Viewers Pick Kitchen Style

The kitchen in Nancy and John Maloney's home in Warwick, R.I., leaves a lot to be desired. They desire a new one and they'll be getting it.

The Maloneys and their six children, five of whom live at home, are

But in which style will the Maloney's new kitchen be done: casual, traditional or contemporary?

The design was chosen by online voters and announced on The Early Show Tuesday.

The winner, by an overwhelming majority of 64 percent, was casual.

The Maloney family includes the oldest, Stephanie Clark, who lives nearby and is in the home nearly every day.

It's a pretty busy household and the Maloneys often congregated in the kitchen, inefficient as it is.

Because space is at a premium, Nancy and John converted their dining room into a bedroom. That meant everyone ate in the kitchen.

The kitchen walls have one cabinet. John bought some additional cabinets but couldn't find the wall studs to support them. They now sit out in the garage, along with boxed-up kitchen items such as Nancy's Tupperware, which there's no room for in the soon-to-be-replaced kitchen.

Nancy believes the floor cabinets are as old as the house, which was built in the 1940s. Though made of solid wood, the drawers are difficult to open and the counter resting on them is bowing in the middle.

The dishwasher doesn't work, but is used as a source of storage and counter space. It's where Nancy keeps the toaster and coffee pot.

The family was given a refrigerator as a housewarming gift by John's mother, but it is pretty small, with an even smaller freezer. They kept an extra freezer in their foyer. Nancy's looking forward to getting a refrigerator that's big enough for her large family.

In addition to the new kitchen, the Maloneys get $20,000 in cash. Nancy suggests it's going to be a good Christmas, a time when they usually struggle. Nancy also plans to use the money to stock that new kitchen.

The makeover is estimated to take 30 to 40 days, wrapping up as soon as Oct. 14.

It's being done by Lowe's, which has made a $2 million commitment to match customer donations to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.

On The Early Show Tuesday, Spike Carlsen, executive editor of The Family Handyman magazine, offered advice for anyone mulling a kitchen makeover.

For starters, he says, have a plan. Kitchen remodeling is like taking a trip. You need to know where you're going and why. Are you remodeling because your kitchen looks outdated, is too small, doesn't open into other parts of the home or for other reasons?

Know your reason for remolding, but also know how much you're willing to spend. A complete overhaul of a kitchen like the Maloneys' is hard to pull off for less than $30,000, or about $200 a square foot.

It's also important to have a schedule. How long are you willing to endure a project? Keep in mind the process will take time. Don't decide to start a renovation in October if you need the kitchen at Thanksgiving. Allow room for delays. You'll have some along the way.

Continue with your plan by establishing a decision maker. With whom will the contractor consult?

Start a kitchen design folder. Whether you use a home center designer, a design-build firm, an independent kitchen designer, or do it yourself, this homework will help you get the kitchen you want and speed up the design process.

The folder should be divided into three sections. The front of your folder would contain your wish list, down to small, specific details about what you want in the room. The folder should contain your "I snip" collection, which is anything you see that inspires your design. Don't let budget be your guide here. You can collect the Mercedes picture and look for a Kia price later. The back of the folder should be your "I dream" section: Think of those things that are important to the family. The things you'd love to have, such as a fireplace, a window seat, a television.

Determine your level of involvement. There's a wide range of comfort and skill levels when it comes to home improvement projects. It varies from PAP (point and pay) to DIY (do it yourself). In between is BIY (buy it yourself and have it installed).

Whatever you decide, Carlsen recommends always consulting with a designer, even if for only an hour. Most home improvement stores even provide them, and deduct their cost from your bill if you purchase their products.

Designers know the big picture, tricks of the trade, the realities and can save you money in long run, like a travel agent who can direct you to places you never even thought of visiting.

If you use a contractor, don't leave him with all the decisions. Be specific about what you want, from the "house rules," to specific products you'd like, to how to deal with change orders when something doesn't meet your approval. Most contractors are honest and in it for the long haul, Carlsen says.

Be prepared before construction begins. Ready yourself mentally and physically. Set up a temporary kitchen. Figure out where to put your refrigerator and stove so you can still use them. Set up dust control and a navigation route around the construction zone. And be prepared for a few headaches and midstream decisions, not to mention ordering in or eating out a lot.