8 Elements of the Perfect Party Island
Turn your kitchen island into entertaining central with these 8 great features
You've heard it said for years: Parties always end up in the kitchen. These days, many of them start there, too. If you enjoy hosting friends and family at home, you might want to create an entertaining island for your special events. Consider your available space and hosting style to determine what makes sense for you. Here are some sensible style tips for getting started.
2. Mood lighting. An entertaining island should welcome guests with style and comfort. The dramatic darkness of this island sets the tone for a soiree, and the comfy barstools invite lingering. Even the handsome pendants contribute to a well-lit party mood.
3. Worry-free countertop. Carefully consider the countertop material that makes sense for your entertaining island. If you want a worry-free countertop, avoid materials that are stain-prone, such as natural stone, in favor of non-porous options. Glass, like this ThinkGlass top, is one party-friendly option. Engineered stone or repairable Corian would be two others.
4. Cooktop. Many home entertainers like to make cooking part of their entertaining process. If that's true for you, you might want to put your cooktop on the entertaining island. I highly recommend an induction cooktop for that placement.
An induction cooktop only gets hot directly under and next to the pot or pan, reducing the chance of a guest getting burned and ensuring they won't set themselves on fire by catching a party sleeve on an open flame.
Induction cooktops are faster than even high-BTU pro style gas burners, meaning your food gets served sooner. European chefs are largely switching to induction with no sacrifice in cooking performance.
An induction cooktop only gets hot directly under and next to the pot or pan, reducing the chance of a guest getting burned and ensuring they won't set themselves on fire by catching a party sleeve on an open flame.
Induction cooktops are faster than even high-BTU pro style gas burners, meaning your food gets served sooner. European chefs are largely switching to induction with no sacrifice in cooking performance.
Lenova Entertainer Sink
5. Extra sink. A great sink is essential for an entertaining island, and this entry in the 2011 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show by Lenova is ideal. This 16-guage stainless beauty lets you store drinks, condiments, dips and other party chow. It has a built-in drainboards and cutting boards that conceal the sink when it's not in use. It also has the best drain in the industry: a seamless PermaClean no-ring drain that beats the pants off of standard drains for style and low maintenance.
U-Line BI2115S Icemaker
6. Ice maker. An ice maker can be a home entertainer's best friend. It means your guests will always have ice within convenient reach, and no one has to run to the store in the middle of the party!
U-Line Beverage Center
7. Mini fridge. Your entertaining island should have a mini fridge for drinks. Depending on how you like to entertain, that can be a beverage refrigerator like this one that holds different types of drinks. Alternatively, you can consider a wine captain if you entertain often with vino.
GE Monogram® Wine Reserve
8. Wine fridge. If you enjoy entertaining with wine, a wine captain would be a valuable addition to your entertaining island instead of a beverage fridge. Select one with enough capacity for your storage and serving needs. You can opt for integrated, to match your cabinetry, or stainless. If you vary your collection between red and white wines, you might want to consider a dual zone model to accommodate the refrigeration needs of both.
More:
Fine Thing: A Wine Fridge Right Where You Want One
How to Get the Kitchen Island Lights Right
Great Space: The Butler's Pantry
Find the Perfect Barstool
More:
Fine Thing: A Wine Fridge Right Where You Want One
How to Get the Kitchen Island Lights Right
Great Space: The Butler's Pantry
Find the Perfect Barstool
* The dimensions from the National Kitchen & Bath Association's Kitchen Planning Guidelines.