Create a perfect kitchen for entertaining

Kitchen work triangle

First thing is to make sure that your fridge, sink and stove are within easy reach of each other and they form a triangle. According to interior designer Nikoll Nobay, it’s a common design element, but one that shouldn’t be overlooked. “It prevents having a fridge up one end of the room with an oven or a sink at an opposite end. This obviously creates more work and is not practical.”

Island bench

A large island bench that allows for seating is essential. Not only does it act as a central hub for friends to gather around while you are cooking but it can house a dishwasher and sink as well. It also acts as a functional storage space if you choose to have large drawers for crockery and cutlery.

Double up

Nobay suggests a double wall oven, which means no bending down and a cook top positioned galley style behind the island. “This gives you ample room to prep your food and cook without ever leaving your guests.”

If you are a real entertainer and love cooking, you might think about a double sink. That way you can be washing utensils in one sink and your partner can be prepping vegetables in the other.

Let it flow

If you have a deck or balcony off the kitchen, welcome the outdoors in. “Bi-fold doors usually work best in a space where you can open up the kitchen and create an outdoor eating or living area,” says Nobay. Today, some kitchens seamlessly continue the kitchen bench directly to the outdoors with a built-in barbecue.