Category: Front Page Showcase

If a kitchen that makes entertaining a breeze is something you’d love to have, this blog will help you identify what’s important to you so you can get a clear picture of what you want. While you may not need to put out extra chairs at the table this year, it remains a wonderful time to do something special for the loved ones who live with you or who can visit you safely. Given the year we’ve all had, it might be a good idea to focus on comfort and relaxation, and still make this holiday season memorable.

As the heart of your home, your kitchen plays a significant role in making sure your guests have a good time. If you’re someone who loves to entertain, it’s probably important to you to make your space warm and welcoming, regardless of how long or short your guest list is. To create a kitchen for entertaining, you can start by adding some of these features to your existing kitchen. And, if you’re planning a complete remodel, why not go all out and create a beautiful space that you, your family, and your guests will want to spend more time in?

Since the purpose of a kitchen remodel is often to improve its functionality and aesthetic, the tips we’ve put together are great for anyone who wants to do more in the kitchen and who would love other members of the household to participate as well. With the right storage solutions, work areas, and practical features, your kitchen is likely to be busier than ever, complete with soul-soothing food and conversations!

Here are some ideas on how you can create the perfect kitchen for entertaining:

1. Open plan

When you picture your guests in your kitchen, do you see them mingling comfortably, or are they looking for the quickest route to the living room? If it’s the latter, you might want to consider an open plan kitchen. This is becoming an increasingly popular option because of how spacious it makes your kitchen feel and how it can improve the flow of the whole house.

2. Kitchen island

If you’re talking to a designer about creating a kitchen for entertaining, one of the first things they might suggest is a kitchen island. Not only does it offer an additional work surface to help you prepare elaborate meals, it also gives more options for storage and functionality. You can consider installing additional kitchen appliances here, such as a second microwave to make reheating food quicker. Prep sinks and slide-out cutting boards can come in handy, especially when there are a few extra cooks in your line-up. Or, perhaps you just want an informal space for guests to enjoy while you work. People tend to gravitate towards a kitchen island, so having one is a great way to bring fun and activity into the kitchen. It can give everyone a way to spend time together more comfortably.

For larger kitchens, two islands can be a fantastic way to go; you could use one as a workspace and the other for seating.

Since a kitchen island is versatile, you can decorate it for a specific occasion or pile it high with irresistible treats. It can also work as a bar if you don’t have a dedicated space for that, making your pre-dinner cocktails look professional. The idea is to use the space in a way that works best for you and your guests.

If you’re not sure how best to plan your kitchen island, speak to our highly-experienced team – we’d love to talk to you about your requirements and help you find the best design solutions for your space.

3. Storage

A kitchen that gets easily-cluttered can feel disorganized and unwelcoming. Carefully designed cabinetry and storage will help you access everything you need quickly, which also makes putting things back easy. If you’re running late with food prep or have a last-minute visitor, a well-organized kitchen can help you get everything done and cleared up swiftly, making the process less stressful. Something to keep in mind: when you’re relaxed, your guests feel relaxed as well.

4. Countertops

You want your countertops to look luxe and lovely while also being resilient and easy-to-maintain. There are several options to choose from today, which experts like the Bath Plus Kitchen team can tell you about. Another factor to consider is countertop height. In addition to the standard height countertops, you can also include some taller countertops. As you design a kitchen for entertaining, keep in mind that adding variety and versatility like this is a great way to go. It will help you adapt to impromptu situations and new ideas (sometimes from guests) more easily. 

5. Separate stations

The master chef of the house is unlikely to appreciate crowding and confusion while they’re trying to create a beautiful meal. To keep them from throwing in the kitchen towel, create work stations for different prep tasks.

For example, you can have a section of your countertop for preparing your ingredients, stocked with knives and chopping boards. Or, you might want to put someone in charge of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and other warm beverages. They will need all the appliances – such as a coffee maker, milk frother, and kettle – and the cups to be in the same space, so no one needs to get in anyone’s way to find these things.

For cocktails and other drinks, a wet bar can be a sophisticated, dedicated space. Here, try to include everything needed to serve drinks quickly, including adequate glassware for different drinks and a sink. Designed well, this can be another informal spot for guests to hang out in.

