The kitchen is the heart of the home, because this is where family and friends gather together to enjoy each other’s company with some great food. As you begin a home remodeling project to create your dream kitchen, consider designing one that will make entertaining easy. The team at A & R Home Center in Washington, IN, share a few of their tips for designing a party-friendly kitchen.

Home Remodeling Strategies for an Entertainer’s Kitchen

1. Open & Connective Layout

An open layout is becoming more popular, and with good reason. More space in the kitchen makes it easy to have crowds of people gathered in the area without getting in each other’s way. Give at least 48 inches of space between the countertop and island so people can easily get past each other. Design the kitchen so it’s open to another space you’ll use, such as a living room, dining room, or patio. For example, French doors or a panoramic sliding glass door that you can open to your patio allows for seamless indoor-outdoor entertaining.

2. Multifunctional Island

A large, multifunctional island is a natural gathering place in the kitchen. For example, an island could have a sink and food prep area on one side of the island, with a large breakfast bar on the other side where people can pull up stools or lay out food buffet-style. Some cooks even choose to have two islands to better serve their purposes.

3. Wet Bar

A wet bar doesn’t take up much space and adds instant elegance to your kitchen for entertaining. Have some open space near the wet bar so guests can linger and talk while they prepare drinks. Some excellent features to include could be a sink, a wine fridge, storage for glasses, an ice machine, and a shelf to store liquor.

When you’re ready to start your home remodeling project, A & R Home Center is your one-stop home improvement store for all your supplies. Their 10,000 square-foot store has an expansive selection of power tools, lighting, and paint. They also have certified HVAC specialists, plumbers, and electricians on staff to handle your more challenging work. See their current specials online and call them at (812) 254-7018 with any questions.