You've taken the plunge ... you've decided to build the home of your dreams. You're about to embark on some serious lifestyle analysis and soul-searching. What kind of floor plan works best for you and your family? Chances are good that the kitchen is likely to be among the central areas of activity in your new home. It might even resemble Grand Central. Think about it: It's the first place you stumble into in the morning, and one of the last places you go at night. You might be someone who spends evenings and weekend afternoons at your "second office" -- the kitchen table, with your laptop computer and a stack of paperwork spread out in front of you. You spend hours chattering on the kitchen phone, in a quiet spot away from the dog, the kids and TV. You might entertain friends in the kitchen, and whether you want them beside you while you're cooking or not, we all know that guests always migrate into the kitchen eventually.

Does your idea of a home-cooked meal mean that you empty the TV dinner onto a dinner plate before you eat it? Before you build yourself a smaller kitchen to make room for a larger family room -- or before you rent yourself an apartment or purchase a condo with a galley kitchen and a dishwasher small enough to be confused with a trash compactor, remember that it might be safer to err on the side of oversized. When it comes to kitchen space, it's much easier to live with too much than too little.

Before buying a new home or creating a floor plan for a home you'll be building yourself, you'll want to consider a few things first. If you're designing blueprints, ask yourself if the entrances and exits make sense. Remember that regardless of how often you cook, your kitchen is still likely to be a high-traffic area. Does the only passageway through the kitchen run straight through the narrow spot where you'll be opening the oven door? That's a hazard for any family, but especially families with small children. If your refrigerator sits in a similar position, the layout is just likely to cause occasional frustrations, as family members have to shut the door in exasperation as others pass through the area.

Also for those who are building, where are your windows positioned? Are they going to provide you with adequate light? Cross-ventilation? Any ventilation? Privacy? Have you ever thought about a window seat, a garden window or bay window? If you're designing blueprints, your imagination is your limit, although your budget might give you a reality check. Comparison shop to see if your dreams can come true on your budget. Asking neighbors and friends for references might lead to a bargain. (Make sure that quality construction comes with that good price, however.)

As we've mentioned in previous articles, you'll want to give a lot of consideration to the layout of your kitchen in relation to the family room, if you plan to have one. Do you want the two rooms open to each other, in order to encourage family interaction and provide the cook with the ability to watch TV or keep an eye on the kids during meal preparation? Or would you like a quiet spot to yourself, and reserve a separate family room for the activity?

Do you prefer a more informal kitchen? If so, you'll want to design a layout in which the eating area and preparation area are either in the same room or open to each other. That allows for easy interaction and food transport. This is a good set-up for families. If you're seeking something more formal, or if you entertain frequently, you'll want your eating area to be located in an area closed off from the kitchen. This is an ideal layout for entertaining because it allows you to do the preparation alone (although guests will always sneak a peek out of curiosity) and keep the mess out of sight. A butler's pantry is always an excellent feature, as it allows you a spot between your kitchen and eating area in which to place casserole dishes, extra napkins and flatware, drinks, etc., for those who wish to come back for more.

While custom-designed kitchens come in all shapes and sizes, the majority of kitchens found in existing homes, condos and apartments are in the following shapes:

*L-shaped: Homebuyers and homebuilders alike choose the L-shaped kitchen more often than any other. A large area isn't required to construct an L-shaped kitchen; and yet, it's roomier and more functional than some other kitchen varieties. Depending on how much space you've got, an island might be included in the layout.

*U-shaped: This is an ideal layout because you're provided with maximum countertop space. In response to the fact that many apartment-dwellers view their apartments as long-term or even permanent homes these days, many new and/or luxury apartments are designing U-shaped kitchens these days. Even if you don't cook often, you've got plenty of room for decorative items, appliances, even books. It's very easy for cooks to move around the kitchen; you'll have full access to all of your appliances -- fridge, stove, oven, microwave and sink -- without having to resort to creative measures. Some U-shaped kitchens have countertops at which bar stools may be placed, offering cook-guest interaction during meal prep. One risk is inherent in the U-shaped layout, however: "cook collision." You know what they say about too many cooks in the kitchen? If you've got too many in a U-shaped kitchen, and two cooks back into each other, you'll have a fine mess ... and perhaps an innovative combination of ingredients.

*Galley: Very popular in small apartments and studios, and still present in many single-family homes as well, gallies are space-efficient yet challenging when more than one person sets foot inside them. The plus side of a galley kitchen is that everything is close to you. There's minimal risk of spillage as you carry something from oven to counter, for example. The down sides are more numerous. You often run out of space for your belongings, even if you live alone and don't own many dishes, bowls and appliances. If you don't have a floor-to-ceiling pantry, you'll be particularly space-deprived because you'll eat up valuable cabinet space for the storage of your canned goods and other perishables. If you decide to entertain, cooking can be a challenge. Unfortunately, there won't be much if any room for anyone to assist you in the kitchen. Decisions as simple as where to put your trash can be perplexing. A trash bucket may have to be placed in front of your dishwasher or refrigerator and then moved whenever those appliances need to be opened. One thing's for sure: Galley kitchens inspire creativity.

*Single wall: This is a popular layout in studios or loft apartments. By aligning your entire work space along the length of one wall, you're reducing the amount of space consumed by your kitchen and allowing yourself more room for your living areas. The addition of an island is ideal for maximum work space.

*Open concept: This is a popular choice among new-home builders and some luxury condos and apartment communities. The kitchen, living or family room and dining areas are essentially one large room with no walls. You might find a countertop for barstools or an island that creates some division between kitchen and living area; but the division is minimal and still allows for interaction between the two areas. This layout also creates the illusion of a larger home. High ceilings can add to that effect. Advantaged of the open concept layout include ease of interaction with family and friends in your living and dining areas; easy transport of food from kitchen to dining and/or living areas; and visibility of TV and fireplace from the kitchen.

If you're designing the blueprints to your dream kitchen, go ahead and sketch in your furniture, as well. Planning ahead can prevent scenarios like pulling your chair back from the table to discover that you're blocking the main passageway, the door to the backyard, the refrigerator or else. Allow yourself the flexibility of changing your furniture arrangement around at will. After all, tastes change, but layouts don't.

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Published: May 27, 1999

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Editor's Note: This article reflects the opinions of Courtney Ronan only and not necessarily the views of this or any other publication, organization or Website owner.