Features:

Sleek appliances. You probably don’t need to purchase the professional grade equipment unless you plan to seriously cook for guests. “I encounter a lot of clients that never cook but they like to entertain in the kitchen, and I usually get appliances that are good quality—they look beautiful and they work well,” says Jorge Castillo of Jorge Castillo Designs in Miami, Fla., and Shaker Heights, Ohio. Stainless steel is a priority for most homeowners, and it’s practically a necessity at resale.

Point-of-service refrigeration. Refrigerator drawers and specialty units, such as wine coolers, give the host and guests better access to beverages and foods waiting to be served.

Warming drawers. A must for entertainers for keeping food warm and maintaining its quality.

Double dish washers. Secondary dish washers might be drawer configuration or half-size, or full-size depending on the type of entertaining you do.

Flat-screen television. You’ll sacrifice storage space for a flat-screen in the kitchen, but if your often entertain during sports events, for example, and the kitchen is where your crew likes to hang out, then this “appliance” is a necessity.

Island. “This doesn’t always work—it depends on the space you are working with,” warns Castillo.

Raised countertops. An island or peninsula with a raised countertop can hide dishes and serve as a cooking station on the “lower” host side, and on the higher portion, give guests a surface to gather around in the kitchen. It can serve as a snack bar, the dining table or just a place to lean and set down beverages.

Catering workspace. If you tend to bring in catering staff and you have the space to build a butler’s pantry equipped with key appliances (oven, warming drawer, sink, dish washer, refrigeration).