02 Aug What Kitchen Features Do Hosts Want Most?
You have high expectations for your Denver kitchen features. At minimum, this essential space should feel like a personal oasis, where you set the tone for a great day with your morning cup of coffee — and where you relax each evening.
Just as important? Fostering a sense of connection, which you’ll ideally accomplish over regular dinners with loved ones. At times, however, you’ll want to take this concept to the next level as you turn your beloved kitchen into party central. This is where a professional kitchen designer can come in useful – helping you choose the features that will amplify both parties and daily life.
Whether you plan on hosting gourmet dinner parties, game nights, or memory-filled holiday gatherings, you’ll thank yourself for establishing a place that encourages many type of guests to build stronger relationships. Keep these key features in mind as you design the perfect kitchen for parties:
Square footage
First and foremost, entertaining requires space. You need plenty of room for prepping and displaying dishes — not to mention, space for guests to navigate as they grab drinks and appetizers.
If your kitchen is large enough, you can ditch the dining room altogether and enjoy a more cohesive gathering that keeps everybody in the same space. A great way to accomplish this is with an open-concept floorplan. This layout alleviates walls and opens up the kitchen to a larger area like a dining or family room or a combination of rooms. As a host, you’ll love this option. It allows you to feel like part of the event instead of constantly leaving your guests to check on the kitchen.
Kitchen island
A core component of the modern open concept, a kitchen island expands both your meal prep area and your entertaining space. This versatile surface can serve many purposes for kitchen hosting.
Often, islands are utilized as serving areas, where guests can filter through buffet style before gathering together for a wonderful meal. The island may also function as a temporary home bar, with you, the host, acting as the ultimate bartender.
No matter how you use it, your kitchen island is perfect for establishing the flow of traffic for any given event. It provides a much-needed visual cue, telling guests exactly where key functions (such as serving, dining, or mingling) will occur.
Don’t forget, this is a great place to display relevant décor. You can instantly build on your event’s theme or otherwise make it feel like a more festive occasion.
More and more, many homes feature two kitchen islands. Although this is not a realistic option for every home, it’s definitely worth considering if you have a large kitchen and spend more time at the island than at a conventional dining room table.
Photo | BKC Kitchen and Bath
Warming drawers
There’s a lot to juggle when hosting a party. Often, competing tasks make it difficult to time out meal prep. Crock pots help, but there’s nothing quite like a practical warming drawer for keeping a busy host sane.
Frequently referred to as baking drawers, these underappreciated features accomplish exactly what their name implies. They keep already completed dishes warm until they’re ready to be served. This gives you much-needed wiggle room as you time out the party preparation process. It’s also an invaluable option when hosting potlucks. If any guests arrive early, their contributions will remain toasty as long as needed.
Don’t be surprised if this appliance quickly becomes more than just another kitchen feature for hosting. Whether preparing several dishes for a vast guest list or a few favorites for the family, you’ll be amazed by the scheduling versatility that these valuable kitchen features add to your day.
Raised countertops
While we’ve highlighted the kitchen island as a possible entertaining space, it takes a little adaptation to turn it into a truly welcoming dining area. To accomplish this, counters must be raised by at least six inches.
Also known as a raised bar, the modern raised countertop brings much-needed versatility to the passionate entertainer’s home. This was a trendy add-on to the open concept kitchens of the 90s and 2000s. However, it remains a practical solution for many homeowners to this day.
A raised counter can do a lot for your kitchen, but there are definite tradeoffs worth considering. In recent years, some people prefer to lower raised counters due of their visual impact — making even the most expansive kitchens appear less spacious. With the right design, however, these visual limitations can be overcome while also enhancing functionality.
Photo | BKC Kitchen and Bath
Design the ultimate kitchen for hosting
Do you dream of hosting spectacular parties in your gorgeous kitchen? With the right adjustments, this space can be as useful for entertaining as it is for finding personal respite. Both ideals will be well within reach when you work with a professional kitchen designer.
If you’d like more ideas about making your kitchen as functional, welcoming, and aesthetically pleasing as possible, be sure to download our guide on the 6 Steps to a Succesful Kitchen Remodel. You’re also welcome to contact us to discuss your vision of the perfect kitchen.