Now more than ever, the kitchen continues to be the epicentre of the home. To serve its multiple purposes, the design must be functional, comfortable, and chic. Enter Kitchen Conversations: the friend you want in your corner. Whether you are working on a budget, sparing no expense, or trying to find a nice balance, this book will guide you to make crucial decisions on details large and small, and be your companion on the journey of imagining, planning, designing and then building the kitchen of your dreams. While feasting on full-colour photography and real kitchen plans, you can also savour the input from kitchen designers and other industry professionals; personal stories of kitchen builds, remodels and cosmetic changes from many homeowners; useful checklists from homeowners and industry sources, and valuable tips for managing contractors throughout the entire process. There may be challenges along the way but being aware of what lies ahead will allow you to manage them well. AUTHORS: Barbara Ballinger (Hudson River Valley, NY) is an award-winning journalist, author, and reporter who has interviewed a variety of celebrities and experts including Tipper Gore, Martha Stewart, Danny Meyer, Rosalynn Carter, Lorraine Bracco, Doris Kearns Goodwin, and Ruth Reichl. She has covered diverse topics such as business, design, real estate, entertainment, food, law, and personal finance. Margaret Crane (New York, NY) is a nationally known freelance writer focusing on business, food, wine, fashion, home furnishings, and real estate. She has interviewed such luminaries as Jack Buck, Virginia Johnson, Sally Quinn, Moshe Dayan, Dr Benjamin Spock, David Ben Gurion, and Tippi Hedren, among many others. SELLING POINTS: . An invaluable and delightful resource for laypeople and professionals alike, packed with advice from kitchen designers and industry specialists . Friendly, conversational tone used throughout to make the often intimidating process of kitchen renovating, remodeling and designing more personal and accessible . The book allows for all kinds of budgets and provides guidance on what features, big or small, are worth the financial investment . Sections within are laid out in order of how you might embark upon the journey of designing your own kitchen (Nuts and bolts; Design considerations; Blueprint). Tick off the finer features first before reaching the bigger decisions - every detail matters . Featuring full-colour photography of breathtaking kitchens throughout the United States, with something for everyone, and blueprints of real kitchens to serve as inspiration . Filled with anecdotes and tips, checklists, interesting facts and defining terms