When designing the kitchen of their dreams, most clients are inspired by the routines and realities of everyday life. They picture the hustle and bustle of breakfast, the preparation of dinner for friends, the peeling of vegetables, and drying of dishes, with kids (and pets) underfoot.
And this makes perfect sense! Because, as the saying goes, the kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where we spend a lot of our lives, making memories and messes with the ones we love. It should be a place that’s practical, first; beautiful, second; and Thanksgiving-ready, third.
Thanksgiving-ready? Yep, you read that right.
At Big State Custom Homes, we often ask our clients to think about Thanksgiving when they’re making big decisions about their future kitchens. Why? Because we know that the right kitchen design can make your holidays (and everydays) a lot more enjoyable.
If you’re already imagining double ovens and endless countertops, read on. Without further ado, here are 5 kitchen design elements you’ll be especially grateful for when Thanksgiving rolls around.
1. Extra Counter Space
If your kitchen is short on counter space, hosting your family’s Thanksgiving can be quite the challenge. Without ample room to work, anything with a flat surface is fair game for mixing, stuffing, and serving. That’s why we recommend going just slightly overboard when it comes to countertop length and depth. Having extra counter space means that you (and all your relatives) will have plenty of room to prepare and share the year’s biggest feast. Plus, with extra counter space, there’s no such thing as too many pies. Need we say more?
2. Easy-To-Clean Surfaces
It happens every year. You’ve cooked all day, dined and hosted, and now that your guests are gone, you’re left with the dreaded aftermath – the mess! One way to cut down on cleanup is to incorporate easy-to-clean backsplashes, countertops, and flooring into your kitchen design. Materials like ceramic tile, quartz, granite, and laminate are low maintenance and easy to wipe and mop, no matter how big the mess gets.
3. An Open Concept
A floor plan with an open concept is something you’ll appreciate year round, but even more so during the holidays. With open lines of sight connecting the kitchen to your dining and serving areas, you can literally mix AND mingle at the same time. Plus, having wide walkways can open up the kitchen to make it look and feel larger than it actually is. So when the kids want to help with pies or Grandpa has to check on the turkey, there’s enough room for everyone!
4. Double Ovens
For those who love to host, double ovens are a Thanksgiving Day dream. Having an extra oven on hand lets you get more cooking done in less time, so you can enjoy the game, the parade, and the company of your guests! With a dual setup, you can dedicate one oven to the turkey – and the stuffing, too, if there’s room – while the other bakes the pies and casseroles. Hungry yet?
5. Butler’s Pantry
Historically, the butler’s pantry was used for storing and polishing the family silver. But in today’s modern homes, they’re staging a comeback as multi-purpose rooms that make entertaining easier.
On Thanksgiving Day, the butler’s pantry might be where you’ll find your serving trays or seasonal china. Or it could provide a separate space for prepping drinks and desserts, after the kitchen has been cleaned. Budget permitting, you could even include a second dishwasher in your butler’s pantry design or a utility sink for preparing floral arrangements!
What else would you include in your Thanksgiving-ready kitchen? We’d love to hear your ideas.
