The concept is not entirely new. Back in the 1960s, hostesses entertained their guests in their living or dining room, while relegating meal preparation to an enclosed kitchen. Today, that idea of keeping up appearances is making something of a comeback even as the kitchen continues to evolve as the hub of the home. This time around, however, the kitchen has incorporated more openness, as is the trend, and homeowners don't have to travel as much to both entertain and cook.

The "kitchen within a kitchen" concept, by interior designer Troy Adams, CKD, of Troy Adams Design in West Hollywood, CA, entails an entertainment kitchen that opens onto the main living area and an adjoining professional-style kitchen that can be tucked away behind closed sliding doors. Splitting the kitchen into two allows the homeowner to play up the style and aesthetics of the former and keep the clutter and chaos of cooking out of sight in the latter, noted Adams, who has recently seen an increase in demand for this type of layout.  

The arrangement is similar to a Japanese tradition commonly found in high-end homes, where two kitchens serve two different purposes, noted Adams, who would know, having created FusionDesign, a seamless blend of Asian, European and American design. In Japan, the entertainment kitchen is where hosts socialize while engaging in some light food prep, and what appliances there are camouflaged. The cooking staff or caterers occupy the other kitchen, which is hidden behind closed doors for food production and cleanup.





According to Adams, the most important role of the "for show" kitchen is to make a good impression, while the other serves as the workhorse. Although a home with just one kitchen could showcase high-end appliances, luxurious finishes and upscale cabinetry, it will always be restricted by practicality, noted Adams. Furthermore, "The kitchen is now opening up to a combined living and family room for enhanced entertainment opportunities," he added.

The concept of combining three rooms—the living room, dining room and entertainment kitchen—into one is becoming more prevalent in the U.S., observed Adams. "The adjacent living and dining rooms are becoming a wasted space in the home," he said. "I believe at some point we're going to see these rooms disappear from the home. And these main kitchens will become more elegant and aesthetically pleasing. The hidden kitchen would also eliminate the need for a butler's pantry."

The key to creating a successful entertainment kitchen is finding aesthetically pleasing products that seamlessly blend into the space. Being open in plan, these to-be-seen rooms take well to furniture-style pieces and concealed appliances. Adams also highly recommends microwaves, refrigerators and dishwashers with fully integrated panel doors that match the surrounding cabinetry. With dishwashers, look for one that is not only built in, but also insulated for sound to ensure quiet operation during social gatherings.
























^{The aesthetic of the to-be-seen "entertainment kitchen" can be enhanced with concealed appliances like the Miele dishwasher (left) and furniture-style pieces such as Troy Adams' TansuChill (right), which conceals a refrigerator, freezer and wine storage.}


Adams has also come up with some design solutions for the entertainment kitchen to help give functional elements a more unified appearance. His TansuChill, for example, masks a Sub-Zero refrigerator with freezer and a combined built-in wine storage area as a piece of high-end furniture in exotic wood. Behind it is a hidden walk-in pantry for organized storage. His Total Cooktop features a cooktop, microwave, prep sink and other appliances—but they are disguised in drawers and underneath sliding counters for an aesthetically pleasing design.

"Who wouldn't rather see beautiful furniture as opposed to appliances?" said Adams. "Because several of my clients may only use their oven once a week, I've decided to conceal the unsightly food preparation aspects of the kitchen and present an elegant and open kitchen layout with standout pieces that double as fine contemporary furniture."