Designated spaces for specific functions can improve collaboration in the kitchen and add personality. They also make it easier for people to contribute if they’d like to.

6. The right appliances

When you design a kitchen for entertaining, think about what you’re likely to be cooking or serving and try to get the appliances that can help you accomplish those things with ease. Some appliances to consider:

• Ice machine
  
  Relying on ice trays to keep your guests’ drinks chilled isn’t the best option. Sure, you can always buy bags of ice as needed, but how cool would it be to have an actual ice machine in your home! It’s something that would require a little planning in terms of space allocation as well as plumbing. However, once set up, you probably won’t want to look at another ice tray again.

• Cooktops or ranges with multiple burners
  
  Putting a hot meal on the table gets trickier when there are several different things that need to be cooked or reheated at once. Here, a cooktop or range with a generous number of burners can help. Having the option is great, and it might just support your culinary endeavors on a regular basis as well.

• Warming drawers
  
  This may sound indulgent, especially if you already have a stove and microwave to heat food, but warming drawers offers a few features that make them worth considering. They can help to cook and defrost food as well as to keep it warm. They can also warm plates, which will delight your guests.

• Wine fridge
  
  These are fast becoming more popular, especially as the range of options available grows. They can fit seamlessly into your kitchen. Some even have dual temperature control to allow you to have red and white wine at their respective correct temperatures. While this is a luxury, it’s also incredibly practical.

7. Open shelving and glass cabinet doors

Help your guests find what they need so they can feel more at home. One way to do that is through open shelving and glass kitchen cabinet doors. Even if you prefer to keep most things concealed to minimize visual clutter, you can plan a few places where guests can see things they typically need – such as plates, mugs, silverware, and napkins – which will help them get comfortable without feeling like they need to bother you with every little request. You can also use such spaces to display special crockery or appliances that add charm to your kitchen décor.

As you think about what you would like to display, also think about what you would like to keep tucked away. For your kitchen to feel like a relaxing space to spend time in, consider making parts of it feel like a living room – a place to unwind. To achieve this, you can downplay certain functional features and appliances. For example, you could select panel-ready refrigerators that accommodate beautiful wooden panels to make your kitchen look “furnished” rather than just “well-equipped”. 

8. Seating

A significant part of creating a kitchen for entertaining is seating that’s comfortable and placed well. Look at seating for both the kitchen itself as well as for connected spaces such as the living room or patio. This includes everything from barstools to couches. The idea is to create common spaces for everyone while also making sure there are small, informal spaces to spend time in. If you have a fireplace, think about how you can improve the space so guests can enjoy the ambiance.

Give some thought to your dining table. If it’s separate from your kitchen, it helps to create a nook or informal space to eat in, should your guests wish to move or sit down for a quick chat with the host in the kitchen. Even if space is a concern, a good designer can help you find a solution that works for you.

9. Connection to outdoor spaces

If your kitchen connects to an outdoor space, ensure that your guests have a way to experience it. French or sliding doors can help bring the outdoor experience closer, something that many of us want after spending a lot more time indoors this year.

10. Lighting

To create the kind of warm, welcoming ambiance that people associate with being at home, you’ll need to plan the lighting carefully. Add brightness and cheerfulness in some places and a soft glow in others. For any new kitchen, this is an important step. It’s all about creating the right mix for you.

11. Finishing touches

Think of a special feature you would like your guests to enjoy. It could be a high-quality sound system, a flatscreen for sports fans, a grow room for flavorful fresh herbs, or something simple yet elegant such as smart lighting. Try to include features that are practical but also add to your guests’ enjoyment (and yours!).

Depending on the extent of your remodel, you can try to create a kitchen for entertaining that connects with the design of the rest of your home, either by being consistent with it or by complimenting it.

To learn what design options, layouts, and functions would work best for you, get in touch with us, and we’ll help you design a kitchen for entertaining that will make special occasions more memorable for your guests and everyday cooking more enjoyable for your family and you!

Key references:

https://www.housebeautiful.com/
https://www.thedecorcafe.com/
https://www.dwell.com/

Kitchen styles can be inspired by anything. It could be your childhood home, a beautiful place you visited, your dream travel destination, an image on Instagram or Pinterest that instantly caught your eye, or simply a kitchen you came across at some point in your life. Memory could also inform its design in a powerful way, as designer Gil Schafer explains in the video below.

