1. Make a freehand drawing of your room and write your measurements on it, in inches. Include all dimensions, including windows, doors and offsets.
2. Make your drawing as if the room had no cabinets in it. Measure to the actual drywall and do not include baseboard or existing cabinets. (Existing islands or peninsulas that define the shape of the room should be included.)
3. Measure all the walls, even walls that do not contains cabinets. Getting all of the dimensions of a room allows the designer the full scope of possibilities for the plan.
4. Double check your measurements. The overall length of a wall should equal the sum of its parts.
5. The ceiling height should be noted on your draft. This measurement is from the finished floor to the finished ceiling.
6. The width and height of windows and doors should be measured to the outside of the trim. Door dimensions should include the measurement from the outside of the trim to the corner of the room. Window dimensions should include the distance from the finished floor, as well as the measurement from the center line to the corner of the room.

1. Once your drawing is complete, you can experiment with different cabinet layouts by using the planning guide form.
2. Begin your cabinet layout using a standard depth of 24" for base cabinets and 12" for wall cabinets. (Other cabinet depths are available as accents or special situations.)
3. For your new layout to be safe and comfortable, it is critical to allow adequate clearances:

• 28" - 34" minimum doorway width
• 42" in front of appliance doors (Refrigerator, Oven, Dishwasher) be sure doors do not conflict with cabinet doors or other appliance doors.
• 42" between cabinets and island
• 36" behind seating

When designing your wall cabinet layout, think about using different height cabinets to achieve a creative visual appearance.

Common Kitchen Layouts

U-Shape A U-shaped kitchen provides continuous counter and storage space, creating a convenient, easy work flow. Continental Cabinets offers wall and base corner cabinets that are ideal for increasing the efficiency in the kitchen.	Galley The Galley is one of the best layouts for easy mobility. Work centers on parallel walls provide a generous amount of counter space.
L-Shape The L-shaped kitchen offers closely grouped work areas for efficient work space. This shape can be created with a variety of Continental Cabinets, including adding an island for additional storage and functionality.	Straight The straight or one-wall configuration is sometimes the only alternative in a smaller home or apartment. Continental Cabinets offers tall walls and pantries that can increase storage space.

Continental Cabinets is proud to offer a great selection of door styles and finishes. Choose your favorite when you are at your local home improvement store.