Planning is one of the most important things you can do when it comes to your kitchen renovation after all, mistakes can be costly and you may have to live with them for a long time. Major mistakes, such as boxing in the fridge or positioning cabinets too high are more common than most people think but most can be avoided by careful planning and forethought. As we can also learn from the mistakes of others, here are a few examples from homeowners in the US who didnt spend enough time on the planning stage. When budgets are tight, too many people try to save money in the short term and end up ignoring underlying issues, only to regret it when it is too late. Kelly Anne Sohigian found that out the hard way when she decided against enlarging the tiny windows in her Fairfield, Conn., kitchen. We didnt want the additional expense, she says. But I regret it every day because the room would be so much brighter and better connected to the outside world. The best plan is to get architectural issues taken care of early. If your budget is tight, it is better to delay expenditures that wont require you to redo any work later on, such as replacing older appliances that are still in good working order. Another common but costly mistake is the failure to measure properly. Measure twice, cut once is the often quoted carpenters creed and it remains a very wise one. When Kathleen ODonnel upgraded her New York kitchen, she planned a breakfast bar across from the refrigerator. Unfortunately, her contractor measured the space incorrectly. So now that the granite top is on the breakfast bar, theres no room to pull the refrigerator out if we ever need to have it repaired, she says. If and when that happens, Ill probably have to remove the entire countertop too. When measuring, make doubly sure that your plan allows enough space for the dishwasher, refrigerator and all your cabinet doors and drawers to open. You will also need enough space to remove and replace appliances later on. Make sure that the basics are covered first before you start considering the more exciting and fun parts of your plan, or you might end up with similar regrets to Becky Engel of Portland, Ore. My contractor spent weeks perfecting the location of drawer dividers and rollout trays and even which side of the sink the soap dispenser belonged on, she says. The last thing to find a home was the garbage can and it wound up clear on the other side of the kitchen from my sink.