Island Kitchen for Entertaining

Island designs have become a major part of kitchen planning designs in recent years, whilst opening up the living area and giving a completely different look to the space. However an island design creates a need for careful planning as the opportunity to ‘close the door’ on the kitchen mess after meal production is gone. So when planning an island consider the following...

When considering the space of an island. Island designs are never pictured ‘in use’, so stop and think whether it is practical for you.

For instance, if the sink is incorporated, what will it look like surrounded by washing up, greasy pans, colanders and more. Items that are waiting to be washed after serving food. Siemens dishwashers can eradicate these problems effectively. When you press the varioSpeed Plus button on your dishwasher, you reduce the washing time by up to 66%*. The reduced time is immediately shown in the remaining time display. As a result, your dishes are always sparkling clean and dry within the shortest time.

_{* This does not apply to the pre-rinse and quick wash programmes.}

Choosing the right sink that is big enough to be able to put your oven tray in to soak can also help keep your sides looking free from clutter. A bowl and a half sink can be a practical solution for washing up as you always have somewhere to wash your hands.

When considering whether to put a hob in an island it is worth thinking about how you will incorporate extraction into your kitchen.

Many designs that promote kitchen islands may not consider or show extraction in place. This would lead to homes smelling of last night’s fish dinners and soft furnishings feeling greasy and lingering of odour.

Siemens have many choices of hob extraction. From ceiling mounted statement pieces, to worktop ventilation solutions. There are many choices including the all new glassdraftAir, combining outstanding design with high quality materials and excellent performance. Ideal for island extraction. See all the benefits of the new glassdraftAir here.

If a hob in your island works for you, it is paramount you check with your kitchen planner to ensure it is powerful enough to cope. Making sure there is adequate power supply to your island is a must too. It would not be for your every day kettle boiling but more for smaller gadgets to help with your food preparation.

Work surfaces can transform your kitchen from the plain to the ultimate statement. But when choosing a work surface it is worth considering how functional it is. Many surfaces cannot cope with the ‘straight from the oven ‘ dishes, so ensure you have a heatproof area adjacent to your ovens for placing these.

Practicality and functionality should be at the forefront of your mind when designing your kitchen island, and you should not have to compromise on style either. Space below the work surface is a great solution for many items you tend to need when cooking and prepping on your island. Drawers can be much more practical than cupboard space as viewing from the top can be much easier and things tend not to get lost in the backs of cupboards.

Making chores in the kitchen more efficient can come down to the design of your kitchen layout. Consider having your bins close to your dishwasher to clear plates before placing in dishwasher, there is no need to rinse. Siemens dishwashers use aquaSensor that checks how dirty the water is and controls when and how much clean water is added as well as the dishwashing temperature. Leaving you with sparkling dishes every time.

Finally think about room to serve up - you may send all of your food to the table in serving dishes when entertaining but for the average family meal, serving up happens in the kitchen. Ask yourself whether you have enough space to lay out enough plates to feed your family.

Islands are a wonderful statement that can become the focal point of your kitchen, but remember, when planning your kitchen, style and function go hand-in-hand.

Amaze your guests with the latest innovations that Siemens technology has to offer. Home Connect allows you to use many appliances from your phone and through voice activation. So there is no need to slave over the oven whilst your guests entertain themselves.

From prepping your foods so your hobs are set to come on when needed, or create your mood lighting through your statement glassdraftAir here, there are many ways to up your entertaining experiences and to make your life more seamless.

RecipeWorld is another great example of why Home Connect is a great tool to use when entertaining. Select a recipe and transfer the settings to the oven. Cooking at a professional level can be that easy: Discover a great choice of delicious recipes in your Home Connect App. Once you have picked one, you can transfer the settings directly to your oven and even remotely start the cooking process. Enjoy convenient cooking and, most importantly, delicious meals your guests will be amazed by. See how Home Connect can reinvigorate your kitchen here .

If you already have your island here are a few tips

to prepare for entertaining:

1. Declutter the surface. (any flat surface tends to become a collection area for post, keys and so on)

2. Sort out all needed equipment in advance and store nearby (even if it requires a temporary re-organisation)

3. Make sure your dishwasher is empty before you start the prep and try to stay on top of loading it.

4. Clear a shelf in your fridge and assemble all the ingredients together.

5. Plan your menu and think of breaking it down into advanced prep, on the day and last minute.

6. Utilise your oven effectively. A ‘keep warm function’, or a warming drawer can become a great help when entertaining.

7. Finally never try a new recipe on your guests. There is no need to add extra stresses or pressures when entertaining, as the host, you should be able to enjoy the event as much as your guests.