 

When you remodel your kitchen, you have an opportunity to recreate something you connected with and make it a part of your home and everyday life. The possibilities are endless. Every time you set out to do some research on kitchen styles, we’re sure you see several brilliant ideas that you would love to explore. Or, perhaps you find it challenging to identify a style that expresses your personal taste and preferences.

Through our work as a full-service design-remodel company, we have brought to life a wide range of kitchen styles to suit the individual tastes of our clients. That’s how we know that selecting a style needs careful consideration and in-depth discussion. What can help you settle on one is getting clarity on the basic kitchen styles first.

You may have heard people describe their kitchens as “farmhouse”, “French country”, “cottage”, or “coastal”. While these descriptions convey aesthetic and feel, they don’t tell you enough about the basic kitchen style that they might be rooted in. Today, there is a lot of fluidity in how these kitchen styles are defined, so different people may classify them differently. However, when you’re working with a kitchen designer, it’s a good idea to know a few basic styles so you can choose a direction to move in before detailing out the specific aesthetic.

In this guide, we will look at these styles:
1. Traditional
2.  Modern
3. Contemporary
4. Transitional

Homestratosphere’s research indicates the kitchen styles listed above also happen to be the top choices today:

 

Keep reading to learn what makes each of these styles unique!

 

1. TRADITIONAL KITCHENS

Traditional kitchens are defined by careful details. They are designed for:

• Quality
• Warmth
• Elegance

Because quality is a priority for traditional kitchens, they favor long-lasting natural materials such as wood over manufactured materials. For countertops, granite, quartz, and marble are timeless choices.

Warmth and comfort are important criteria that a traditional kitchen must meet. To achieve that softness and luxury, they use muted color palettes.

Elegance and sophistication are achieved through adornment. Crown moldings, wainscoting and beaded inset cabinetry for example, can help add tasteful embellishments to your kitchen. Your cabinetry is the perfect place to incorporate this. Instead of simple cabinetry styles that work for modern kitchens, you could opt for a raised panel. Glazes and antique finishes are also widely used for traditional-style cabinetry to enhance the natural wood aesthetic.

While adornment is important, subtlety is also key to a traditional kitchen. While its countertops may showcase the bold patterns of natural stone, the backsplash of a traditional kitchen tends to be simple and functional.

Adding beautiful, ornate light fixtures to your traditional kitchen will complete the look.

At Bath Plus Kitchen, we often recommend traditional-style kitchens to clients with beautiful historic homes. Northern Virginia neighborhoods, for example, are filled with such houses. But sometimes the interior of these homes is lacking compared to the exquisite exterior. That’s where our team can step in. We can help you match the interior of your home to the traditional look and feel of the exterior. Our experts will work with you to create a traditional kitchen that you and your family will enjoy for many years.

A note on ‘modern’ and ‘contemporary’ kitchens

The terms ‘modern’ and ‘contemporary’ are often used interchangeably. However, they actually mean very different things. Modern kitchens are aligned to the design movement in the early 20^th century, with well-defined guidelines on what elements can be included. Contemporary kitchens are, as the name suggests, kitchens designed based on current trends. There can be overlap where modern styles inspire contemporary design, but they are two distinct types of kitchen design.

2. MODERN KITCHENS

These modern kitchens began to emerge around World War I. They were a departure from the well-adorned traditional kitchens, leaning towards simpler designs instead. They prioritize:

• Sleekness
• Innovation
• Boldness

Angular designs and flat surfaces give modern kitchens their sleekness. This is evident from their cabinetry, with their flush doors with smooth surfaces. This approach continues through the furniture of a modern kitchen, favoring angular over adorned.

Hardware and accessories are kept to a minimum to give the sense of measured and manufactured uniformity that translates to perfection. Overall, these kitchens look elegant yet uncomplicated. They have clean lines and an openness to manufactured materials such as ceramics and plastics. Many still use natural materials for flooring and countertops, but without embellishment. Like traditional kitchens, modern kitchens prefer simple backsplashes. Contrast created by bold color palettes is also something you will see with many modern kitchens. Appliances and utensils in bright colors can create tremendous visual interest and signal innovation.

