Cooking for a crowd is a challenge no matter what conditions you’re cooking in. That challenge is amplified if you’ve got appliances that don’t work properly and layout that’s cramped, poorly laid out, and disorganized. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to cure your cramped kitchen woes.
You’re probably familiar with the concept of the work triangle (where the legs are the distances from the fridge, sink, and cooking surface). The theory goes that a properly laid out work triangle allows each cook to work more efficiently. Ideally, each cook has his or her own work triangle. Too bad that’s not always possible. One of the ways to work around a lack of space is to buy appliances that make the most efficient use of the space you do have. In-wall double ovens are a great idea if you frequently cook for a crowd, while countertop-cooking surfaces are perfect for those who need extra cabinet space. Of course, when you cook for a crowd you have to clean up for them. If you’ve got the space, think about adding an extra dishwasher. If that’s not an option, you could go with the alternative and replace your current dishwasher with an energy efficient, large capacity model.
Chances are you only have one sink in your kitchen. How great would it be to have two? If you’ve got a nice sized kitchen island, you might want to talk to a plumber to see what it’d take to add a prep sink to your island. If that’s not an option, adding a pot filler faucet behind your stove is a great way to improve your kitchen’s flow without spending an arm and a leg. One final tip: Now’s the time to make sure your garbage disposal is cleaned and ready for the extra workload. If it’s been sounding rough, we recommend calling a plumber or handyman to come out and take a look at it.
Outside of completely remodeling your kitchen, there’s no better way to improve your kitchen’s functionality than by upgrading your cabinets to make the most of your space. Retractable trashcans, lazy Susans, pullout shelving, and drawer and cabinet dividers all make smart additions to your existing cabinets. If you’ve got the budget to install new cabinets, a great way to boost your storage options is to go with base cabinets with drawers rather than doors and to extend your upper cabinets to the ceiling.
Few projects spark the imagination like a kitchen remodel. It’s the one project that a homeowner starts daydreaming about as soon as they move into their house. Perhaps it’s the one project you’ve been daydreaming about, too. Whether you want to open things up and create a more expansive space that’s perfect for entertaining, or add more room to accommodate multiple cooks in the kitchen, a remodel is the way to go if you want to create the ultimate cooking and entertaining environment.
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