(FeatureSource) If you are thinking about remodeling your kitchen, there are a number of things you need to know before you begin the process. Don Silvers, author of "Kitchen Design with Cooking in Mind" ($24.95; NMI Publishers), offers these three items you must consider before remodeling your kitchen.

1. WHAT IS YOUR BUDGET?

Regularly the media portrays to the public that it only costs between $10,000 and $15,000 to remodel a kitchen. In reality, they aren't talking about remodeling, but about replacement. Replacement includes changing the countertops, flooring, and cupboards. There is little "design" involved in this process. You should be prepared to spend $40,000 and up to professionally design and remodel your kitchen. The price will depend on the size of the kitchen and the products you use.

2. WHAT KIND OF FOOD DO YOU COOK?

By seriously asking yourself this question, you will be able to determine what the essentials are in your kitchen. This will help you decide how much storage space you need for raw, frozen and canned food. You should consider what you cook for informal meals, as well as what you prepare for a formal dinner.

3. HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU REGULARLY COOK FOR? DO YOU ENTERTAIN OFTEN?

The kitchen should be not only functional, but a room in which entertaining can occur. It is the most public-intimate room in your house; it should meet the need of a social situation but it should also be a comfortable room for you and your guests. The design will be influenced by many factors, including if the kitchen is part of a larger "great room" and the size of the dining room (which will help you determine the volume of people you can entertain).

Most importantly, you should do some research and find a good kitchen designer. To make sure you (and your designer) are covering all the steps in kitchen design, "Kitchen Design with Cooking in Mind" goes through all the fundamentals in less than 100 pages.

The book includes specific explanations on how to improve the flow in your kitchen, the different kitchen appliances available, storage, food preparation systems, flooring, lighting, and all kitchen accessories. Silvers, who works out of Los Angeles, is unique in that he is the only Certified Kitchen Designer and certified chef in the industry today.

Silvers has many interesting insights. They include:

• The reason most of us can't duplicate chef's recipes is that commercial cook top burners put out twice the heat as residential burners.

• The floor in your kitchen should never been seen. It should be darker than the cabinets because if the floor is lighter, your eyes will go to the floor first. Vinyl flooring is the least expensive, most comfortable to stand on and easiest to care for. There are literally hundreds of patterns of vinyl flooring these days.

• Adding a second sink allows for you to separate where the food is prepared and where the cleaning and dishwashing occurs. This will, in turn, double the size of your kitchen without breaking down a wall.

There are many good local kitchen designers, but if you read the book and want Silvers to design your kitchen, don't worry—you don't have to move to California. Silvers will do phone consultations and also does 40 to 50 out-of-state designs every year. For more information on "Kitchen Design with Cooking in Mind," you can get it direct from the author at (323) 934-4761, or at his website at www.donsilvers.com. The book is also available through Amazon.com.