Pro Chefs Talk About Home-Kitchen Design

Entertaining Considerations
Ponzek also finds her newly enlarged island a boon when entertaining. Changing the island was the focus of her recent renovation. The island more than doubled in length, from five to 11 feet. Now when people come over she finds herself working at one end of the island while guests gather around hors d'oeuvres and drinks placed at the other end. Kreuther has a similarly sized island in his kitchen. He didn't design the island himself but notes that he and his wife chose their apartment because they liked the kitchen so much. "What we liked most was the sheer size of the island, including having plenty of counter space to prep dishes and allow for both of us to work side by side." The island even has four stools at one end where guests sit and chat with him as he works. When you have company, Pope says, "Guests end up in the kitchen and it's important to be able to face them as you cook, not be in a corner with your back to them."