In The Design Studio: Great Appliances To Make Summer Hosting a Breeze

This is a sponsored post by Anna Gibson, owner of AKG Design Studio and an award-winning, certified kitchen and bathroom designer. AKG Design Studio is a boutique design firm specializing in kitchen, bathroom designs and cabinetry sales. Contact Anna at 571-989-2541 or [email protected], and follow her work on Houzz; Pinterest; Facebook and Twitter.

Summer is here and the season of treating friends, family and the kids is upon us. There will be plenty of family visiting from out of town and kids running around, so here are a few appliances that will help you get through it all!

Beverage Center: Wine cooler or a mixed-use under counter beverage centers are great to clear space in your main fridge and lets guest and kids serve themselves from wine to soda, you can store all your drinks in there. They can be free-standing or built-in, based on your layout and space. Great spots for these are in the island, away from your prep area, or maybe convert that desk area (the empty space that no one uses) to the beverage center. It is usually far enough from your prep zone, yet still in the kitchen for easy access.

Ice maker: We all run out ice at some point! If you barbecue outside or are just hosting a cocktail party, there is always that call for extra ice. Most ice makers are made to be built into your cabinet space, kitchen/bar, but there are a few new options for countertops as well. You can even keep them outside by the grill!

Blender: Blenders allow you to make drinks for any type of party. These are ideal for mixing cocktails, non-alcoholic mocktails, milkshakes and just about any other type of drink you can imagine. Look for models that come with a frontal spout for easy serving. If you’re going to be mixing drinks with a lot of ice in them, look for a blender or drink maker with a pulse or ice-crushing function for easy blending.

Ice cream machine: You can go basic or go big with the Margaritaville brand. Since they are portable, you can use them inside or out. They even have models that will work with your car charger. So party wherever you are!

Crock pot and Instant pot: Just toss all your ingredients in and off you go the pool while dinner is cooking and no extra heat from running the oven. You can even leave it plugged in to keep the food warm while you are serving or self-serve at your party. And it’s easy to store.

There are few models out there made for parties with smaller portions for added variety (up to three different dishes).

Pizza Maker: Everyone loves pizza! While you can invest in a large built-in pizza stove in your kitchen or backyard, the awesome Breville Crispy Crust Pizza Maker sits on your countertop and lets you make restaurant-quality pizza at home. Or, use this perfect add-on — your grill!

Have a build-your-own pizza night. I can assure you all the neighborhood kids will be at your house!

Microwave drawer: Time to take down the microwave from the top of the stove and move it to under the counter. There are a few companies like Sharp and Thermador that have fantastic models. We usually install those in the island, creating easy access for kids to warm up snacks and popcorn without additional assistance or climbing over stoves. And if you don’t want little hands playing, they even have a lock feature!

What are your favorite summer hosting ideas? Share your ideas with us in the comments. We would to hear from you.