The kitchen truly is the heart of the home — and it is important that it feels like it. Almost a quarter of Americans remodeled their kitchens in the last year, according to the Research Institute For Cooking and Kitchen Intelligence (RICKI). Over 80% of those surveyed in a 2013 study were remodeling their kitchens to “improve their look and feel.” Having the ability to reflect your taste and style through products such as custom cabinetry and built-in appliances is key to ensuring that you end up with a kitchen that is truly yours.

It’s more than just cabinet doors (though those are important, too). Everything from a custom fireplace to custom wine racks can add to the usability and aesthetic of the kitchen design. More than three quarters of homeowners would opt for soft, neutral tones for the kitchen and, for 65% of users, these would be complemented with stainless steel appliances, recent research has found. A RICKI report found that “clean” was one of the words most associated with design goals for a kitchen remodel or design; other words included “transitional”, “simple”, and “functional”.

Changing the look and feel of your kitchen can sound like a pricey affair, but minor kitchen remodels that include custom cabinetry tend to result in a return on investment of over 72%. The price tag for an average kitchen remodel, with labor costs, new cabinet doors and drawer fronts, countertops, flooring, and appliances, is just over $19,000, according to the 2015 ?Cost vs. Value Report?.

Changing your cabinets alone can give your kitchen a completely new look without the need for expensive additions or building alterations. Some things to consider when choosing new cabinetry is whether or not you should opt for built-in appliances. Sixteen percent of Houzz survey respondents in 2013 preferred built-in appliances.