You love to host gatherings for family and friends. You thrive on preparing delicious food and watching your loved ones enjoy it, and you need a kitchen that cultivates this passion—not one that halts it. When it comes to entertaining at home, your kitchen plays a big role in how the experience is for both you and your guests. As such, designing the ideal kitchen for entertaining takes careful planning. Here is a look at what questions you should ask yourself when designing your kitchen, and some creative features to incorporate into your design.
Questions to Ask When Designing Your New Kitchen:
Before you can even begin to plan the details of your design, you need to figure out exactly what you want to accomplish with the renovation. Take note of how you currently use your kitchen, which aspects of it frustrate you, and what features you constantly find yourself wishing you had. Writing it all down will help you make the tough decisions when it comes to choosing the details. Some questions to ask include:
- What types of events do I host? Do I usually do formal affairs, buffet style, or somewhere in between?
- How many people do I usually have over at once? What is the most I could have?
- How do I prefer to serve the food? Do I like to prepare it one area and serve it in another, or do I usually just have my guests serve themselves once it is prepared?
- How complex is the cooking I do? Do I usually have multiple burners and stoves in use at once, or do I like to keep it simple?
- Am I in the kitchen alone while I am cooking, or do I like to have others in the space with me?
Design Features Made for Entertaining
Now that you understand exactly what specifics you need your new kitchen to satisfy, it is time to start planning the details. Here are some of the most popular kitchen features for homeowners that love hosting.
- Kitchen Islands – Islands are the epitome of entertaining. They allow for a central gathering space, they provide the perfect place to display food, and they leave the area open to the living area so conversation can keep flowing even when you have to do some work in the kitchen.
- Warming Drawers – Trying to figure out the timing of all of your dishes is downright impossible, and with warming drawers, you don’t have to. Similarly, you might want to consider strategically placed cooling drawers so you can easily access the chilled foods when you are ready for them.
- Alluring Appliances – Do you have to have modern appliances for your guests to enjoy your food? No. But will sleek, streamlined appliances make it more fun to work in? Absolutely.
From double dishwashers and flat-screen televisions to wine coolers and wet bars, the list of available options are endless. Just make sure you stay focused on your specific entertaining goals and you will be thrilled with your new kitchen.