Creating a sociable kitchen: party planners

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Follow our practical advice and be inspired by decorating ideas for effortless socialising.

Providing ample space for your friends and family to socialise in the kitchen may require compromising on some cupboard space. Restricting the main kitchen to just one wall of cabinets, or an L-shape design on two walls, if space is available, will leave the floor open to guests. Make the most of the full height of the walls – a floor-to-ceiling larder will accommodate a large volume of foodstuffs – or store tinned foods and your bigger pots and pans in the utility or boot room if possible. ‘The best layouts provide space where people can congregate while allowing the host to prepare a meal,’ says interior designer Diana Blanchard. ‘A dining table or island unit where guests can sit comfortably near to the action works especially well.’

The flow of your space is vital to its success, and diners should be steered away from the busy cooking and prep areas. Providing easy access to the fridge and hot drinks station by locating them adjacent to the seating/dining area will enable family and friends to make a drink without getting in the way. Make sure you take into account the location of doorways in and out of the kitchen as people will naturally take the quickest route – an ergonomically curved island or peninsula is great for manipulating the traffic flow away from the main cooking area.

Island Living Smallbone of Devizes design director Alexandra Ross-Skinner on the flexible nature of island units:
‘Island units are multifunctional and come into their own at Christmas. On the kitchen side, the island can house integrated appliances – dishwashers, hobs, ovens and fridges. It can even be built around a range cooker. However, viewed from the dining side, it can resemble a piece of living/dining room furniture – perhaps with a pull-out china store, wine cooler or shelves displaying cookery books.

‘Another popular design option is to raise a section of the island to hide the busy preparation area and pots and pans away from view.

‘Adding beautiful Christmas decorations on the island’s surface or hanging them from the cabinet knobs will help create a welcoming, happy space for entertaining.’

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