How to Redesign Kitchens Around Structural Poles

Measure the length and width of the kitchen floor starting at the bottom of each baseboard. The baseboard will give you an accurate measurement of how much space you have to work with because they stick out into the room.

Draw the room's floor plan onto a piece of graphing paper. Keep the measurements to scale. For example, use one square in the paper to represent one foot of your measurements. Use a straightedge and pencil.

Draw the structural beam onto the graphing paper. Note the location of the beam from each wall and draw it to scale. This is a permanent structure that cannot be moved when you are designing.

Add any other permanent structures to the layout. For example, if you are going to leave the counters, fridge and stove in their current location you should mark them on the paper. If you are gutting the kitchen, leave the paper blank. It is useful to note the locations of the electrical and plumbing fixtures.

Photocopy the paper so you have several sheets to work with.

Cut out the items you are adding to the kitchen using colored card stock. Measure the items first, draw them on the paper to scale and cut them out with sharp scissors. Items may include table and chairs and an island. If you are gutting the room, you will also need to add counters and appliances.

Arrange the cutouts on the graph paper drawing of the room. Change the layout to find the best configuration. When you have an example you like, trace around the cutouts to note their location, then set that example aside and start again on a new piece of paper. When you have several layouts, you can compare them to see which will be the most functional.

Plan to have elements in the room that will either draw attention away from the structural beam, hide it or incorporate it into the design. For example, you could put a large peninsula between the beam and the wall so the beam marks the end of the island. You could also put other vertical elements in the room to help the beam blend into the surroundings.

Continue to arrange the room until you have the ideal design.