Measure your kitchen

Take one photo from the doorway and one straight-on photo of each wall. Turn the lights on and keep people out of the pictures.

Include doors, windows, pipes and anything in the way.

Draw the room shape. From the main doorway, label the left wall A, then B, C and D clockwise. Mark openings, door swings and any island or peninsula.

A simple sketch is enough. It does not need to be to scale.

Measure corner to corner at the floor, at counter height (36 inches above the floor), and near the ceiling. Record all three readings for each wall.

Measure finished surfaces. Flag differences over 1/2 inch; do not round them away.

Measure from finished floor to ceiling at all four corners. Write down each height and circle the smallest.

Tell us if new flooring, drywall or tile will change the finished size.

Record the wall letter, width and height including trim, and corner-to-trim distance. For windows, add floor-to-sill height. Mark which way each door opens.

Measure to the outside of the trim, not to the glass.

Mark soffits, beams, columns, radiators, vents and baseboards. Note the wall, distance from its left corner, width, height and how far each item projects.

Write none if there are no obstacles. Add a close-up photo if unsure.

From the wall's left corner, measure to the center of drains, water lines, gas, ducts and relevant outlets or panels. Also record height above the floor.

Photograph locations only. Do not move or disconnect utilities.

List the refrigerator, range or cooktop, sink, dishwasher, microwave and hood. Record brand/model, width x height x depth, and location. Mark keep, replace or none.

Photograph model stickers. Manufacturer clearance requirements still apply.