3 Keys to an Optimal Entertaining Kitchen
Who: Tom Collins Jr. of Colmar Kitchen Studio
Where: Margate and Avalon, New Jersey
In his own words: "Today's lifestyle calls for an open floor plan that's great for entertaining while still offering the storage and functionality needed."
"The whole idea of a kitchen as its own room at the back of the house has disappeared," kitchen designer Tom Collins Jr. says. "People don't want to be segregated from family and friends." Collins, the co-owner of Colmar Kitchen Studio — which has showrooms in Margate and Avalon — sees the kitchen as a family hub, not just a place for food preparation.
Family ties. Born and raised in Margate, Collins (informally) joined Colmar Kitchen Studio at age 8: "I helped the installers and worked in the store and showroom," he says. After completing a degree in finance at Villanova University and working in New York City, he returned to Colmar as a designer and co-owner. His father, Tom Collins Sr., founded the business in 1986, naming it after the street where he raised his family.
Joys of the job. "Growing up around construction and home improvement, I was exposed to many facets of the industry," the younger Collins says. "I ultimately landed here because I love taking an idea from paper to reality." He also enjoys working with and getting to know his customers. "There's nothing better than helping clients realize their dream," he says.
Ready for a kitchen upgrade? Read Collins' tips below.
1. Create Work Centers
Separate your functional spaces from your entertaining areas, Collins advises. "The cook doesn't need people crossing their path to get a drink," he says. The bar-height counter seen here, for example, serves the living room without disrupting the kitchen in a Longport home.
"The spacious countertop between the sink and the range allows for preparation and cooking to be kept away from the kitchen island, where seating and serving are done," Collins says. The family loves to entertain and didn't want anything impeding their gathering space.
2. Maximize Your Cabinetry
Plan your cabinets and drawers with the same attention to detail paid to the rest of your kitchen. "Every inch of storage must be designed to be as functional as possible," Collins says. "You don't have to have more cabinets to have more storage." He suggests using full-height cabinetry and in-cabinet accessories to make the most of your space and streamline hosting.
Margate clients requested a kosher kitchen with proper storage space for two sets of dishes and cookware, seen here. "We used a unique configuration of a three-drawer base with two smaller top drawers and one oversized bottom drawer for the bulk of the kitchen," Collins says. "This particular split allowed us to accommodate both sets of silverware and cookware."
3. Add a Second Island
Kitchen islands are wonderful, centrally located workspaces as well as spots where guests tend to gather. If space allows, strategically place your second one close to your work center, Collins recommends. "You can use one island for preparation, cooking and cleaning, while the other can be utilized for serving and entertaining," he says.
The Margate kitchen seen here could have housed one large island, but his team decided on two smaller ones. "The aqua islands create two defined spaces and provide great visual interest," Collins says. "We like to split up the function of the islands; it's off the beaten path."