The 10 Best Kitchens for Entertaining

Open shelving is not only chic and striking, it also makes grabbing tableware a breeze. Plus, there’s your incentive for splurging on a new (read: matching) set of dishes.

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The worst part of hosting gatherings (aside from Uncle Herb’s “jokes”) is definitely the cleanup. Keep the dish situation under control with a second “dirty” sink--and then have the teenagers double up on dishwashing duty.

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If your gatherings happen to involve lots of family-style dishes, like savory monkey bread and buffalo chicken meatballs, then a center island is key. Display all of your appetizers on the island (the focal point) and let guests mingle in the kitchen at their leisure. It takes the pressure off you to serve.

Find this kitchen style at GE.

Remember: “As long as there’s wine, everything’s fine.” The next time you’re planning a kitchen reno, a built-in, under-the counter, temperature-controlled wine fridge is a total no-brainer.

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Use butcher paper or a swath of chalkboard paint on your wall or fridge to broadcast the evening’s menu--and encourage guests to leave notes. Consider it the guestbook for your lively kitchen.

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To ensure that all of your dinner-party fare is ready at the same time, splurge on a burner-heavy stove top. It will make your life so much easier if you can whip up everything at once instead of in shifts.

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Free up much-needed counter space by stowing your small appliances (toaster, blender, etc.) in cabinets and out of sight. You can take them out when you need them, but when it’s time to entertain, you’ll enjoy a clean, open expanse of party-prep space. 

Photo Credit: Kelly Deck Design

Lightweight barstools around your center island are your very best friend. Use them to create a pre-dinner cocktail hub or a spillover dining area--or drag them into the living room when seating there becomes too scarce.

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While we’d love to hire a bartender for the evening, a handy cocktail station or bar cart is the next best thing. Encourage guests to help themselves by corralling all of your glasses, libations and cocktail fixings into one centrally located hub. 

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If you take one lesson, let it be this: The hostess with the mostess is the one who enjoys her own party. And that means being a part of the action. So for the love of mini lasagnas, knock down that dividing wall.

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