Below is a step-by-step guide for drawing and measuring your
kitchen. Each step is color coded and matches the
corresponding color in the sample drawing below. To make it
easier to draw your kitchen we have provided a grid that can
be printed and used as grid paper.
note: If you are remodeling, do not include current
cabinetry or other furniture that will not be kept, such as
kitchen tables, in your measurements.
note: All of your measurements should be in inches. For
example, if you measure a wall that is 10 feet, write it as
120" ( a quotation mark (") denotes inches ).
Sample Drawing

Step
1
Draw a rough outline of your kitchen. Use the following
symbols in your drawing for doors and windows.

note: For doorways with doors, draw the doorway according
to which way the door swings.
Step
2
Draw in any obstructions such as radiators,
pipes, sink plumbing, etc. that you either can not, or do
not, want moved.
Step
3
A) Beginning at the top left corner of your
drawing measure to the first window, door, or wall. Continue
clockwise around the room until each wall, window and door
has been measured.
Note: When measuring doors and windows the
trim is considered part of the door or window. As shown in
the drawing below, measure from the outside of the trim on
one side to the outside of the trim on the other side.

B) Measure the ceiling height and write it
in the center of your drawing. Sometimes, especially with
older homes, it is a good idea to take measurements in a few
different areas of the kitchen. Ceiling heights, even in the
same room, can sometimes vary by as much as a few inches.
C) As shown in the drawing below, measure
from the floor to the bottom of each window and also measure
the overall window height. If you have printed
these instructions, write the measurements in the table
provided below.

| |
Distance
from Floor to Bottom of Window |
Height
of Window Including Trim |
| Window #1: |
(inches) |
(inches) |
| Window #2: |
(inches) |
(inches) |
| Window #3: |
(inches) |
(inches) |
| Window #4: |
(inches) |
(inches) |
| Window #5: |
(inches) |
(inches) |
| Window #6: |
(inches) |
(inches) |
Step 4
A) Beginning at the top left of your
drawing, label the windows "Window #1",
"Window #2", etc. in a clockwise order.
B) Again, beginning at the top left of your
drawing, label the doors "Door #1", "Door
#2", etc. in a clockwise order.
C) Next to each wall, write the name of the
adjacent room. If the wall is an "outside wall"
write "exterior wall."
Step
5
A) Measure any obstructions such as
radiators, pipes, etc. that you either can not, or do not,
want moved. If the obstruction is close to a wall, measure
out from the wall to the edge of the obstruction.
B) Measure from the second closest wall to
the edge of the obstruction.
C) If the obstruction does not span the full
height of the room, measure the height of the obstruction.
Final
Step
Check your measurements. If your room is
rectangular add up the measurements of the parallel walls
and make sure they match (or are at least very close). For
example, in our sample drawing, you would take the overall
measurements of the top wall and add them together. Then do
the same with the bottom wall. Once you have added each
walls measurements check the totals to see if they match.
| Top
Wall: |
24"
+ 42" + 24" + 12" + 42" +
12" = 156" |
| Bottom
Wall: |
12"
+ 40" + 104" = 156" |
| Left
Wall: |
21"
+ 42" + 52" = 115" |
| Right
Wall: |
18"
+ 97" = 115" |
|