Eat Well, Live Happy

To cook in Italian... Mangia bene, vivi felice

7 Tips For Entertaining In Small Spaces

by

Your love for entertaining doesn’t have to be stifled by your square footage. Get the drinks ready and the food prepped, because Verona Appliances has compiled the best tips for pulling off the ultimate gathering in small spaces!

1. Clean and De-Clutter

Clean countertop space is essential for gatherings of any sorts. Put away the cookie jars and accessories to make room for food, drinks and any hostess gifts that your guests might be bringing.

2. Plan your menu & prep your food

Have a game plan for the food and drinks you plan to serve way in advance so that you can strategically plan when you’ll be cooking which dishes, the temperature they need to be served at and how they’ll be plated. Prep any food that doesn’t need to be served warm ahead of time so you can focus on one task at a time. If possible, take advance of your warm drawer to keep your food at an optimal serving temperature after cooking!

Photo Courtesy of Nera Lerner

3. Know the capabilities of your range, cooktop or oven

A high-powered appliance is essential to the success of a meal, but you don’t need a large appliance to get the job done. Verona Appliances 24” Gas Range offers all the power of a full size professional range for a small space kitchen. The selection of both high and low power sealed burners that will handle any cooking chore, while the oven’s turbo electric convection fan bakes foods up to 25% faster than a conventional oven

4. Space food and drinks apart

To keep your guests from gathering all in one place, space your food and drinks away from each other. If tabletop space is limited, consider renting or purchasing a bar cart for the occasion to tastefully style your drinkware in a way that is inviting for your guests.

Photo Courtesy of The Ranch UnCommon

5. Get creative with storage solutions

When it comes to small spaces, storage space is often times the biggest limitation. Use your bedroom to house guest’s coats and bags, and take advantage of any additional space – from floor to – ceiling to create easily accessible storage for party supplies. Store any extra cooking sheets and low rim pans in the full-width storage drawer so they are out of the way and out of sight.

6. Invest in good ventilation

Nobody likes walking into a hot, smoky home. A good ventilation system helps to clear the air and cool down the kitchen while you’re cooking so your guests walk into a comfortable environment. If outside ventilation is not possible, make sure to get a recirculation kit for your hood to keep the air moving!

Photo Courtesy of Sara Parsons

7. Keep emergency clean-up materials on hand

Slips and spills are bound to happen, especially when you’re in close quarters. Roll with the punches and keep supplies such as paper towels, stain removers and surface cleaners on hand so you can quickly cleanup and get back to the party!

For more from Verona Appliances, visit www.veronappliances.com.

Verona Appliances Spotlighted in a One of A Kind Denver Kitchen

by

It’s no secret that the Denver housing marketing has been shining over the last couple of years. Young homebuyers moving to the mile high city are greeted with earth tones and mountain-inspired décor reminiscent of the city’s surroundings. But when it comes to flipping homes in the Denver area, Wendy Crist and the team at The Happening Home divert away from this cookie-cutter style, opting for the Hygge ambiance of cozy comfort that turns ordinary houses into dream homes for those entering the market.

In one of their most recent projects, The Happening Home team took an outdated, non-functional kitchen from one of Denver’s most desirable neighborhoods and transformed it into a modern farmhouse inspired space with the help of Verona Appliances. Although the kitchen had good bones, it was tired looking and lacking much needed storage space.

“We added lots of charm and character to this home,” explains Wendy “Some of our favorite features are the gourmet kitchen, shiplap wall and reclaimed wood accents. We wanted this home to feel current, cozy, comfortable, and interesting all at the same time.”

When it came time to choose appliances, the team selected a 36” Stainless Steel Verona Range. The look of the range was perfectly in-line with the style of the renovated kitchen, and the full width storage compartment is perfect for organizing extra baking sheets.

“The way this wall of the kitchen turned out with the Verona range, custom hood, pot filler and open shelving turned out to be my favorite spot in the whole renovation,” says Wendy.

The end result of the renovation was a modern, updated home that is ready for its new family. Thank you Wendy and The Happening Home for sharing your Verona kitchen with us! For even more projects be sure to follow The Happening Home on Facebook and Instagram.

Verona Range Adds Style and Function to the Heart of This New York Home

by

In upstate New York, Laura, a high school assistant principal, interior designer and the mastermind behind The Unique Nest blog, drew up a floor plan and built her dream home for her busy family.

While designing the home, Laura directed most of her attention to the kitchen. Knowing that it would be the heart of the home, it was important that the space would allow for everything from cooking, to entertaining and even a spot for her children to do their homework. With all of this in mind, design and functionally was at the top of her “must have list.” That’s where Verona Appliances came in.

While sourcing her products, Laura came across Verona Appliances. The 36″ single oven range instantly became the centerpiece of the design.

“I honestly love the look,” explains Laura, “It’s sleek, modern, and really compliments everything else we have selected.”

While working on her own kitchen, Laura recognized that designers and consumers alike are putting more and more effort into the significance that appliances have on kitchen designs.

The kitchen truly is the heart of the home and the appliances operate that heart – making it really important to select the right pieces. Verona has allowed us the form and function we were looking for in a range,” she said. “The look is aesthetically pleasing and the function is fantastic. I love the counter depth dimensions and the wide oven. The price range also worked better for us than competing brands.

Along with style and functionality, it was important that every aspect of her design would stand the test of time. “We opted for a white shaker cabinet which is timeless, and a soapstone counter top.” In order to accommodate her desire for a passive solar design, the kitchen consistent of mainly base cabinets with multiple windows allowing for an abundance of natural light.

Thank you Laura for sharing your Verona kitchen with us! Be sure to check out Laura on Instagram and on The Unique Nest.