It’s the perfect time of the year to talk about kitchens to entertain in. If you’re wondering how you’re going to take care of friends and family from your kitchen this year, now is the ideal time to make a list of all the elements that don’t work for you. Stuck for ideas? Catch up on our must-haves to make entertaining a breeze. 

Kitchen island set up
If you’re a multi-tasker, having a hob on the island is the most sociable way to cook. Keep it informal and knock up dinner, nibbles or a tasty brunch from the heart of the kitchen and don’t miss any of the action with your guests. 

Dedicated drinks area
This is appearing on more and more people’s wishlists; a dedicated cabinet to house and display glassware, your favourite spirits bottles, cocktail making accessories and your wine fridge. Go one step further and get a multi-zone wine fridge so you can have both your reds and whites at the perfect temperature at all times. 

Mirrored glass shelves behind your bottles makes the whole area look really special. We particularly love the antiqued glass effect. 

Kitchen dedicated drinks area

Warming drawers
These really come into their own when you’re entertaining for a large number. You’ll wonder how you managed Christmas without one. 

Larder fridge freezers
Maximise the space and ease of access to your chilled and frozen food. It’s one of those investments in your kitchen that you will just be so pleased you made. 

Low maintenance splashback
If you’re cooking for large numbers or have a crowd in the kitchen, having an easy clean splashback is a great option. There will always be spillages and splashes! Glass and stone are the easiest to clean because they are fitted in large slabs, compared to the multiple grout lines you’ll get with a tiled splashback. 

A glass splashback will reflect light too if your kitchen doesn’t benefit from lots of natural light.

Modern Kitchen Lighting

Ambient lighting options
Strip lights under cabinets, under counters and under shelves all offer great ambient light for a kitchen. Especially when you want to turn the task lights off and create a more atmospheric space going into the evening. Choose from warm, cool and natural white options to complement your kitchen and style.  

Layout tips
Make sure the kitchen layout is really practical. Put your sink, bin and dishwasher within easy reach of each other. Pop your spice racks near your oven, keep your dishwasher away from the hob and allow at least 1m around your island. This will give you plenty of room to cook, do chores, open appliances and cupboard doors as you move around the kitchen. 

Ready to start planning your new kitchen and get set up for the next gathering? Book a design consultation at info@painesandgray.co.uk or give the showroom a call on 01737 906 074. Browse the latest kitchens on our Projects page too for more inspiration.