If you are planning the perfect entertainment kitchen extension, then it’s important to consider the following.

Open Plan Layout

You might want to contemplate having a more open plan layout in your extension. Especially when you are adapting your kitchen mainly for entertainment purposes. It will allow you to finish cooking without being separated from your guests. Plus, it’s easier having everything in terms of food and drink close to hand. Otherwise, you are having to keep carrying them into the separate dining room.

Dual function rooms are increasing in popularity, probably because they are so practical. Furthermore, it’s all about being together, not separated off into different rooms. The perfect entertainment kitchen extension has to embody that. Otherwise, you are stuck on kitchen duties missing out on all the fun of the party you organised!

There are many different types of kitchen extensions and for the open plan layout then a wraparound extension would work particularly well. You do lose some of your garden, but you gain so much more indoor space.

If you want the guests in the same room but not too close, then you could go for a split level room instead. This means you have the dining section lower down than the kitchen. Then you have the best of both world’s guests close enough to chat too, but away from the action (and sometimes stress!) of the kitchen.

Good Flow Is Essential

Whatever design you choose for your kitchen extension you should consider the flow in the room. Consider how the layout will impact your efficiency when you’re prepping food and cooking. Will there be high traffic areas when you are entertaining and how much space should you allocate to them?

Kitchen Island

Having a kitchen extension will give you a bigger space to work with. Then you can consider adding a kitchen island. They act as a focal point for your entertainment space. Plus, you can enjoy chatting to your guests on the bar stalls as you continue getting their meals ready.

Enough Seating For Everyone

Make sure you have enough seating for everyone at your gathering. If you have a kitchen island as I mentioned above, then you will have extra space for seating already. Other options you could consider are booth seating or go for benches which can seat more people. If you have decided to go for a side return extension you will most likely have the space for your full dining table and chairs.

Drinks Trolley

Having a kitchen extension will give you additional floor space so you can purchase a drinks trolley. Your guests can then help themselves to drinks, which will make entertaining less labour intensive for you, the host. Fill the trolley with different drinks, garnishes and an ice bucket and let your guests enjoy the experience!

Storage

If you are entertaining, you will want the room to look its best! Storage is key so everything has its place, and the worktops remain uncluttered. Additionally, you will need different things for entertaining that you might not use on a daily basis, such as your fancy cocktail glasses or a carafe to improve your guests wine tasting experience.

Whichever kitchen extension you decide to have will free up more space for storage. Then you can finally justify buying all those entertainment essentials you didn’t feel you had the space for before.

Indoor/Outdoor Transition

Your perfect entertainment kitchen extension should consider how you bring the indoors out. When planning your kitchen extension think about whether to have bi-fold doors, so your guests can step straight out and enjoy the garden. They also develop that open plan feeling as the garden becomes an extension of the kitchen when the doors are fully opened. It’s all about getting the transition right between different areas.

Bi-fold doors are the most obvious choice, but you can add other design elements instead to help with the transition. Why not consider an outdoor bar which cleverly joins the kitchen counter inside? Guests can then chat to the host through a large window whilst enjoying being in the warmth of the evening sun.

Appliances

When planning your kitchen extension make sure you leave space for a dishwasher. This handy appliance will let you quickly hide away the dirty dishes out of sight when entertaining. This is a good idea especially if you’re eating and entertaining all in the one space.

If you are regularly entertaining, you might also want to invest in a wine fridge. Just so you can keep your wine at its best. Also, it looks rather impressive having a big wine collection on show, don’t forget to include some UK wine!

Guests can also help themselves to wine without having to struggle to get a bottle out of the fridge amongst everything else you have stashed away in there. Whenever I try to take something out of my fridge inevitably something falls crashing to the floor.

Finally!

Now you have some idea about the types of things an entertainment kitchen would need you are ready to move forward with your kitchen extension. Please let me know in the comments if you have any other suggestions/considerations I should add to this article.