Do you love to entertain at home? If so, we have a few suggestions on how to create a space plan that enhances both your family life and your social gatherings…
The Entryway
You have only one chance to make a first impression. So it’s important that the entry to your house is welcoming to guests, reflects your personal style, and makes you feel happy and comfortable as soon as you walk through the door. This space sets the tone for the rest of your home.
The Coat Closet
A hallway coat closet provides a place for family and guests to shed their coats and hang their purse. If you have a spacious hallway to accommodate a coat tree and wall hooks that will be great.
First-floor Powder Room
This should be somewhere near the entryway and definitely not off the dining area or the main seating area. This will be a big help when entertaining. You don’t have to worry about cleaning up any other bathrooms in the house each time you entertain and your guests do not feel they are intruding into your personal space.
Kitchen Counter Seating
You will want an island that can support food prep, cooking, cleanup, casual meals, and entertaining. The first item on most folks island wish list is the seating and defining cooking and living areas. Think beyond the rectangular when planning as an island: round, L-shaped and square versions provide plenty of utility. Everyone wants a place for the kids to eat breakfast and for friends to sip wine and nibble on appetizers. Island seating can usurp the kitchen table and save valuable floor space. In this way, incorporating seating is one of the first drivers of the design. The workable island often features room for seating at the ends, leaving the longer sides accessible to cooks. Imagine your guests mingling with you and pulling up a stool.
Walk-in Pantry
Reach-in and walk-in pantries make the most of your kitchen layout by storing everything in one central location. Keep your kitchen organized and food supplies handy. This helps to keep your kitchen uncluttered and you do not need so many cabinets. If you are going to have a large gathering it gives you the opportunity to store a lot of food. The pantry is often the most hidden space in the house, it is the smart storage solutions and savvy design can make life a lot easier.
Open Floor Plan
A single wall of appliances and floor-to-ceiling cabinetry is perfect for an open floor plan kitchen. A long island houses a sink, keeping the work triangle compact, and holds additional storage. Island seating allows friends and family to stay close without getting in the way. Without walls to separate the spaces, natural light from the dining area spills into the kitchen, making it feel even more open and light. The result is a home that encourages a more modern relationship between the kitchen, traditionally considered a working zone. An open plan is a great way to maximize space.
Formal Dining Room
Formal dining rooms may seem old-fashioned in this era of open floor plans and eat-in kitchens, but we still adore this room, and the possibilities it inspires. It is great for the cozy sit down dinners, to which your guests can migrate to and talk to each other over dinner and enjoy the meal together. And it gives you the opportunity to set a great table setting for the ambiance of a great dinner to show off your cooking skills. After dinner, the guests can go outdoors for coffee and dessert and more chat. Turn on the music and enjoy the evening.
Deck, Porch, or Patio
An outdoor place right off the house and easily accessible from the dining or living room so guests can just walk into it. If possible a covered porch can protect your guests from the sun and weather. Patios are usually made from stone and are ground level, they are the least expensive home additions and can be built to any size. You’ll be delighted at what kind of outdoor decking you can build with composite wood. If you can imagine it, you can build it. Whether a deck, porch, or patio either one can be furnished with free-standing furniture and decorated with plants, fireplaces, and lighting and gives you the opportunity to add your touch but also increases the entertaining space of your home.
Creativity makes all the difference in remodeling your home! Becraft Plus has vast experience creating new additions for customers.
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About Becraft Plus
Since 1989, Becraft Plus has provided customized design and construction services to customers in the Washington, D.C. area. We specialize in custom home building, additions and remodeling, and whole house renovations with a focus on creating living spaces that are tailored to the needs of our clients.
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