Below is a step-by-step guide for drawing and measuring
your kitchen.
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
cannot or do not want moved.
Step 3:
1. |
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. |
|
 |
2. |
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 several
inches. |
3. |
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:
1. |
Beginning at the top
left of your drawing, label the windows "Window 1",
"Window 2", etc. in a clockwise order. |
2. |
Again, beginning at the
top left of your drawing, label the doors "Door 1",
"Door 2", etc. in a clockwise order. |
3. |
Next to each wall, write
the name of the adjacent room. If the wall is an
"outside wall" write "exterior wall." |
Step 5:
1. |
Measure any obstructions
such as radiators, pipes, etc. that you cannot or do
not want moved. If the obstruction is close to a
wall, measure out from the wall to the edge of the
obstruction. |
2. |
Measure from the second
closest wall to the edge of the obstruction. |
3. |
If the obstruction does
not span the full height of the room, measure the
height of the obstruction. |
|
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" |
|
|