EXPECT PROS TO RESPECT EACH OTHER'S EXPERTISE

To focus on creating the best product possible, team members need to check their egos at the door and em brace the power of their differences. That may be hard for design experts who are capable of creating kitchens on their own. "But when everybody's present, the whole level is taken up a few notches because everyone focuses on his or her area of expertise to the very best of their abilities," Stratton says. "And you need to have the humility to accept that someone else's ideas may be better than your own," says interior designer Pamela Plowden. "That comes with maturity and being professional."

APPRECIATE THE INTERIOR DESIGNER’S ROLE

Look to the interior designer to make sure the kitchen reflects your personal style and blends with the rest of the house. "We're all working together to create this comprehensive design," says interior designer Barbara Jordan. "As the interior designer, I finish off the kitchen at the level we would all like." Your interior designer also will make sure you can live with the choices you make. "Today`s clients love exploring whats out there," Shewan says. "They pick what excites them. But different things cant always be married in the same room. Your job as an interior designer is to keep clients focused without saying 'no' too many times."