Kitchen Islands: The Heart of the Holidays
Heather Bernhard • October 28, 2020
The leaves are turning magnificent colors of red and orange, and the aromas of pumpkin spice and apple cider will remind us that the holidays are on the way.
From pumpkin carving to carving the Thanksgiving turkey, the kitchen is the heart of the home during the holiday season. It is the place where family and friends gather to share a meal or just to share a story. It’s where traditions are formed, and memories are made.
Why not make the space more comfortable (and functional) for those around you? A center kitchen island can create a unique space for families and friends to gather – not just during the holidays, but all year round.
Keep reading for some kitchen island inspiration to help get your home ready for the holiday rush.
A Center Island for the Holidays
Whether you host the entire extended family for the holidays or simply gather with a few close friends, you will likely have guests who want to socialize and interact. A kitchen island can be a great meeting spot during holiday hosting, as well as year-round.
Guests can gather around an island to stand and talk, it can serve as a food and drink staging area, or you can use the extra space to prep your meal. In addition, below-island storage is the perfect spot for extra appliances or amenities such as a wine fridge, chilled beverage drawer, or a warming drawer for food.
Whatever its role, your island can play a vital part in your kitchen design.
Determining Your Needs
The type of island you choose for your kitchen will depend on what you want, need, and can afford. Apart from looking beautiful, it should above all be functional. If you’re planning on designing or building a kitchen island for the holiday season, here’s what you need to consider:
Functionality: Your island will be most beneficial when keeping your needs in mind. Will it be a gathering place for friends and family? A spot for the kids to do homework? Extra workspace for food prep and cleanup?
• Entertaining: When it comes to entertaining, space is key. The countertop should provide plenty of room for serving and dining, and there should be space for guests to gather or sit outside of the workspace.
• Cooking: An island meant for cooking should include appliances such as a cooktop, range, microwave, and warming drawers. When adding a cooktop, you will also need an exhaust fan, whether it’s an overhead vent or a downdraft fan.
• Meal Prep: For food prep, your island needs a large, uninterrupted workspace. A small prep sink and a dishwasher could be great additions, and a pull-out garbage bin is a must.
Specialized Features: However you plan to use your island, extra features can make it a real showstopper. Built-in electrical outlets might make food prep easier. A slim shelf below the countertop could serve as laptop storage for an island that doubles as a workspace. And a mini fridge could store beverages for parties and other occasions.
Of course, no matter what the use, your island should offer plenty of storage. These are some of our favorite specialized solutions:
• Extra-deep drawers for storing pots and pans, mixing bowls, and even small kitchen appliances such as a toaster or blender
• Vertical slots for keeping slim items like baking sheets and cutting boards out of the way
• Open shelving for frequently used items such as dinnerware, serving dishes, or even cookbooks
• Glass-front cabinets or shallow open shelves for displaying must-see items, such as a china collection or decorative baskets
• Drawer inserts for silverware, cutlery, or utensils
Start Creating Memories Now
At Heart Kitchens, we are delighted to be a part of your family traditions and memories. Our custom kitchens create a unique space for friends and family to gather during the holidays – and every other day of the year.
We carry some of the best brands in the country and we always
deliver on time. Reach out today
to learn how we can help you build your dream kitchen in time for the Christmas rush. Let’s start cooking!
For spouses with different tastes, planning your living space may seem a challenge. Find out how by visiting Heart Kitchens of Holmdel, NJ online.
With the holiday season in full swing, you might be thinking about how to celebrate. Undoubtably, the holidays will look different this year. No matter what you’re doing, it’s likely a holiday meal is still on the agenda. And even if it’s just with the people in your same household, a large meal can wreak havoc on your kitchen. Even worse? If you’re the one in charge of cooking, you could easily spend the entire day over the stovetop, missing out on the gathering completely! Having a well-organized kitchen can help ensure your holiday efforts are executed flawlessly. In fact, your kitchen can even be a source of comfort and joy when intelligently designed. Getting it ready for the holidays doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are our best tips: Maximize Storage When new clients call us, it’s often because they’re short on storage space and unable to work effectively in their kitchen. Finding creative ways to make the most of the space you’ve got is crucial, especially during the holidays. • Store flat items such as baking sheets and cutting boards vertically to maximize space • Place dry goods in glass canisters to make for an attractive display on open shelving • House small appliances, such as the toaster or blender, in the pantry to keep counters clear • Add function to the pantry and cabinets with shelf dividers, spice racks, or pull-out bins to increase accessibility and organization • Upgrade your refrigerator to a model with organization features such as adjustable drawers or a built-in wine rack
An organized, expertly designed laundry room can make all the difference when performing this tedious routine. Find out more online at Heart Kitchens of Somerset, NJ today.
