Let Your Kitchen Take a Bow

My husband and I were living in California when I gave birth to our kids, and none of our family was around for us to share holidays with. 

Still, those five Thanksgivings are among my favorite, because we had friends over for an “orphan” dinner each year. Everyone brought a dish.

And everyone landed in the kitchen.

That’s the way it is during the holidays. Conversation doesn’t—and shouldn’t—come to a screeching halt because something needs to come out of the oven.

“More people are entertaining in their kitchens, especially during the holidays,” says Cheryl Draa of Cheryl Draa Interiors in Powder Springs. “We’re finding when they remodel, they put in additional sinks in islands, more work stations, and an extra oven in their kitchens, so company can jump in and help while they’re conversing.”

David Cowart of on Florence Road in Powder Springs agrees. “More people want to entertain in their kitchen. Family and friends gather there. So they’re making the kitchens more open to the family room.”

“The quality that draws company to a kitchen is comfort,” explains Kim Kornblatt, owner of owns  in downtown Powder Springs. “So kitchens are moving closer to keeping rooms and breakfast nooks.

"You’ll see more people grouping together around islands in the kitchen. You’ll find more padded bar chairs around those islands, so company can get comfortable and chat while the cooking’s going on. There’s a feeling of warmth, even down to the window treatments."

Cowart finds his clients have veered away from the cooler stainless steel look and gravitated toward stone and thin brick for counters and backsplashes.

“Irondale’s the one most in demand at the moment," he explained, "but any real cut stone adds warmth to the kitchen. It makes it inviting. It makes the kitchen seem solid, like it will be there forever.”

The only possible drawback is that stone needs to be sealed, so oil doesn’t stain it, “although it depends on the stone,” Cowart adds.

Cabinetry has become more sophisticated, with built-ins such as pull-out spice drawers and wine racks, and cabinet doors with glass fronts showing off variegated pastas and dried beans.

“Most of the floors we’re seeing now in clients’ kitchens are wood or stone tile,” Cowart says. “Natural materials make the room seem warm and inviting.”

“More people are putting down runners in the kitchen and area rugs under tables," Kornblatt amends. "It adds to the coziness, the feeling of comfort.”

There’s nothing like comfort and joy for the holidays. Pass the Swedish meatballs.