Start with function: define what your kitchen needs to do

By Cali Dream Construction | January 09, 2026 | San Diego

Before you choose cabinet colors, define your kitchen’s “job description.” Most kitchen frustration comes from one of three problems:

1) Traffic conflicts (people cross through the cooking zone)

2) Storage gaps (everything lives on the counter because there’s nowhere else)

3) Bad lighting (great materials look mediocre under harsh or dim light)

Quick diagnostic:

• Where do you always drop keys, backpacks, and beach stuff?

• Is your trash/recycling convenient or annoying?

• Do you have a real pantry system or just shelves of chaos?

• Does the cook feel trapped when people are hanging out?

If you can answer these questions, you can design a layout that works—regardless of style.