The perfect kitchen for entertaining and every day

The open kitchen is more popular than ever but with a twist. It’s now designed to accommodate parties, homework, and even multiple cooks. And many electronic devices are finding a new home in the kitchen.
Despite all of the benefits of the social kitchen, creating one can be a challenge. That’s where our 2014 Kitchen Remodeling Guide comes in. Want to know which floors hold up best to heavy foot traffic? Our flooring buying guide can help. Looking for a whisper-quiet dishwasher that won’t drown out the after-dinner conversation? Check our dishwasher buying guide and Ratings.

Before you delve into the product reports, read our essential steps to creating a truly social kitchen, along with our advice for hiring professionals, planning the budget, and sidestepping those trends that haven’t stood the test of time.

1. Open up the spacewith care (shown above). Be judicious about how many barriers you eliminate. “Too many pathways moving through the space will lead to chaos,” says Sharon Olsen, a certified kitchen designer in Portland, Ore. Using half-walls or arched openings can create a sense of openness while maintaining traffic flow.

It's also important to visually integrate the kitchen with the rest of the home. “The latest iteration of the open kitchen sees it as an  ‘interior design’ feature within a larger living/dining space,” says Erica Broberg Smith, an architect based in East Hampton, N.Y. Color can be a great connector. Repeat a hue from the living room in your choice of artwork on the kitchen walls, for example, or the color of your countertop appliances.