Project in Progress: Sonoma Condo Refresh | David Locicero / Architect

How do you design a kitchen for entertaining?

Well, it depends on the type of entertaining.

For this condo refresh project in Sonoma, the clients wanted to be able to entertain friends and family for wine tastings, cocktail parties, and small dinners.

This is the plan we’ve developed. The kitchen has become one with the dining area, and the sliding pocket door between the living room and kitchen has been opened to it’s full extent. Image copyright 2021, David Locicero

With the many great restaurants on the Sonoma town square, only a few minutes walk away, the clients felt like they didn’t need to be doing serious cooking when entertaining. They plan on having drinks with their guest before or after dinner, but usually dining at a restaurant on the square. If they do cook, it will be for only themselves and maybe one other couple.

This is the view from the kitchen looking toward the dining area. You can see how the counter on the right extends the complete length of the kitchen and dining area. It steps back in the dining area to allow more space for the table and chairs, while still providing space to layout appetizers and wine glasses. Image copyright 2021, David Locicero

So the kitchen has taken shape as a place to pour wine, mix cocktails, and serve appetizers or desserts. To that end, I’ve opened up the kitchen to the dining area, and extended the counter along the long wall. That’s a 19-foot counter! Along the way, there is a range, a dishwasher, a big sink, and a microwave, along with a serving counter.

*This is the view from the dining area into the kitchen. You can see that the major and minor appliances are all in place: looking clockwise: the refrigerator, the under counter wine fridge*, *an under counter microwave, sink, dishwasher, and range. Image copyright 2021, David Locicero*

The opposite wall is mostly open to the living room, with the refrigerator and an undercounter wine cooler, with space for serving glasses and liquor above.

It isn’t a kitchen for a family, or a serious cook who wants to feed hordes of people. This is a kitchen for appetizers and drinks, mostly, and small, casual meals.

*In this view from the living room, you can see how big the living space feels, incorporating the living room, kitchen, and dining area. Image copyright 2021, David Locicero*

But this is what remodeling your home is all about: making it fit your life, not trying to fit your life into somebody else’s vision. It is what an architect does.

Cheers,

David

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