‘Tis The Season For A Holiday-Ready Kitchen
It’s that time of year again–time for Christmas parties, family gatherings, and fancy holiday soirees. If you’re the one doing the hosting, you know it’s likely most of your guests will wind up in your kitchen.
And if your outdated and tight kitchen space has you dreading those holiday hosting duties again this year, it’s probably time to consider a kitchen remodel.
To help you get started, our Toulmin Kitchen and Bath design team compiled a few ideas for you to consider, especially if you’re looking to design the holiday entertaining space of your dreams.
Idea #1: An Open Floor Plan So Your Family Can Gather Comfortably
Raise your hand if you want to squeeze your entire family into a tight space. No one? Yeah, that’s what we thought.
When remodeling your kitchen, your top priority should be to design a space that meets your family's unique needs. And we believe holiday gatherings should certainly be part of that equation.
You’ll want to ensure your new kitchen is designed so that everyone can be in the same room when celebrating special occasions. An open floor plan that connects your kitchen, dining area, and living area into one large space is the ideal design to allow everyone to gather together comfortably to celebrate the holiday season.
Idea #2: Spacious Countertops for Holiday Cooking Are A Must
Preparing for holiday dinner parties can be more enjoyable when your kitchen has large spaces designated for food preparation. From cutting and mixing to plating and serving the food, an experienced kitchen designer can help you incorporate ample countertop space, complete with a showstopping kitchen island, that can accommodate every cooking and entertaining task.
Idea #3: Incorporate Creative and Functional Storage Solutions
Creative storage solutions built into your custom cabinetry help eliminate cluttered countertops and keep your kitchen tidy and organized year-round. Well-designed cabinets and storage can also help alleviate the stress of preparing for a large holiday gathering or dinner party in your home.
When you’re designing custom cabinets, be sure to ask your cabinet design + build team to incorporate the following storage options:
Back-of-the-island storage for platters and serving pieces you typically only use when hosting
Spice pullouts next to the range for easy access to what you need while cooking
A walk-in pantry, butler’s pantry, or pantry cabinet
A double pull-out trash cabinet to make clean-up easier
An appliance lift for your mixer or other heavy appliances that take up a lot of counter space
Idea #4: Never Underestimate The Value of a Beverage Area…With a Refrigerator
Hear us out–never underestimate the value of a beverage station in your home. Designating a space in your kitchen for beverages (especially one with a refrigerator) may not be something you’ve ever considered a necessity. However, a beverage area is truly a must-have you didn’t know you needed until now…especially if you entertain often.
Love a good, themed cocktail or mocktail? We do, too! A beverage bar is an excellent way to entertain guests (we love a self-serve station!). It also keeps the traffic flowing seamlessly through your kitchen when you have many guests inside your home. A bar area is also the perfect place to showcase your taste! Bright-colored cabinets, abstract wallpaper, and unique tile can be used to incorporate fun elements into this unique space in your home.
Idea #5: Top Appliances and Kitchen Features For The Entertainer
When renovating a kitchen, it’s important to think about how appliances, plumbing fixtures, and other features can make a difference in your day-to-day life. However, it’s also important to consider how integrating these features into your kitchen design can make serving food and beverages a bit easier when you’re hosting large holiday gatherings, especially if you do so often.
There are many appliances and features that can instantly transform your kitchen into a prime space for entertaining. The following items are at the top of our wish list:
Double oven range or a double wall oven for extra cooking convenience
Warming drawer to keep dishes warm until serving time
Workstation sink to separate food prep areas from where you’re washing dishes.
Pot filler so you can conveniently fill large pots right on the stove
Deep kitchen sink for washing large pots, pans, and serving dishes
Unless your kitchen renovation will be featured on one of those television shows that boast unrealistic remodeling timelines (you know the ones we’re talking about), it’s likely that you won’t be getting a new kitchen by Christmas. However, it’s never too early to start thinking about what you want in a kitchen renovation.
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