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The Perfect Kitchen for Entertaining
Open kitchens are definitely all the rage today. They are versatile too – kitchens aren’t just used for cooking and eating these days, they are also the heart of the home, a social space where people host dinner parties and a place for the kids to finish their homework. Kitchens are now used for entertaining and contain more appliances than ever before. When you are planning to redesign your kitchen it is important that your newly refurbished space will accommodate all of these activities without breaking the bank. Here are a few tips to help you on your way:
Integration and Co-ordination
Today’s kitchens incorporate a large living/dining area so it is important to co-ordinate the colours of the kitchen with the walls of the living space. Another idea is to use the same tones and shades in the dining area as you use for your kitchen appliances. Arches are a great method of opening up a space without making it look too much like a barn.
Hide the Mess
A high shelf or bar will hide the inevitable kitchen clutter and food preparation areas. Place it on the top of a kitchen island and no-one will be able to see the pile of dirty dishes. You could even create a closed area near to the sink, a dedicated clean up area which can help to keep work tops clear and clean. You also need to ensure that there’s plenty of space for kids to dump their coats, school bags etc instead of everything piling up on your kitchen island. Perhaps there’s a cupboard which could be used for this purpose?
Electronics
Keep these together. There’s bound to be a collection of telephones, iPads and similar in your kitchen. You may not be able to avoid them but if you designate an area to be a “charging zone” with several USB ports it can help to keep the rest of your kitchen clear and tidy. You could maybe even incorporate this within a cupboard.
Play Area
Kids need a designated area where they can sit which is well away from the kitchen sink and other appliances. This is also a great place to locate the healthy snacks and teatime treats and maybe even a small fridge containing juice and milk for easy access. A separate space for the children ensures they stay away from hot stoves and knives but are still within the same room so you can keep an eye on them.
Keep The Noise Down
Kitchens can be very noisy areas if you opt for hardwood floors or stone tiles. These may be the best option for cleaning but by placing a few rugs around the space, the acoustics will be muffled making for a quieter life. You should also bear the noise levels in mind when buying washing machines and dishwashers – low noise models are available these days.
A Space To Eat
Eating areas are another must for the modern kitchen of today. Even though your home may have a dining area you can be sure that most people will insist on hanging around in the kitchen. This is one of the benefits of a kitchen island – the perfect impromptu eating area as well as somewhere to write a grocery or “To Do” list. These also make excellent storage areas for cutlery, crockery, napkins and other paraphernalia which can make the place look untidy. Check out the Commercial Kitchens Design website for some great examples and inspiration of the latest trends and ideas for your kitchen.
