Design Tips to Create an Entertainer’s Kitchen
If you love hosting and entertaining, having a kitchen that perfectly accommodates for this through clever design, thoughtful integrations, and a smart layout is essential.
At The Maker Designer Kitchens, we specialise in designing custom luxury kitchens that cater to the specific needs of our clients. Looking for something specific or unique? We have the expertise and capabilities to bring almost any vision to life. From hidden bars (check out Jess & Jules’ kitchen!) and serving windows that open to your outdoor area to luxury sculleries—we’ve done it all!
Whether you’re hosting a casual brunch, a cocktail night, or a grand dinner party, our tailored kitchen designs ensure your kitchen is the ideal space for entertaining.
Looking to transform your kitchen into the ultimate entertainer’s haven? Here are the hottest entertaining kitchen ideas to help you achieve your dream space.
What is the best kitchen layout for entertaining?
The kitchen is the heart of any home, and this could not ring more true when entertaining. Naturally, as you serve food and drinks, guests will huddle around the kitchen and dining room areas, often which flow into each other if your home has an open plan layout.
The foundation of any great kitchen design is its layout, and this is particularly true for kitchens designed for entertaining. An open-plan layout is often the best kitchen layout for entertaining, as it connects the kitchen seamlessly with other living areas. This design encourages social interaction and allows the host to engage with guests while preparing food and drinks.
Creating efficient working zones is another crucial aspect. These zones ensure that everything the host needs is within easy reach, making the cooking and serving process more streamlined and enjoyable. Having the cooking, preparation, and cleaning areas well-defined and strategically placed can significantly enhance the functionality of the kitchen. Read more about how to optimise your working zones in your kitchen here.
The importance of designated seating areas
Seating is a vital component of an entertaining kitchen, as it provides a place for guests to gather, relax, and socialise while the host prepares food.
Integrating seating into your kitchen design can be achieved in various ways. Benchtop designs with overhangs are particularly effective, as they provide seating without taking up additional space. Kitchen islands that double as seating areas are another popular choice, offering both functionality and space to serve as a social hub.
Cantilever designs, square islands, and extra-long islands each cater to different seating needs, making them versatile options for any kitchen layout. Square islands provide seating on multiple sides, fostering conversation among guests, while extra-long islands can include layered sections or dining table extensions for added versatility. Corner kitchens are also excellent for incorporating breakfast bars and seating areas.
Ultimately, the size and shape of your home will guide the kitchen design. If you’re aiming for an entertainer’s kitchen, be sure to inform your kitchen designer so they can incorporate these features into your renovation.
What are the essential appliances for an entertainer’s kitchen?
An entertainer’s kitchen should be equipped with appliances that make hosting easier and more enjoyable.
Larger cooktops and ovens, such as 900mm models, provide ample space for cooking multiple dishes simultaneously. Large freestanding ovens are another excellent option, allowing different dishes to be cooked at varying temperatures at the same time. Doubling up on appliances, such as ovens and dishwashers has become increasingly popular for large families who frequently cater to bigger groups.
Warming drawers are becoming increasingly popular for entertainers, as they help to keep food and plates warm until it’s time to serve. A dedicated drinks fridge is also a fantastic addition, creating a beverage centre that keeps refreshments chilled and easily accessible.
As a luxury inclusion, Zip Water Hydro Taps offer boiling, chilled, ambient, and sparkling water directly from the tap at the touch of a button, and are a practical feature that enhances the entertaining experience.
The advantages of a scullery or butler’s pantry
Including a scullery or butler’s pantry in your kitchen design can greatly enhance your entertaining capabilities. These spaces provide additional storage and preparation areas, allowing the main kitchen area to remain tidy and organised.
A butler’s pantry is typically a dry storage area adjacent to the kitchen, offering extra bench space for storing dry goods, plates, glassware, and small appliances. It’s an ideal spot for an additional drinks fridge, ensuring drinks are always within reach.
