2. How many people participate in cooking the meals? Think of it this way, are you going to be bumping elbows and getting in each other's way? If only one person prepares most of the meals you don't need a large work area, but if several people cook simultaneously you will want separate work areas, and plenty of space to maneuver.

3. How many people usually eat in the kitchen together? Or how many do you want to have room for? You may have a large family but a sit down meal with the whole crew is rare, so a bar with stools situation may suit you better than a large dining area. But, if you eat together on a regular basis you will want room for a large table and plenty of chairs. Or, if traditions like a big Thanksgiving dinner where everyone sits down at one big table in the same room, is important, you need to plan space for that to be able to happen.

4. How much food do you buy and keep at one time? If you shop daily for that day's meals you won't need as much cupboard space as someone who shops weekly or monthly and stores a lot in the kitchen. If you keep bulk food around you will want storage space for it. You can't exactly store food in your laundry room, nor do you want to store your bulk foods in your bedroom etc. So, if you like to have things on hand, rather than run out every time you need something, then leave cupboard space for that storage.

5. Will there be children in the kitchen? The answer to this question will determine a lot of how you design your kitchen. For example, if there are lots of small children you may want cupboards that lock, and stoves with safety devices, or that are up high so children can't burn themselves. Safety in the kitchen is important, so design it around the people using the kitchen.

6. How much other than preparing food and eating takes place in the kitchen? In some homes the kitchen is the central room of the house, studying, reading, game playing, and even meetings take place in the kitchen. If this is the case, you will want lots of space for chairs and tables as well as plenty of countertop space. You need to evaluate this need, you might just have a connecting room with space for all the activity, but you have to decide what works best for your situation.

7. Which appliances do you need in your kitchen? Some people only need a sink, stove, and fridge, others want a dishwasher, disposal, built in microwave, and drinking fountain too. So, make a list of what you want and make sure to leave space for all of it. The last thing you want is to not have room for the items you consider essential. That means deep freezer if that is what you want, so plan accordingly.

Answering these questions will help you avoid design mistakes that will make this important room not as functional or efficient, and it will save you significant amounts of money because the kitchen is one of the most expensive rooms in the house, and making changes in it once it is started is not going to be cheap.