In recent years, kitchens have moved from being solely the domain of cooking to being the heart of the home and a place for many different activities & occasions. Today, kitchens are more popular than ever not only as a place to cook, but also as a place to eat and entertain guests.
When designing a family kitchen, one must consider multiple elements. Careful attention to detail and a clear vision of how the room will be used are important, as is making sure that the room encourages members of the family to use it. It is particularly important if you love entertaining to design a kitchen that combines practicality, style and comfort in one ideal package.
A well-designed kitchen allows hosts to take centre stage as they have space where they can prepare food and drinks for their guests; it also allows guests to stay in the same place for hours while they are being entertained.
When designing your kitchen, you should take into account not only its aesthetic appeal but also how it can be used for entertaining guests and every-day usability.
Like the kitchen you see above? Click here to find out how we completed this project.
Utilise your island
A kitchen island is a great place to place an informal serving platter, where guests can help themselves to drinks and snacks. This provides you with the opportunity to interact directly with your guests while they are enjoying the food and drink offered, but still allowing you to crack on with the important stuff with plenty of space.
If your kitchen island is large enough, you can use it to prepare food while your guests help themselves to small plates of appetizers. If you’re hosting a laid-back meal, you can even turn the island into a buffet table for people to browse at their leisure. Or, if you’re only expecting a couple of guests, you can use bar stools or chairs to create cosy dining spots by the countertop.
Like the kitchen you see above? Click here to find out how we completed this project.
Choosing your ideal layout – it pays to plan
In any hosting situation, it’s important to stay with guests rather than attend to other tasks. This is especially true when guests are unfamiliar with one another and need help in breaking the ice.
For entertaining, we recommend open-plan kitchens as you can seat guests and chat to them whilst you get on with all the hard work that entertaining involves.
Watching you in action will keep guests entertained should there be any awkward silences in the conversation. No need to be nipping out to check the oven every five minutes, either!
If your kitchen overlooks your garden or has a view of some other pleasant landscape, make sure that the furniture layout in the kitchen makes use of this by orienting it toward the view. The sink does not always have to be positioned so that it looks out on the garden: sometimes it is better to locate one’s dining area near the best view in the kitchen. Creating a space that seamlessly links the indoors with the outdoors will enable dinner parties to spill out into the garden, with all of the essentials—such as food, drink and cutlery—at hand in the kitchen.
Choosing durable materials
When you host guests regularly, your kitchen will see a lot of traffic. To make sure it lasts for many years to come, invest in long-lasting materials for construction and surface toppers. A kitchen that stays in tip top condition for years to come not only saves you time and money when it comes to maintenance, but also gives off an air of crisp cleanliness.
Worktops are one area of your kitchen that’s worth heavy investment in, not only because they need to be ideal for everyday use, but worktops are the spine of your kitchen. Used day-in-out for countless tasks, some of which are not so lenient. However, if you do not care for them properly, they won’t last long or maintain their appearance.
However, some materials are more resistant to staining than others. For example, quartz and soapstone are non-porous, which means no moisture should be absorbed, preventing bacterial growth. You’ll still need to use disinfectant sprays or wipes though, especially in households with children or those that cook often.
If you frequently entertain, your kitchen floors should be able to withstand the wear and tear of a busy household. Wood and stone are two excellent flooring options that require little in the way of maintenance. A regular sweeping and mopping will keep them looking good for many years to come.
Investing in good quality materials will result in a kitchen that becomes the epicentre of your home, able to withstand all sorts of social occasions and looking stunning for years.