In our work in Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC, we have come across many homes that were perfect for our clients in every aspect other than the kitchen. While we try to highlight the most unique and charming features of older kitchens such as original stained-glass windows, these spaces are often completely outdated. That’s when we recommend a modern kitchen design, which will update the space and make it functional, neat, and vibrant.

3. CONTEMPORARY KITCHENS

These kitchens demonstrate new and evolving trends. They are generally considered to be kitchens designed for life in the 21^st century, which means they factor in current requirements and preferences. They focus on:

• Convenience
• Functionality
• Minimalism

Like modern kitchens, contemporary kitchens prioritize sleekness and clean lines. Contemporary kitchen cabinets tend to have flat panels without any furrows. Their doors covering the entire frame for a seamless appearance. That seamlessness continues when appliances are hidden behind cabinet doors.

Minimalism and spaciousness are key here. Neat layouts that prefer horizontal lines elongate the space and make it look airy and open.

Smart storage solutions and integrated appliances also make it easier to keep the kitchen clean and organized, which is essential to someone with a busy 21^st-century lifestyle.

4. TRANSITIONAL KITCHENS

A favorite of many Bath Plus Kitchen clients, transitional kitchens are the perfect blend of contemporary and traditional design elements. They offer the warmth of a traditional kitchen with the sleek, functional style of a contemporary kitchen. Our clients love being able to create their own unique look and feel by selecting their favorite traditional and contemporary elements and putting them together with our design experts.

This is an example of a transitional design we completed in Alexandria, Virginia. Notice the simple and clean lines, and how the neutral colors create a nice meeting place for the cabinets, the range, and the beautiful wood floor. This works especially well with the open design and creates a smooth continuity between the kitchen, dining room, and living room.

We hope learning about these basic kitchen styles helps you choose what you want to live with long-term over what looks good today. Once you settle on that and think about your own personal style, you can dive deeper into the aesthetic you love and choose from options such as:

• Coastal – Beautiful blues and greens together with bright whites can give your kitchen a coastal theme. These kitchens bring in as much natural light as possible. They include lively elements in places such as the backsplash.
• Cottage Kitchen – A cottage kitchen is as cozy and cheerful as it sounds. Hardwood flooring and a soft color palette offer comfort. Charming embellishments, light fixtures, and hardware add character.
• Craftsman – These kitchens showcase natural materials. That’s why the cabinetry and countertops are top quality. Features such as a large kitchen sink are designed to be functional and stylish.
• Eclectic – Practical layouts combined with diverse design elements make eclectic kitchens unique and welcoming. Unexpected finishes and details are blended together, so there is plenty of room for creativity and expression of personal style.
• Farmhouse – Simplicity and rustic charm set the tone for a farmhouse kitchen. They have practical details such as large apron-front sinks and open shelving, which can look incredibly stylish. Natural materials such as wood, together with soft finishes, make these kitchens warm and welcoming.
• French Country – French country and farmhouse kitchens have a lot in common, so they can be confused. They both use natural materials, rustic details, and bright whites. However, while farmhouse kitchens use defined lines and a casual style, French country kitchens are softer, with a more feminine and refined elegance.

These are many more kitchen style options to choose from, which a good kitchen designer can guide you through. Before you meet with one, here are a few questions you can ask yourself:

1. What’s more important to you – cutting-edge appliances or timeless elegance?
2. What countertops do you find most attractive and suited to your needs – natural stone or a manufactured material?
3. Factoring in how busy your lifestyle is, how much time do you have to clean and maintain your kitchen?
4. Is there a style from any particular town, city, or county that fascinates you?
5. How much time would you and your family want to spend in the kitchen?

Take this fun quiz from Houzz to get a sense of what your perfect kitchen style might be.

We recommend keeping these answers in mind before you dive into your new kitchen design. During our initial consultation with our clients, we like to learn these types of details to help us understand what matters to them and what would delight them every day. We know a beautifully- and thoughtfully-designed kitchen can be a source of joy and comfort for years, so we work closely with our clients to deliver that. If you’d like to learn more about how we can create your kitchen with high-quality materials and design, get in touch with us here. 

Key references:

• https://www.hgtv.com/
• https://www.housebeautiful.com/
• http://homestratosphere.com/