How to build an entertainment kitchen that is the heart of the home—and the party
Hosting friends and family in your home is a big job with a seemingly endless to-do list, from the cleaning marathon the day before to the inescapable, last-minute trip to the wine store. One way to make the whole process easier: design your kitchen with entertaining top-of-mind. These homeowners, who all renovated with Sweeten, did just that when remodeling their culinary spaces. Here’s a look at how they built an entertainment kitchen in their homes.
1. Keep it open
Let’s face it, the host shouldn’t be hidden away from guests while prepping hors d’oeuvres. A layout that leaves the kitchen exposed to the dining area allows you to enjoy your own party while keeping the food and drinks flowing. Marie and John wanted their Brooklyn adobe to accommodate their friends, children, and grandchildren, so they optimized their kitchen layout, leaving the dining and living areas open to the kitchen. Jennifer and Joe “entertain so much” they had to take a departing wall down except for a load-bearing one which was perfect for the fridge.
(Above) Open dining area and kitchen
(Above) Open concept except for a small structural wall
2. Double up
Two of anything is almost always better than one. The double oven in Bellamy and Zak’s was a “non-negotiable,” and for good reason. Anyone who’s cooked multiple dishes at once knows the struggle of balancing oven time. Two appliances eliminate the hassle of planning around such restrictions. The same thought can be applied to sinks. Nilda and Brian’s entertainment kitchen has two of them, one in the main cooking area and another in the wet bar. A central sink can hold the inevitable pile of dirty dishes, while the other stays free for cleaning glasses for fresh drinks.
(Above) Double ovens
(Above) Double sinks
3. Think smart storage
When you’re rushing to set the table before guests arrive or putting the last touches on a meal, you’ll be grateful dishes and utensils are in sight. These Sweeten homeowners (and avid entertainers) installed open shelves in their L-shaped kitchen, making it easy to grab-and-go as needed—not to mention they look pretty, too. Other creative ideas include toe kick storage, like these self-described “foodies,” whose passion it is to cook, or a pull-out pantry next to the fridge for access to dry ingredients.
(Above) Open-shelving
(Above) Toe kick storage
(Above) Pull-out pantry
4. Make it work
Placing the workhorse of your kitchen (the stove) in a central location like an island or peninsula allows hosts to put the last touches on a meal while talking to their guests. Sonali and Shalaj’s peninsula and Ainsley and Simon’s island are such examples of an ideal set-up. “We like that the stove is in the peninsula now, because it allows us to cook and interact with guests when we have them over,” Sonali said.
(Above) Working island
A final note: Use these suggestions and ideas as guidelines for your own kitchen renovation. Layout, budget, and space are major game-changers when it comes to remodeling, so for some, an open floor plan or giant kitchen island may not be an option. The most important thing is to design a space you love.
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For more entertaining tips, check out 6 Home Bar Ideas That Deserve a Toast.
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