Are you ready for a kitchen makeover? Here's advice on planning your space, finding the right designers, suppliers, and contractors, and getting good prices.

When the time comes for a kitchen redo, you certainly should go with finishes and fixtures that you love. But make sure they fit current and up-and-coming cabinet and countertop trends before signing any contracts or swinging a demo hammer.

Countertop materials range from wood to plastics to metal to stone. Manufactured quartz—formed from stone chips, resins, and pigments—is edging out natural stone materials in popularity, thanks in part to its durability and its availability in zillions of colors.

Finding the right appliance, buying it, and getting it delivered and installed without hassles can be an aggravating experience. Fortunately, some area stores serve their customers well, and you don’t have to pay more to get this kind of treatment.

Start by carefully considering what you think you want. Then weigh your wish list against what you’ll probably pay to fulfill it. Identifying goals and thinking through available options will force some decisions—and also help you set a budget cap.

Whether you need to cover a kitchen backsplash, redo the floor in your powder room, or pick finishes and materials for an entire house, tile is a big part of many remodeling projects. But walk into a tile showroom or home improvement store, and you may be overwhelmed with options. Cement or porcelain? White or off-white subway tiles? Glass tiles etched and painted with songbirds or a marble mosaic that looks straight out of Pompeii?

To get your money’s worth, and a job that looks good and lasts, here are 15 tips on tiling—from finding a good contractor to checking the finishing details.