Creating a beautiful kitchen requires proper planning, time, and effort – and, of course, an eye for design. But when it comes to the heart of the home, style isn’t everything. Functional choices are more critical in the kitchen than in any other room of the house, especially when you’re working with a small space. Anyone who’s worked in a poorly designed kitchen knows this. When we first met John and Christine Mormile, they were seeking a more functional kitchen. As first-time home buyers, they purchased their traditional Cape Cod-style house knowing it would need renovation. Their biggest complaint? With everything jammed onto one wall, the kitchen felt closed-in and suffocating. This is what we did: Bigger Isn’t Always Better Just because your space is smaller doesn’t mean you can’t have the kitchen of your dreams. In fact, some of our favorite makeovers are smaller kitchens like Christine and John’s. They force us to get creative about making the limited amount of space work. “ Our new kitchen feels like much bigger room with more space than it actually is. ” – Christine Mormile One of the most important things we’ve learned over the years is that lack of space doesn’t have to mean lack of style – or functionality. Designing a New Kitchen When we first meet with a new client or prospect, we start with a series of questions to determine their wants and needs. For example: • “How do you use your kitchen? Cooking? Baking? Entertaining? Homework or business?” • “What don’t you like about your current kitchen?” • “What would you want to see in your dream kitchen?” Many times, when a prospect contacts us, it’s out of frustration with their current kitchen. They want to know how they can make the space work. The Mormiles needed more storage and functionality out of their small space. They didn’t care about having an eat-in kitchen, but they did want to get rid of the outdated appliances. Like all clients, our initial discussion was all about finding solutions.
Making your kitchen as functional and user-friendly as possible can significantly reduce stress for homeowners. Find out why by visiting Heart Kitchens of Holmdel, NJ online.
Warm weather, a change of scenery, a chance to relax. There’s something irresistible about vacations. Whether you’re lazing by the ocean or dining under the stars, they’re a time of rest and renewal. But if your holiday plans got put on hold this year, you’re not alone. Instead of traveling, many people have chosen to take a staycation and enjoy time at home. This is where home improvements come into play! Jetting off to your favorite city might not be in the books – but recreating its ambiance at home is possible. Keep reading for our best tips on transforming your backyard into an environment that will rival any 5-star resort. Outdoor Kitchens When it comes to creating a relaxed vibe at home, an outdoor kitchen is our number one pick. Summer is the perfect time to enjoy dining alfresco – and creating a space for outdoor cooking is the perfect way to enjoy warm weather gatherings. Even better: Cooking outdoors means relieving your main kitchen (and the rest of the house) of built-up heat coming from the oven and stove. Not sure where to begin? Start with a grill and plenty of counter space for prepping and serving. Add a bar top where people can sit and chat for more of a “resort” feel. If you want to jazz things up a little, consider some unique appliances, like beer taps or a pizza oven. Most importantly, add a big outdoor table and other spots where you and your guests can gather for drinks and food! Here are some other tips to keep in mind: Recreate Your Favorite Destination Do you have a go-to vacation spot? Let it inspire the features and materials you choose for your outdoor kitchen! For example, mountain lovers might veer towards earthy colors and woodsy elements, like wood beams or a stone fireplace. A beach goer, on the other hand, might opt for blues and whites, a natural fiber rug, and some tropical greenery. No matter where you love to spend your downtime, take the time to get your design right for a real vacation-ready vibe. Create Space for Your Favorite Activities Part of a staycation is doing whatever you like to do, right from the comfort of your own home. Incorporate the things you enjoy into your outdoor dining area, whether that’s a tv to watch the big game or a shady nook for reading over a glass of wine. Are there little ones in the household? Consider adding an outdoor playset to the yard so the kids can have fun while the adults catch up. Safeguard Yourself from the Sun No matter where you live, the afternoon sun can be brutal – especially during the summer months. A shady structure, like a custom pergola, can create a comfortable area to sit and relax out of the sun’s harmful rays. Other options include canopies, umbrellas, and retractable shades. Create Privacy Depending on the size of your backyard and how close you are to the neighbors, you’ll likely want to add some privacy-creating features to your outdoor entertaining area. Bushes, hedges, and fences are great options to keep your entire backyard secluded in the long-term. If you opt to install a pergola or shades, those can do the trick as well. Choose Quality Furniture Bargain furniture from online discount retailers may look great on your screen, but if you want to entertain for years to come, it pays to invest in quality fixtures up front. Choose tables, chairs, and other fixtures that are made from outdoor-rated wood or polywood, which can last for decades and is easy to maintain. Final Thoughts 2020 has been a rough year for many reasons. Don’t let it throw your vacation off track! It’s still possible to have the getaway of your dreams, right from your own backyard. Need help deciding what outdoor kitchen options are right for you? Contact us today and let our design specialists help you out.
