SOMETHING'S COOKING : AT-HOME COMPUTER PROGRAMS CAN HELP YOU DESIGN THAT DREAM KITCHEN.

Byline: Elizabeth M. Cosin Daily News Staff Writer

Rebecca Jones' favorite room has always been the kitchen. Growing up, it was the center of her family's home, the place where meals were prepared, and a whole lot more.

``Wherever I've lived,'' she says, ``the kitchen has always been the focal point.''

So when the 42-year-old small-business owner was remodeling her Bell Canyon home, she paused at the kitchen.

``I wanted it to be special,'' she says, pointing to her head and then at her just-completed kitchen. ``I knew what I wanted in here. I just wasn't sure how to make it look like this.''

She dreamed of having a sleek, professional cooking range with convection oven and a huge, matching stainless-steel, double-door refrigerator. She thought some glass-door cabinets might work at one end, and figured probably a tile floor and granite counter top.

The ideas were all clear in her head, but she couldn't figure out how to translate what she was thinking into words or sketches.

Then a friend gave her a 3-D kitchen design program for her computer.

``It was the perfect thing for me because, with all my sketches and ideas, I couldn't visualize any of it,'' she says. ``It was almost like being blind. With the program, I was able to really see what it was I was thinking about, not only what worked but what didn't.''

It's only been a few years since do-it-yourselfers were limited to self-help books, a video or two and advice from the hardware store.

Now they can turn to computers to help tackle projects as simple as furniture selection or as complex as remodeling or building whole houses.

There are nearly 100 titles available to help homeowners with interior design projects, landscape planning, architectural designs, and kitchen and bathroom remodeling.

The program Jones used is called ``3D Kitchen'' (Books That Work; $60) and includes multidimensional and moving images as well as grids for floor plans. Such programs allow you to move objects, suchh as your couch or your dishwasher, from place to place, then move through your room as if you were walking through it.

For the most ambitious, the programs can be a quick and relatively inexpensive way to draw up plans. They average around $45.

Experts warn that the programs can be limiting and complicated, but despite those drawbacks, they see them as a great tool for homeowners, whether they want to go it alone, like Jones, or use a professional. As with any home-design or repair aid, you should know something about what you are doing. Even Jones read up on kitchen design before clicking her mouse.

``They are geared toward the consumer and people can have fun with it,'' says Bette Hornstein of Dezign Services, a design-consulting firm housed at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles, which draws up plans for professional designers and private clients.

Hornstein says the programs tend to be difficult to get true dimensions from. She thinks interior designers offer an advantage over computer programs for such tasks as estimating how much space should go between objects.

Still, she sees advantages to computer planning.

``I don't mind when clients come in with (a computer-generated plan),'' she adds. ``It gives me a visual they couldn't possibly give me with sketches.''

Interior designers, architects and even some contractors use computer models in their work, most of which require special training. But now that some of that same technology is at the consumer's fingertips, they can choose furniture all the way down to style, size and brand name on the computer. Updates are available online through special sites on the Internet. Other programs let consumers print out their own color swatches for wall coverings, carpets or upholstery.

``More and more people I know are using computers for design projects,'' says Jhan Livingston, president of the L.A. chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers. ``I can see where they would be helpful, but I wouldn't rely on them except as one tool in the process.''

Jones says friends warned her against using a kitchen designer for fear of expense or that her vision for the kitchen might get lost in the process. So using the computer seemed the perfect answer, even for a project that would require some structural remodeling, including knocking down a wall, and some electrical wiring. But Jones was resolute - and she wanted to save money, too - so she acted as her own contractor and hired friend and handyman Antonio Rodriguez to do the heavy work.

No computer genius, it took Jones three nights of practice on the computer before she got the hang of the program. After that, it was a few weeks of intense sessions during which she and Rodriguez worked out the final plan together.

``We argued a lot,'' she says. ``I wanted things one way and he would tell me how it would work better another. I think I moved the refrigerator something like six times. If I had hired an architect, they would have charged me a redesign each time.''

Jones found she and Rodriguez weren't the only ones helped by having the detailed plans. When she was ready to buy cabinets, she brought her designs to Home Depot to show them what she wanted.

``They had to punch it all into their computer,'' she says. ``But they said it made it much easier that I had something for them to work with. Usually, all they get are rough sketches.''

Much sweat and many long hours later, Jones' vision became a reality - and she managed to come in under her budget. Refrigerator, two sinks, dishwasher, stove, floor tiles and cabinets cost her about $30,000.

Many of the programs can be frustrating in that they require some practice before users get the hang of them. ``3D Kitchen'' and the new ``Visual Home,'' also by Books That Work, are two of the more complex and also most powerful of the home-design programs. Softkey's ``My House'' and Expert Software's ``Expert Home Design 3-D'' are fairly accessible. All are among the top sellers in a growing $25 million industry, analysts say.

Some designers and contractors recommend using the programs in conjunction with a professional.

``I've tried to figure some of the (CD-ROM programs) out,'' says Beth Hakes, who owns an interior design firm in La Crescenta. ``Usually, the instructions are horrible. I thought it would make my life easier, but it didn't. The trial and error can be expensive. I think most people would be amazed how much money a designer can save you by helping you not make mistakes.''

Jones says she got what she wanted by using the program, but the process was long and difficult.

``You can do it,'' she says. ``But you have to be prepared to work your tail off, shop around and know what you want.''

Jones looks around her sparkling new kitchen, her eyes resting on that impressive range.

``I've always wanted one of those,'' she says, a grin of pride settling on her face. ``And now I have one. I guess I really did do it.''

CAPTION(S):

5 Photos

Photo: (1--Cover--Color) Rebecca Jones of Bell Canyon, a long with friend and handyman Antonio Rodriguez, designed her kitchen by computer.

(2) ``I guess I really did do it,'' says Rebecca Jones of Bell Canyon, standing in the new kitchen she designed and realized with the help of friend and handyman Antonio Rodriguez.

David Richard Crane/Daily News

(3--4) By using Books That Work's ``3D Kitchen'' design program, Jones was able to visualize her kitchen, above, before making it a reality, right.

(5) Jones was determined her new kitchen should have granite counter tops and just the right cabinets.

Tom Mendoza/Daily News