Eating brings people together, so naturally many gatherings are centered in the kitchen. In the past, hosting a party was quite formal. The dining table was set and guests would hardly ever enter the kitchen. Nowadays, entertaining at home is more interactive and informal. Guests go in and out of the kitchen to serve themselves or to help the host in the preparations. Sometimes pre-dinner drinks or after-meal coffee and desserts are served in the kitchen because it allows guests to be in a more relaxed environment. How then can the kitchen be made to be entertainment ready?

GATHER AROUND

The focal point of entertainment in the kitchen is the island or peninsula. They can sit or stand around it while eating or helping in the preparations. If the cooking area is incorporated here too, then the host can even interact more intimately with the guests while cooking the meals.

It is a good solution to choose cabinets that can store and showcase cutlery, utensils, and dinnerware that are commonly used during parties. Some internal accessories for the drawers and pullouts are made of attractive wood, leather, and metal. When the guests access these, it gives an added luxurious feel to their kitchen experience in your home.

BIG AND SMALL APPLIANCES

When planning the placement of the main appliances in a kitchen made for entertaining and interaction, prioritize ease of access and efficiency. Locate the refrigerator in the front of the kitchen or near the entry door to allow guests to freely and easily get their cold drinks or snacks. The oven ideally should be placed at eye level for proper monitoring of the food being baked inside. This also eliminates the inconvenience of having to bend each time you check the food or bring it out. Invest in a range hood with strong suction power so that the heat, smell, and smoke in the kitchen can be managed.

As for the small appliances, designate enough counter space for those that you use daily and cabinet storage for the ones used occasionally. To manage the clutter, you can plan in side-sliding countertop doors in the design of the kitchen. This door design is unique because it allows you to access and/or to conceal the items inside when necessary. The door slides to the side so it is non-obtrusive to the movements in the kitchen. Adding multi-level shelves also saves precious countertop space. The rice cooker and toaster can be put on the shelves while the heavy-bottomed items like the mixers and blenders can stay on the countertop. Make sure to plan in enough electrical sockets in this area with the proper load capacity. When there are guests, slide the doors shut so the kitchen is neat and tidy.

MOOD LIGHTING

For the full mood experience in the entertainment kitchen, design lighting effects into the kitchen design. The lighting should be bright when doing tasks, but it should also be versatile enough to create a warmer and more casual ambiance when the party is winding down.

Lighting can be manipulated by the use of dimmers for overhead fixtures or by installing indirect light sources inside glass cabinets, under the shelves, in the toe kick area, or even through translucent countertop materials like Onyx. The key is to have a separate switch for each lighting source to be able to adjust the mood to your liking.

DRESS IT UP

Lastly, make your kitchen ready for the occasion. Casual or daytime gatherings can be made brighter by loosely arranged flowers in a vase or an assortment of edible centerpieces like a basket of fruits or cute bowls of colorful candy.

For more formal events light up candles and bring out the lovely linen napkins. Sometimes, the center island can serve as the buffet area. Aside from using beautiful serving ware, make a centerpiece that is right for the theme of the party. May it be a small tabletop Christmas tree with lights, a chocolate fondue fountain, or a decorative plant inside a ceramic pot, it adds a little bit of drama to the party atmosphere.