Whether you’re hosting an intimate dinner party for your best friends or an extravagant celebration with a lengthy guest list, details matter.
When you start the soiree planning process, you have a long list of questions to answer. As you design your home, being just as thoughtful about considerations for entertaining can make hosting that much more successful.
Kylie Ponton, principal designer at Ponton Interiors, asks her new clients over 100 questions in an onboarding survey. Here are some to consider when incorporating entertainment into your home’s design:
– How will your family grow and change over the next 10 years?
– Which rooms do you spend the most time in currently?
– Do you prefer to entertain indoors, outside or both?
– How do you spend time together with other people in your home?
Celebration Station
It’s no secret that people tend to gather in the kitchen. Rob Bowen, principal at Rob Bowen Design Group, suggests considering how you use your kitchen when planning your space.
“The kitchen is the heart of your home,” Bowen says. If you enjoy cooking and welcome people gathering around you while you’re in the kitchen, try a u-shaped kitchen or a big communal table.
Those who don’t cook may want a show kitchen where people can gather and an oversized butler’s pantry where caterers can cook and prepare food while you entertain your guests.
It is important to work with a designer and builder who can bring your vision to life. “Wine storage? Juicing station? Coffee bar? The options are limitless,” Ponton says.
Exploring The Open Concept
Open layouts are great for large gatherings, but they can be devoid of personality if they’re not done correctly.
“You can add architectural details to make the space warm and inviting all the time,” Bowen says.
Luxury new construction has started to incorporate more division of spaces.
“Not necessarily creating separate rooms, but incorporating accent walls and materials, or defining the spaces with ceiling details and other architectural elements,” Ponton says.
Nooks With A Niche
If you have a favorite drink or hobby that you would enjoy sharing with guests, consider creating a special space for it.
“Rooms that really accentuate your personality make a home feel so much more custom,” Ponton says. If you savor wine or bourbon, establish a tasting room.
If you entertain a lot of families, a game room with fun lighting could be a hit.
Perhaps you will set up stations for video games, board games, a puzzle table and a movie screen.
Take The Party Outside
In Florida the outdoor experience is as important as the interior.
“You can design both to match with the same flooring and similar lighting so that the two seem seamless,” Bowen says. “Sliding doors that open up all the way are also a great way to expand your entertaining space.”
You may find parallels between creating an outdoor oasis and designing a kitchen. For the yard, consider a drink station, multiple grill types, ice machines and dining areas.
“Landscaping and lighting are also key in making an outdoor space inviting,” Ponton says. “We love misting fans to make dining outside more enjoyable during Florida’s muggy months.”
