Best of the Week: 31 Dream Entertainer's Kitchens
Love cooking for friends and family? If so, an entertainer's kitchen is sure to appeal – here are 31 standout designs
Georgia Madden
3 April 2019
An entertainer’s kitchen – where family and friends can congregate, chat and mingle while the cook gets on with food preparation – tops many people’s renovating wish lists. There are several ingredients that go into a successful entertainer’s kitchen, from a spacious layout and comfortable seating to well-considered storage. What works best in your abode will very much depend on your home’s layout and how you like to entertain. Here are 31 stunning entertainer’s kitchens from around the globe to fuel your imagination.
And remember, you can get more details of a project and see more of a professional’s work by clicking on a photo.
And remember, you can get more details of a project and see more of a professional’s work by clicking on a photo.
1. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Ad Design Develop
Features: An oversize square benchtop mimics the shape of the dining table and provides plenty of space for guests to pull up a chair with a glass of wine while the chef is busy prepping dinner.
Designer: Ad Design Develop
Features: An oversize square benchtop mimics the shape of the dining table and provides plenty of space for guests to pull up a chair with a glass of wine while the chef is busy prepping dinner.
2. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: GSP Designer Kitchens and Bathrooms
Features: An open display shelf such as this one allows you to add a touch of personality to your entertainer’s kitchen.
Designer: GSP Designer Kitchens and Bathrooms
Features: An open display shelf such as this one allows you to add a touch of personality to your entertainer’s kitchen.
3. Location: Brisbane, Queensland
Designer: Beach Society Interior Design
Features: Black cabinetry, white-washed walls and natural timber flooring set a sophisticated coastal vibe in this compact open-plan kitchen/living/dining space.
Designer: Beach Society Interior Design
Features: Black cabinetry, white-washed walls and natural timber flooring set a sophisticated coastal vibe in this compact open-plan kitchen/living/dining space.
4. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: Bondi Kitchens
Features: Specifying the same timber tones for your kitchen and living room joinery is a clever way to create a sense of cohesion between the two different spaces.
Designer: Bondi Kitchens
Features: Specifying the same timber tones for your kitchen and living room joinery is a clever way to create a sense of cohesion between the two different spaces.
5. Location: Brisbane, Queensland
Designer: Bones Studio
Features: A modest entertainer’s kitchen is made great with a delectable palette of soft spearmint and pale grey. The natural timber of the dining table adds warmth and balances out the cool tones.
Designer: Bones Studio
Features: A modest entertainer’s kitchen is made great with a delectable palette of soft spearmint and pale grey. The natural timber of the dining table adds warmth and balances out the cool tones.
6. Location: Gold Coast, Queensland
Designer: Eco Outdoor
Features: A dramatic palette of concrete, stone, black joinery and mid-tone timber defines this thoroughly contemporary indoor-outdoor entertainer’s kitchen.
Designer: Eco Outdoor
Features: A dramatic palette of concrete, stone, black joinery and mid-tone timber defines this thoroughly contemporary indoor-outdoor entertainer’s kitchen.
7. Location: Gold Coast, Queensland
Designer: Donna Guyler Design
Features: Comfortable seating is a must in a social kitchen, and we love how the designer has provided plenty of different options here, including bar stools, dining chairs and a cosy built-in bench seat.
Designer: Donna Guyler Design
Features: Comfortable seating is a must in a social kitchen, and we love how the designer has provided plenty of different options here, including bar stools, dining chairs and a cosy built-in bench seat.
8. Location: Brisbane, Queensland
Designer: Merge Interior Design
Features: Using the end of your kitchen island for a wine-storage cubby is a great use of space and keeps bottles within easy reach for the chef.
Designer: Merge Interior Design
Features: Using the end of your kitchen island for a wine-storage cubby is a great use of space and keeps bottles within easy reach for the chef.
9. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: Luigi Rosselli Architects
Features: Curves, lashings of white and a lush, green outlook set a cool and serene vibe.
