Thoroughly Modern Kitchen, Only Warmer

"My advice for anyone embarking on a kitchen design is to be honest with yourself about your goals and your budget, not just look around at what you think you might want," she says. "You don't have to share it with anyone else at first, but you should really know what your spending comfort level is before it comes to making a lot of decisions."

If you're concerned with sticking to a strict budget, the surest way to save money is to get comfortable with your preferences before bringing in the professionals, says Rebekah. "If it's in your budget, though, you may want the enjoyment of going through and choosing together. And even the most decisive clients will benefit from a back and forth with the designer later in the process, to get the benefit of their resources and information."

Meet the designer
In what Rebekah Zaveloff calls her "designesque" career, she's worked in painting and sculpture, and as a set designer for films. She's also worked in the restaurant industry as a server and says that her seven-year stint as the principal designer for KitchenLab, a small firm she co-owns with her husband in Chicago, is a nice culmination of many of these jobs. "It's my passions for food, wine and design coming together," she says.

Rebekah Zaveloff
website: www.KitchenLab-Chicago.com