Greetings!

Thanksgiving season is here, and most people think food and family when they think about this time of year. What better place to gather for these meals than the heart of the home... the kitchen! If you have a CHW designed kitchen, you know how great it is to host a gathering. If you have a design with us, but haven't proceeded yet with it, you may realize this holiday season how much you really want that new kitchen! Our renderings are so realistic, you can almost see the turkey cooking in the oven. Whether you are thinking about a new build or remodeling your existing home, our inspiration gallery is a great place to start getting ideas. For even more information, you can also check out some of our past newsletters for exciting tips for all rooms in your home. Our talented designers have years of experience and are just waiting to share with you their expertise, so contact us today!

Also don't forget to Like Us on Facebook and Instagram for more information on current trends, cool new products, before - progress - after photos of our jobs and so much more!
Kitchens Designed for Entertaining 
Designing kitchens for entertaining is something that first came about when open-plan layouts came into fashion, and there's no doubt that the popularity of these kitchens will endure. Designing an 'entertainment kitchen' is important to get right. This type of kitchen is a space into which we can welcome guests as well as one we can enjoy ourselves day to day… for everything from cooking and eating as a family to working from home. With the winter almost upon us and the festive season looming, our minds start to veer towards accommodating guests in your home space.

It’s never too soon to start considering how the design of your home could impact home entertaining and for us, that consideration will always start with the kitchen. In fact, nearly all the kitchens we design for our clients are designed with home entertainment in mind. 

Considerations include the shape and size of a kitchen island or breakfast bar, what dining space we need to integrate, and how much fridge and freezer space we need to include as well as ensuring there’s enough space for a general family relaxing area.
MAKE SPACE FOR A DRINK FRIDGE

First to consider are the appliances, particularly refrigeration space. For a household that entertains regularly, we recommend installing a decent beverage fridge. While they can be an investment purchase, serving wines at their optimum temperatures is a sure-fire way to add some magic to your home entertaining. 
If you have a laundry room or walk-in pantry, including a fridge within these spaces can be a good solution too. You can also use this space to store extra food you’re serving up if it becomes a bit of a squeeze in your main fridge.
If your guests are staying a while, having a space within your kitchen where guests can help themselves to their own drinks is a nice benefit. You can also add some breakfast basics here so they’re not reliant on you being up and about in the mornings to cater to them. When your party is in full swing, you can use this area as a drink prep station – just don’t forget those ice buckets!
MAKE A KITCHEN ISLAND CENTRAL TO YOUR DESIGN

The kitchen island is the heart of the kitchen. It’s where we can relax over a coffee, catch up on the weekend social media posts, or have a quick snack. If you have children in tow, it’s also likely to be a homework station after school! But when guests are around and entertaining is in full flow, the island is typically where guests gather or pull up a stool while enjoying a glass of wine and some nibbles. It becomes the epicenter of the party. 
GET KITCHEN LIGHTING RIGHT

Never underestimate the importance of good kitchen lighting ideas for entertaining. Think atmospheric mood lighting. We love collections of candles and lanterns dotted around but in-built lighting shouldn’t be ignored. 
Pendants looming over the kitchen island and dining areas are a firm winner. Ceiling spotlights will make your whole room perfectly lit and by using different circuits and remote controls, you can adapt for the ambience.
THINK SEATING

When guests are going to be seated at the dining table for a long time, comfort is key. Upholstered chairs can provide the support that’s required for several courses and a coffee. For space efficiency, you could also consider built-in seating for the dining table. Banquette seating ideas can create the same balance of support and comfort as an upholstered dining chair and can be positioned along one wall or linked to kitchen cabinetry. Like an upholstered dining chair, it offers the opportunity to bring in color and/or pattern to the scheme and enhance the decorative detail of the room.
To build a kitchen for entertaining, it's vital to focus on the room's layout so that there is enough space for guests to sit comfortably, without getting in the way of the cook. This might mean dividing the cooking and dining zones with a kitchen island or peninsula so that the cook can face outwards while she/he caters and can still socialize with guests. Ensuring seating is comfortable so that you can linger in the kitchen is also important so they come back holiday after holiday!
Project Spotlight!
Our client's 1950's kitchen was screaming for a major overhaul! Waypoint Living Spaces was the best choice for this home! We used the Waypoint 470F door style in Linen paint to keep in the style of the older home's charm. They didn't like how the refrigerator used to stick into the walkway, and the large built-in took up prime kitchen space that was better used in a different way. So with relocating the refrigerator and filling that wall with much more useable pantry storage and even a little coffee nook between, we created a much more functional kitchen. Check out more photos of this kitchen in our Facebook Album, and contact us today to schedule a design consultation and to see all that CHW has to offer for you!
This Month's Feature Recipe
Creamy Corn Casserole
Spiked with chopped jalapeños and garlic, this easy corn casserole is a rich, creamy, decadent side dish.

Ingredients
  • 1- jalapeño, chopped 
  • 2- cloves garlic, chopped
  • 2- 15-oz. cans whole-kernel corn (not creamed corn)
  • 8 oz. cream cheese
  • 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup cheddar cheese
  • 3/4 cup finely shredded parmesan cheese, split
  • pinch of kosher salt
  • freshly ground pepper
  • ½ cup breadcrumbs (fresh or dried)
  • handful of chopped fresh herbs (you can use a mix of thyme and sage, or whatever you have on hand after cooking the turkey)
  • handful of chopped green onion

Instructions
  1. Start by sautéing 1 jalapeño, chopped (take out the seeds if you don’t want the green chile’s heat), and 2 cloves garlic, chopped, in a medium saucepan until they’re fragrant and just starting to soften.
  2. Add two 15-oz. cans whole-kernel corn (not creamed corn), 8 oz. cream cheese, 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, 3/4 cup of cheddar cheese, and about 1/4 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese. Stir until it’s melty.
  3. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
  4. Pour the corn kernel mixture into a buttered 9 x 13 casserole dish.
  5. Sprinkle the top with ½ cup breadcrumbs, another ½ cup finely shredded parmesan, and a handful of chopped fresh herbs.
  6. Bake at 375° until the cheese is melted and bubbling and the breadcrumbs are a crispy golden brown—cook time, about 15 minutes.
  7. Garnish with a handful of chopped green onions or chives on top.

You can prep this ahead of time: Choose a baking dish with a lid (or cover the dish with plastic wrap) and refrigerate the casserole for up to three days, but hold the breadcrumb topping until you’re ready for the oven.
PLEASE NOTE our office will be closed
Wednesday, November 23rd through the 25th
so our staff can celebrate the holiday with their loved ones!
We will return to regular business hours Monday, November 28th.

Miss a past newsletter?
We have them archived on our website so you can go back and see what you missed.
Or maybe you wished you had saved a recipe we shared...
No worries! They are all right HERE!

CHW Cabinetry, LLC
1819 Two Notch Rd
Lexington, SC 29073
Ph: 803-520-6837