Designer: Luigi Rosselli Architects
Features: Curves, lashings of white and a lush, green outlook set a cool and serene vibe.
10. Location: Perth, WA
Designer: Taylor Made 4 U
Features: Smart planning is the key to making a small kitchen entertainer-friendly. Here, the owners have taken the cabinetry right to the ceiling to maximise storage potential, which helps keep their benchtops clutter-free.
Designer: Taylor Made 4 U
Features: Smart planning is the key to making a small kitchen entertainer-friendly. Here, the owners have taken the cabinetry right to the ceiling to maximise storage potential, which helps keep their benchtops clutter-free.
11. Location: Geelong, Victoria
Designer: Dylan Barber Building Design
Features: If you love entertaining and have the space, a butler’s pantry can be a great investment, allowing you to hide the messier parts of cooking, such as food preparation and piles of dirty dishes.
Designer: Dylan Barber Building Design
Features: If you love entertaining and have the space, a butler’s pantry can be a great investment, allowing you to hide the messier parts of cooking, such as food preparation and piles of dirty dishes.
12. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: Anderson Architecture
Features: There’s plenty of light and preparation space in this open-plan kitchen, despite its narrow layout.
Designer: Anderson Architecture
Features: There’s plenty of light and preparation space in this open-plan kitchen, despite its narrow layout.
13. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: Chrofi
Features: Dark marble and black cabinetry set a moody and intimate tone – great for entertaining after dark.
Designer: Chrofi
Features: Dark marble and black cabinetry set a moody and intimate tone – great for entertaining after dark.
14. Location: Perth, WA
Designer: Blend Residential Designs
Features: A cosy combination of copper, concrete and mid-tone timber, and an easy connection between indoors and out define this Perth kitchen.
Designer: Blend Residential Designs
Features: A cosy combination of copper, concrete and mid-tone timber, and an easy connection between indoors and out define this Perth kitchen.
15. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Dimpat
Features: Here, minimalist detailing and a sophisticated palette blur the lines between practical kitchen and social space.
Designer: Dimpat
Features: Here, minimalist detailing and a sophisticated palette blur the lines between practical kitchen and social space.
16. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: Ballast Point
Features: Integrating large appliances, such as the fridge, behind cabinetry gives your entertainer’s kitchen a seamless look.
Designer: Ballast Point
Features: Integrating large appliances, such as the fridge, behind cabinetry gives your entertainer’s kitchen a seamless look.
17. Location: Brisbane, Queensland
Designer: Corella Construction
Features: An entire wall dedicated to wine storage is the stuff of an entertainer’s dreams.
Designer: Corella Construction
Features: An entire wall dedicated to wine storage is the stuff of an entertainer’s dreams.
18. Location: Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Designer: Aboda Design Group
Features: Raising the floor level of the kitchen in an open-plan room is a genius way to give the cooking zone its own sense of identity without sacrificing the airy, connected feel of the space…
Designer: Aboda Design Group
Features: Raising the floor level of the kitchen in an open-plan room is a genius way to give the cooking zone its own sense of identity without sacrificing the airy, connected feel of the space…
…Here’s the view from the dining area.
19. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: GIA Bathrooms & Kitchens
Features: A concealed work station, complete with sink, shelves and food preparation space, can be a godsend when you’re entertaining and want to keep your kitchen island clear and uncluttered.
Designer: GIA Bathrooms & Kitchens
Features: A concealed work station, complete with sink, shelves and food preparation space, can be a godsend when you’re entertaining and want to keep your kitchen island clear and uncluttered.
20. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Bask Interiors
Features: A mix of different joinery styles, all in the same soft grey, adds subtle interest to this elegant kitchen.
Designer: Bask Interiors
Features: A mix of different joinery styles, all in the same soft grey, adds subtle interest to this elegant kitchen.
21. Location: New York, USA
Designer: Studio Dearborn
Features: A stepped-down dining table, such as the one in this New York kitchen, makes it clear where the cooking zone ends and the dining area begins.