A scullery is a larger, more comprehensive space that includes a sink, additional kitchen storage, appliances, and extra bench space for food preparation. This area is particularly useful when entertaining, as it offers a separate zone for preparing and serving food, keeping the main kitchen clutter-free.
Both options are excellent for managing the demands of hosting, providing the necessary space to prepare, serve, and clean up with ease. These zones are also a great place to keep used dishes out of the main kitchen zone until your guests have gone home and you are ready to clean up.
The necessity of ample storage
Storage is crucial in any kitchen, especially one designed for entertaining. Key elements to consider when designing a functional and cohesive storage system for your entertainer’s kitchen include:
Custom cabinetry
If you are an entertainer, you are likely to have a collection of serving ware, platters, glasses, and cutlery, all which need to be properly stored. Custom cabinetry solutions can be tailored to meet these specific storage needs, ensuring that everything has its place and is protected and easily accessible.
At The Maker Designer Kitchens, our custom cabinetry design services focus on maximising storage while maintaining an elegant and cohesive look. From pull-out drawers and custom shelving to integrated storage solutions, we can create a kitchen that not only looks beautiful but also functions flawlessly.
No matter the size of your kitchen, custom cabinetry allows you to maximise storage with a design tailored precisely to your home’s dimensions. This bespoke option ensures optimal use of space and functionality, which is not achievable with pre-sized, off-the-shelf renovation solutions.
Drawers
While cabinets are essential in every kitchen, we always recommend incorporating drawers for maximising storage. Drawers are ideal for lower cabinetry, providing practical solutions for heavy items like cookware and serving platters. Deep drawers are popular for their capacity to hold large kitchen items, including appliances.
Pantry organisation
Depending on how you organise your pantry, there are a few different custom options to maximise storage. One option is the Hafele Tandem pantry system, featuring two sets of shelves with innovative pull-out technology for easy access and an unobstructed view of all items, making it ideal for organising and categorising.
For bulk storage, we recommend a custom cabinetry design with drawers or a combination of drawers and shelves.
Our design experts can help create a practical pantry layout tailored to your space, including features like LED lighting for easy access.
Appliance cupboards
Custom cabinetry can create appliance cupboards, providing extra space to store your countertop appliances. These cupboards are perfect for keeping your toaster, kettle, coffee machine, and Thermomix accessible yet out of sight when entertaining. When not in use, store them in the appliance cupboard for a cleaner kitchen design and more counter space.
Corner storage
A good kitchen design means to never neglect your corners, otherwise they have the potential to become dead zones. We recommend the Hafele Lemans II corner unit, featuring easy-to-use pull-out trays that make deep cabinet sections accessible. This helps declutter your cabinets and eliminates the need to remove everything to reach items in the back.
Another excellent option is the Hafele Ninka Quatro Qanto, which provides innovative access to below-counter storage at the touch of a button.
Under sink storage
The area under your sink has limited space due to plumbing, but clever storage options like the Hafele Potero Cleaning Agent can maximise it. This pull-out unit is perfect for storing cleaning
products in a detachable, portable basket.
Host with ease with a cleverly designed entertainer’s kitchen
Designing the perfect entertaining kitchen involves careful consideration of layout, seating, appliances, and storage.
At The Maker Designer Kitchens, we pride ourselves on our ability to create custom kitchen designs that cater to the unique needs of our clients. By focusing on these key elements, we can transform your kitchen into a space that’s both functional and stylish, making entertaining a joy rather than a chore.
We invite you to visit our showroom to see our innovative kitchen designs on display and discuss your ideas with our expert designers.
Whether you’re looking to create a cosy gathering spot or a luxury entertaining hub, our expert team is committed to bringing your vision to life with bespoke solutions that reflect your personal style and hosting requirements.
Let us help you create the ultimate entertaining kitchen that will be the heart of your home for years to come. Contact our team today to arrange a consultation with our kitchen designers.
