When considering what will be incorporated into a kitchen design, it is important to keep in mind that the kitchen is the home’s focal point, where family and friends congregate during parties and gatherings, making the space much more than where food is stored and prepared. With that in mind Balsitis Contracting offers suggestions on what is needed for kitchens that will be used for entertaining, making the space more efficient, functional, inviting, and stylish.
A Fashionable Design
To create a welcoming entertainer’s kitchen, establishing work zones for prepping, cooking, and cleaning is a good first step. It is imperative that adequate space is designated for each zone, and typically an arrangement with the sink, refrigerator, and cooktop within easy reach works best. We believe the best social kitchens are open, expansive, and have a unified transition between the cooking space and the dining and living areas, offering a relaxed setting. Having an open design allows for interaction between the hosts and guests, providing room for mingling.
Ample Seating
In the kitchen and adjacent space, it is necessary to have plenty of comfortable seating for your guests. This includes bar stools at the island, chairs around tables, and bench seating.
Expansive Island
A prerequisite of a kitchen to be used for entertaining is a large island that allows for food preparation, added storage, and seating. This arrangement allows for the hosts to converse with their guests while making food and drinks. A large island can commonly include a cooktop and/or a sink to assist in food prep and clean up. A popular setup is having a second sink within the island, as that enables two people to work at the same time. By having a second sink, one can be used for food preparation and the other for rinsing dishes. Alternately, the main sink on the island avoids needing overhead ventilation for food prep or a potentially inadequate downdraft system for venting the cooking surface.
Quality Appliances
Making appliances a priority is a major element of creating a kitchen for entertaining. A primary component is a technologically advanced, commercial-style refrigerator, one with multiple compartments that is also large enough to hold trays and plates, along with food and drink.
When selecting an oven and cooktop, it is recommended to choose a style that is used in professional kitchens. Another consideration is having multiple ovens to accommodate making several hot dishes at once. There are electric ovens that offer Wi-Fi connectivity, enabling users to select and modify the cooking mode and temperature from their smart devices, plus some multi-function ovens, which are sometimes called hi-speed ovens, that feature sensor-based cooking that removes the need for preheating and setting cooking times based on the food being prepared.
Another appliance to contemplate is a warming drawer, allowing you to keep pre-cooked food at just the right temperature. An energy-saving dishwasher, maybe even two, is another must for an entertainer’s kitchen, as you will use less water than by hand-washing dishes, plus it is more hygienic.
Walk-in Pantry
Also known as a butler’s pantry, this space accommodates the storage of dinnerware, serving trays, drinkware, other utensils, small appliances, and bulk food items. A great entertaining kitchen never runs out of supplies.
Beverage Station
Great food should always be accompanied by a tasty beverage, and having a separate area for storing, preparing, and serving drinks adds a certain panache to a kitchen space. “The elements that comprise the space can vary depending on your preferences. Options include a temperature-controlled wine cooler, espresso machine, a beverage refrigerator or drawer, an ice dispenser, and storage for glassware and bottles. Removing these convenience items from the main kitchen workspace keeps the kitchen free for the main cooking tasks.
Trouble-Free Surfaces
At the conclusion of a gathering, clean-up is a dreaded task. Make things a bit easier by installing resilient, low-maintenance surfaces, such as stainless steel, porcelain slabs, or engineered stone, keeping in mind these can be applied to vertical surfaces also on backsplashes for example or even waterfall edges on an island or an end of countertop run.
The Balsitis Contracting team is able to assist you in developing a kitchen design that will make entertaining easy and enjoyable. Call 262-203-3952, e-mail info@balsitiscontracting.com, or complete our online form to start the process.