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How to find an inspiring starting point.

Finding an inspired starting point is the key to letting your new kitchen unfold. Your kitchen design can be as personal as a treasured heirloom or as practical as your family traffic patterns. Whatever the motivation, the idea is to make the heart of your home uniquely yours. Here are just a few of the places to look for inspiration:

1. Staying true to the architecture of your home is always a good bet. Let the style, lines and moldings guide your choices for materials and general design aesthetic. However, you don't have to be a purist. There is always a place for eclectic that can make for a more interesting space to which your family can better relate. In other words, stay true to the spirit of your home, but add your own personal twist.
2. Some of the most interesting journeys have been known to inspire culinary experiences–including kitchen design. A trip can fill you with renewed inspiration and stimulation. An escape to Europe inspires the use of intricate wrought-iron accessories, marble or stone flooring and sturdy hardwood furniture.
3. Sometimes it's one simple item that drives the entire design: A cherished piece of artwork. The pattern on a plate. A yard of fabric. A piece of antiquity. Discovery of a well-worn butcher block. A tile that reminds you of heritage.
4. Trends change; however people's desire to experience a breezy, uncomplicated mood of a summer cottage is constant. Many of us want to capture the sunny feel of a vacation - this explains the wildly popular trend of cottage-style kitchens. Perhaps the popularity is because this style let us escape to a slower and simpler time without sacrificing the modern conveniences that keep us in step with our fast-paced lives.
   The hallmarks of the cottage style–its carefree attitude, utilitarian or vintage features and liberal use of white–work well in any kitchen, whether it's high-end with state-of-the-art appliances or a modest, cozy room.