Today's kitchens are more than places to cook and eat meals. They are homework centers, playrooms, entertainment lounges and home offices. The kitchen really is the heart of the house, so many people make kitchen remodeling the first step to home renovations.

Before you begin your remodeling project, make sure that you secondary place to prepare meals. You'll need a location that has convenient access to water. Ideally, you will be able to use your existing stove and refrigerator. If not, make sure that you have ample coolers on hand, as well as an electric kettle, hot plate, toaster oven and microwave. If the weather cooperates, you can also make good use of your barbecue at renovation time.

There are some common mistakes that must be avoided when taking on a kitchen remodeling job:

1. Damage to Walls: Kitchen walls are easily damaged when you're removing old cabinets. Try to keep the existing braces in place to minimize wall damage.

2. Surface Damage: Floors, cabinets and countertops are also prone to unnecessary damage. Protect your cabinets and countertops with drop cloths. Floors are easily damaged during wall replacements and other major renovation projects. Think about putting down a layer of plywood to protect your kitchen floor.

3. Be sure to shut off the utilities before you begin working. Pulling a fuse, flipping a circuit breaker or shutting a valve under the sink might not be enough. Always put your safety first and if possible, shut off the water and electricity supply completely while you are working.

4. Clear the Air: You'll want to protect the rest of your home from worksite debris. You can bet that the dust from sanding and tiling in your kitchen will migrate through the entire house. Cover doorways to adjoining rooms with plastic sheeting and seal air vents to contain the mess. Of course, proper ventilation is also important. Be sure that there are open windows and outside doors to provide you with plenty of fresh air.

5. Know your Time Limit. Don't underestimate the time it will take to complete the project. For example, starting to remodel your kitchen two weeks before Christmas is probably not a great idea. The last thing you want to do is to botch the job by racing to meet a deadline.

Preparation is the key to success. Here are a few ways that you, and your kitchen, can be fully prepared:

* Pack up everything that will not be used in your temporary kitchen area. Label the boxes clearly and store them away.

* If it isn't nailed down, remove it. Take away appliances, spice racks, lazy susans, wall clocks, ornaments and even cupboard drawers. Pack away as much as you can, and protect anything that can't be moved to avoid dust and damage.

* Make arrangements for the refuse removal. You can plan to have a lot of debris if you are replacing walls, cabinets, countertops or flooring. Have a truck on hand, or rent a dumpster if you're planning a major kitchen overhaul. Keep in mind that some of your old materials may still be useable. Cabinets can be relocated to the garage or laundry room, and there are charity organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity, that will happily take the materials off of your hands. Whatever you decide, it's important that you have a place to stash the stuff as soon as it is removed from the kitchen.

* Shut off the water and gas before you attempt to remove any major appliances. Most appliances have individual plumbing and water valves, but you should take the time to close the supply at the source. Gas shutoff valves are usually located near the meter. Remember to relight all of your pilot lights when you hook the gas up again, or you'll be taking a cold shower at the end of the day.

* Completely disconnect the electrical circuits. Older homes are prone to confusing wiring systems due to previous renovations and modifications. It's not always clear which circuits or fuses control particular areas. If you try to guess, you could be in for quite a shock! Call a qualified electrician if you're not sure, or shut down the main power to the house. Put tape over any closed breakers to be sure they're not switched back on while you're working.

* Before you upgrade with new electrical outlets and fixtures, you'll need to carefully remove the old ones. The first step is to remove all of the light bulbs. Then, dismantle each fixture by unscrewing the cover plate and pulling the receptacle out of the box. Carefully detach the wires.

If there are exposed wires, cap them until you are ready to install the new fixtures. A bare copper wire is a ground, and it does not need to be capped. Invest in the services of a licensed electrician if you're not exactly sure how to replace electrical fixtures. This is a potentially dangerous task, and there is no room for error.

Your kitchen renovation will take smart planning and a lot of elbow grease, the results will be spectacular. Your family uses the kitchen for learning, playing and socializing, as well as for cooking and eating, so the time and effort today will pay off with years of enjoyment.