Make your kitchen a social hub of the home.

Guests always gravitate to the kitchen. So if you like socialising, why not make your kitchen a hub for fun and entertainment?

Open up your kitchen to guests

An open-plan room allows your guests to chat and relax while you prepare food and drink. Everyone is part of the action, and they can help you with cooking and serving.

You don’t necessarily have to have a huge kitchen; you just need to maximise every inch of space. If you do have the option to remove barriers, such as joining two rooms, then you can easily create a large entertainment space.

But if this isn’t possible, devise a floor plan that allows a free-flow through your kitchen, so you and your guests can easily move between cooking and dining areas. Organise your kitchen work zone into a functional triangle of oven, fridge and sink, to make life easier for the host. Meanwhile, optimise space around the dining table and chairs to allow your guests to navigate easily.

Dining table versus island for entertaining

Depending on the type of socialising you do, you may prefer a formal dining table with chairs on each side. However, if you tend to be more informal, a kitchen island with high stools may be more fun.

Some kitchen designs include two islands – one for food preparation and the second for dining. You could also incorporate a second sink into the kitchen island to enable you to wash fine glassware away from the location where you rinse heavy pots and pans.

Fun and functional kitchen appliances

If you love to cook for people, a double range oven will give you all the cooking power you need to prepare amazing feasts. With a choice of ovens, you can ensure each dish is cooked to perfection at exactly the right temperature and time.

Afterwards, you’ll be thankful for a double dishwasher that can take care of all the dirty plates, pots and pans.

Refrigeration is another consideration, and there are plenty of must-have features if you entertain frequently. A temperature-controlled fridge just for wine will free up space in your main refrigerator. You may also want to indulge in a cocktail bar with optics and a range of cocktail glasses.

If you’re a coffee-lover, then there are numerous types of espresso machines and coffeemakers to choose from. Let your guests make their own beverages by providing cups, mugs, latte bowls and all the accessories for cappuccinos, expressos and lattes.

Lighting that creates the right atmosphere

Lighting is a great way to make smaller kitchens look bigger and larger kitchens become more intimate.

The trick is to light each area according to activity. The main kitchen needs to be well lit for safety reasons. You must be able to clearly see all food preparation and cooking areas. Under-cabinet lights and spotlights are useful for giving extra illumination.

However, glaring light can be off-putting when you’re trying to create a relaxed, ambient atmosphere. Dimmer switches will help in this respect. An oversize pendant or twinkling chandelier makes a wonderful over-the-table feature – as long as you can adjust the level of light it produces.

When you’ve finished cooking, switch off all the kitchen lights – conveniently hiding all the debris from the meal. Instead, just leave the soft focus of the main pendant light.

Would you like a kitchen built for entertaining?

We can design the kitchen you want, one that’s perfectly suited to your lifestyle and home.

Why not book a FREE kitchen design consultation and let us show you how we can transform your kitchen?

Call us on 01525 851830 or email: sales@kinteriorskitchens.co.uk