Designing the Perfect Kitchen to Host a Family Holiday

You are an aspiring matriarch or patriarch of the family, and you want to become the go-to host for your family's holidays. 

Maybe you are looking to take the burden off an older relative, or perhaps you have started your own family and are ready to become a multi-generational holiday host. However, your kitchen must also be up to the task.

Cooking a traditional holiday meal is something you can do in any kitchen. But the easiest, most enjoyable experience will come from a kitchen that was built for family feasts with multiple chefs and extra-large dishes. Here at Edesia, we've helped many people build their homes and kitchens into the perfect place to host family holidays and prepare the family feasts.

Let's look at some of the options that could make your kitchen beautifully ready to host.

Extra Counter Space and Fold-Out Surfaces

If you're looking to change the layout, prioritize counterspace. Prep is very important for holiday hosting, both for big feasts and your other shared family meals. You are also more likely to have multiple chefs pitching in, which means more workspaces are useful and help to share the prep that needs doing. Extra positions around your counter and island make this possible.

We particularly love holiday-ready kitchens with extra slide-out countertops and cutting board surfaces. Place one at the end of your counter or island at a lower level for children, short relatives, and those in wheelchairs.

Two Sinks, One Extra Large

Two sinks is a holiday prep secret we love to share. We don't mean two-basin sinks, although these are excellent and essential. You should also consider having one extra-large 2-3 basin sink, and a smaller "bar sink" at the far end. This allows two people to use water when cooking, and for an extra person to make drinks or wash/peel vegetables without occupying the main sink used for dishes and large-scale prep.

Organized and Clearly Labeled Kitchen

Want all the forks, pans, and serving spoons to find the right drawer when helpful relatives do the dishes? Label everything. Small, tasteful, and durable labels in your kitchen can help relatives put everything back where it belongs. Bowls will go on the bowl shelf, spoons will go in the spoon divider of the silverware drawer, and all will be right with the world.

Wall-Mounted Double Ovens

Double-ovens are a must-have when making truly large and simultaneous dishes. Cooking a turkey and baking the stuffing separately, or preparing a long-bake dessert alongside dinner, mean two different heating environments and temperatures. You can do this easily with a double-oven, placed side-by-side or vertically. Remember, however, that oven height matters. A vertical oven may need to be paired with a safely placed built-in step stool. Especially if most of your family chefs are not toweringly tall.

Storage Space for Oversized Dishes

Not all kitchens have enough storage for roasting dishes and large baking pans, so plan ahead. One popular method is to expand the dividers on your highest and lowest shelves, or to use normally "Dead" space for a deep spinning corner shelf. This can allow you to store your largest pots, appliances, dishes, and pans year-round for the once- or twice-a-year occasions that they are used.

Second Fridge or Freezer in the Garage

Some families like to stock up a lot of food for the holidays and avoid further trips to the store. You can do this by having a deep pantry and a second fridge or freezer placed in a utility space or out in the garage. A second fridge or a chest freezer allows you to store more cold drinks, to freeze large supplies of meat and ingredients, and to take in every potluck addition brought by a relative without risk of spoilage.

Plus, more storage for leftovers.

Highly Efficient Dishwasher

One of the best ways to keep the peace during family holidays is to have a dishwasher that doesn't need much help. Choose a large dishwasher with versatile capacity (can handle big pans and small plates) with a powerful wash cycle. Keeping a soaking sink (2+ basins, always useful) and a quick sponge swipe may be all you need no matter whose turn it is to load the dishwasher after a family meal.

Dining and Serving Layout

The right arrangement for shared family dining and serving large meals together will also matter. Your island might be perfect for assembling plates, or you might use a sidebar and dish cabinet. Some families prefer an extra large dining area with platters down the center of the family table. Put some thought into your preferred holiday serving flow when designing your host kitchen.

Creating the Perfect Kitchen for Holiday Hosting

If you have been dreaming of the perfect home and kitchen to host family holidays, Edesia is here to help. Our kitchen and bath expertise can guide your design to create an ideal golden triangle, plenty of multi-chef workspace, and a beautiful dining area where it all comes together. Contact us today to begin sketching the new family "hearth" another generation of shared holiday meals and memories.