everything needed to create the perfect kitchen for you and your family.

"The kitchen is 13'6" x 11'5"...We have an island that is 7'6" x 4'9" and assumes 30 inch deep cabinets on one side and 12 inch deep cabinets on the seating side."

I am not seeing at all how that island with seating will fit in your size kitchen. Is that the kitchen size after walls are removed? I can't really follow. Without drawings, it's hard to know. I am thinking the island is a no-go just from what you wrote.

Not sure if this shot of the plans will come through clearly enough. I'm taking the dimensions off the plans, but the kitchen opens up into the DR and FR so it's not limited by walls on the sides.

I would use regular depth drawers on the front of the island, and 18" wide regular depth drawers on the sides, and plan storage accordingly. Cabinets will be less expensive, and so much easier to access than crawling under the seating. You might have kids for that task, but do you want them crawling around with your china? Make the center section 18" deep, too, to hold seldom used items like the turkey roaster and picnic basket.

If the designer you are meeting with is a representative from the cabinet company, I strongly recommend reconsidering. I used the cabinet company designer, and I regret it. Her job was to sell cabinets. I would have been much happier if I'd gone with a larger window, for example, instead of maximizing cabinet space. She talked me into upcharges that a designer not getting paid on commission by the cabinet company may not have.

Edited to add: My KD also quoted me a price for countertops that was *twice* what was quoted by local counter companies. I was very happy to pay her 20% (or whatever) for her time, skill, knowledge, etc., but that seemed like a lot.

@User we aren't really planning on the "breakfast nook" being a breakfast nook. As you mention we already have a decent amount of seating. Not sure if we will do a small table with 2 chairs or some chairs with a side table. We just want a place to have coffee in the AM. I'm worried about your comment though that we don't have enough space. I really want to keep the island. Do you think the aisles between the island and counters are too cramped? I relied on him to give me the right spacing so not sure what needs to be fixed.

@mama goose_gw zn6OH I like your idea about the cabinets for the island!!!

@Carrie B the designer is part of a company that sells cabinets, countertops and more. Thanks for the warning. I think we will still meet with him and see how it goes but maybe consider getting a second opinion from someone who is not working on commission.

How much do you cook? And how do you cook? I am on kitchen number three and have strong thoughts on the advice I got from kitchen designers who obviously didn’t cook.