If a facelifted or completely renovated kitchen is in your plans, it would be smart to read a book since there are so many decisions to make — appliances, backsplashes, cabinets, countertops, flooring, layout, lighting and ventilation, for starters. Heck, you could spend a day alone just shopping for a sink with all the material and style options.

“New Kitchen Ideas That Work” by kitchen and bath designer Jamie Gold (The Taunton Press, $21.95) could serve as your sourcebook. The 216-page softcover, released in December, walks you through establishing a budget and the myriad choices without overwhelming you. The book contains 350 photos of kitchens in dozens of sizes and styles. If you’re on a shoestring, particularly helpful are the “Working With What You Have” sections — how to make a big impact by changing just one element in the kitchen. And the feature “The New Vision” details the latest technological innovations such as aging-in-place solutions as well as the newest countertop materials: ceramic and porcelain slab.

Who’ll like this book: Anyone who wants to update the most significant room of their home

Who won’t: Those who already live with their dream kitchen

Words of wisdom: “Just as your body wouldn’t function well on a diet of just chicken or chickpeas, your kitchen won’t function well with just one type of lighting.”

Style in a nutshell: A brainy guide for the heart of your home