The Smarter Kitchen: Creating a Kitchen Designed for Entertaining – Infographics

It’s been happening for decades. You plan a party, intent on having everyone gather in the living areas or dining room, but by the middle of the evening or halfway through the party, you’ve got a huge crowd in the kitchen!

Why this happens may forever be a mystery, but there’s a good chance that many guests still see the kitchen as the heart of the home, just as it was a century ago when it was usually the warmest, busiest part of the house. As such, people love to gather there, chatting with the cook and enjoying some pre-meal appetizers or drinks while socializing with each either.

As someone who loves to entertain, you probably enjoy this phenomenon…as long as your kitchen is designed for entertaining. And if it’s not – yet – there are plenty of changes you can consider that will allow it to be more hospitable when you’ve got crowds of various sizes in your home.

So, before you begin planning for your kitchen renovation, consider some of these important points.

How do you entertain?

If you’re one of those individuals/couples/families that doesn’t have people over for parties very often, making your kitchen entertainment-friendly isn’t a big deal. But if you love to play host, ask yourself these questions:

• How many people do you generally entertain at one time? 2, 5, 10, more?
• What kind of parties/events do you host? Are they casual sit-down, buffet style, very formal?
• Do you usually cook yourself or bring in food from a caterer?
• If you’re doing the cooking, is it just you or do you have a partner that helps with preparation?
• Do you plate food and then serve it in another space or do guests come into the kitchen and serve themselves?

Answers to all of these questions can help determine things such as layout, amount of counter space needed, size of appliances, and much more.

Items and features to consider

Once you’ve determined your entertaining “style”, you can begin to discuss with your renovation expert the things you might consider for your new kitchen, such as:

• Upscale or upgraded appliances – If you regularly cook for 20 guests, chances are you’ll want to think about such things as a professional range with 6 or more burners, for example. But even if you tend to purchase food from caterers but still do a lot of entertaining in the kitchen, you’ll want to select appliances that are attractive and blend nicely with the rest of your space. Stainless steel is often a given in such a situation and is usually a good bet for return-on-investment if you plan to sell your home in the next 5 years or so.
• Double dishwashers – Similarly, if you are a regular host for large parties, you might want to invest in a secondary dishwasher. It doesn’t have to be full-size – half-size units are available – but if you find you have to run three or more loads after a party, this just might be the answer.
• Warming drawers – Without a doubt, these are amongst the handiest considerations for someone who entertains a lot. Whether cooking on your own or purchasing food for your party, you’ll likely come upon a scenario when you’ll need to keep one course warm while serving the other. Warming drawers allow you to do this, while maintaining the quality of the food you’re serving.
• Refrigerated drawers – Similarly, you might consider refrigerated drawers and other specialty units, like wine refrigerators, for your entertaining needs.
• An island or raised countertop – Usually, you’ll need a place for your guests to sit. Even if you have an eat-in area with a table, those you entertain might prefer to sit at an island (if you have the space for one) or at a raised countertop. You can add some trendy stools that match your kitchen’s vibe so that they have a comfy place to hang while watching you prepare the meal.
• Space for caterers – If you regularly bring in catered food as well as staff to serve it, consider putting in a butler’s pantry-type space so they can unpack food and prepare to serve it out of your guests’ line of sight. While this might seem extravagant, it’s super handy if catered parties are a regular occurrence at your home.
• A flat-screen TV – If your parties center around sporting events, the Oscars, or other times when you expect everyone will want to watch the screen, consider mounting a television in your kitchen. It can be visible at all times or hidden in a closet if you prefer. You might even consider a “pop-up” unit!

Remember, size is not necessarily a pre-requisite for entertaining. Whether your kitchen is large or small, the experts at Mr. Cabinet Care can help you design a kitchen for the way you entertain. Call us for a free no-obligation consultation and get started on the kitchen of your dreams. https://www.mrcabinetcare.com/