Designer: Studio Dearborn
Features: A stepped-down dining table, such as the one in this New York kitchen, makes it clear where the cooking zone ends and the dining area begins.
22. Location: Clovelly, NSW
Designer: EMK Architects
Features: A sophisticated combination of intricately grained marble and brushed gold.
Designer: EMK Architects
Features: A sophisticated combination of intricately grained marble and brushed gold.
23. Location: Gold Coast, Queensland
Designer: Sanctuary 28
Features: High-gloss white, earthy timber and concrete combine to create a laid-back feel that’s perfect for a coastal home such as this one. Woven, natural pendants add the perfect finishing touch.
Designer: Sanctuary 28
Features: High-gloss white, earthy timber and concrete combine to create a laid-back feel that’s perfect for a coastal home such as this one. Woven, natural pendants add the perfect finishing touch.
24. Location: California, USA
Features: Open shelving is a great way to store and display entertaining essentials such as dinnerware and serving dishes.
Features: Open shelving is a great way to store and display entertaining essentials such as dinnerware and serving dishes.
25. Location: London, UK
Designer: Amberth
Features: Floor-to-ceiling joinery keeps this social kitchen mess-free, while an overhanging bar provides just enough room for a pair of bar stools so two people can dine side-by-side.
Designer: Amberth
Features: Floor-to-ceiling joinery keeps this social kitchen mess-free, while an overhanging bar provides just enough room for a pair of bar stools so two people can dine side-by-side.
26. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Studio mkn
Features: This brilliant kitchen-island design combines storage and preparation space with plenty of room for diners to sit…
Designer: Studio mkn
Features: This brilliant kitchen-island design combines storage and preparation space with plenty of room for diners to sit…
27. Location: Orange County, USA
Designer: Gonterman Construction
Features: Deep, plush seating elevates the in-kitchen dining experience.
Designer: Gonterman Construction
Features: Deep, plush seating elevates the in-kitchen dining experience.
28. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: NSStudio
Features: Light flooding in from both sides of this entertaining-friendly kitchen makes the space feel bright and inviting.
Designer: NSStudio
Features: Light flooding in from both sides of this entertaining-friendly kitchen makes the space feel bright and inviting.
29. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Detail 9 Architects
Features: Raising the kitchen island off the floor, as the owners have done here, maximises floor space in your open-plan kitchen, making it appear larger than it actually is.
Designer: Detail 9 Architects
Features: Raising the kitchen island off the floor, as the owners have done here, maximises floor space in your open-plan kitchen, making it appear larger than it actually is.
30. Location: Adelaide, SA
Designer: Rebecca Ryan Architect
Features: A layered palette adds character and interest to a social kitchen such as this one.
Designer: Rebecca Ryan Architect
Features: A layered palette adds character and interest to a social kitchen such as this one.
31. Location: Central Coast, NSW
Designer: Fabric Architecture
Features: Tucking a drinks station at the end of your kitchen island allows guests to help themselves to refreshments (and stay out of the way) while you’re busy cooking. Genius.
Tell us
Which of these entertainer’s kitchens appeals to you the most? Tell us in the Comments and don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Did you miss last week’s Best of the Week? Catch up here with Best of the Week: 25 Extra Spaces That Are Stylishly Squeezed In
Designer: Fabric Architecture
Features: Tucking a drinks station at the end of your kitchen island allows guests to help themselves to refreshments (and stay out of the way) while you’re busy cooking. Genius.
Tell us
Which of these entertainer’s kitchens appeals to you the most? Tell us in the Comments and don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Did you miss last week’s Best of the Week? Catch up here with Best of the Week: 25 Extra Spaces That Are Stylishly Squeezed In
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can you tell us more about the extractor fan and how well does it work with deep frying and grilling (I assume the rectangular thing between the 2 sets of burners is either a grill or deep fryer?)
I have cooktop (induction) on my island currently- never again. Would prefer to keep island clear for food prep, socialisation and if desired buffet and breakfast bar. Keep the sink and cook top for the back bench
I love the brick floor 14 too!