Our fixation with our kitchens drives a large share of the home-remodeling business in the U.S. Even homeowners whose culinary activities are limited to dishing out restaurant deliveries often seek food-prep spaces worthy of cooking show sets.

Cabinets and countertops are the heart of kitchen makeovers—and usually account for the biggest chunk of budgets. If you do a light remodel, you’ll probably spend $1,000 to $10,000 to paint or re-face existing cabinets. Go for a gut job and you’ll likely shell out $15,000 to $50,000 or more just for cabinets and countertops.

Want to redo your cucina? Get ready to ponder many decisions: layout, materials, brands, styles, finishes and colors, hardware, appliances, and more. You’ll also want to select cabinet and countertop styles and colors that won’t quickly go out of style. Plus, if you’re considering changing your kitchen’s layout, you’ll have even more choices to make—and will likely need design help.

We’ll help you get started with ideas on how to lay out your foodie zone and find cabinet suppliers that offer great service and low prices. Also need countertops? Click here for advice on that and ratings of local suppliers.