If you love entertaining, there are a few must-haves you should look for when choosing a new home design to build. Entertaining usually revolves around eating, drinking, chatting and relaxing, so the most important spaces to consider are the kitchen, dining, living and alfresco areas. Whether you enjoy hosting dinner parties, Christmas celebrations or casual barbecues, here are some of the most sought after features, as well as Hallmark Homes’ most popular house plans for entertaining.
Before we get down to the nitty-gritty of what makes a great entertainer, there’s one thing that often gets overlooked by new home buyers. What will your guests see when they arrive? First impressions are greatly influenced by your home’s street appeal, including the façade and landscaping. Once guests reach the front door, it’s time to think about the entryway and details such as the front door, lighting, colour choices and décor. How you style and decorate your home says a lot about you and the kind of entertainer you are. Above all, try and create a welcoming environment for guests.
The kitchen is the heart of home entertaining, so it needs to be designed for ease and efficiency. Here’s how to create a kitchen that’s made for fabulous food, good friends and lots of fun!
Lots of storage
Make sure your kitchen has ample storage including a combination of cupboards, drawers and open shelving, so it’s easy to store everything you need. If you like to cater your own functions, you choose good quality appliances designed to make entertaining easy.
Oversized island bench
A generous island bench is the perfect centrepiece for an entertainer’s kitchen, providing a casual area where guests can hang out while you’re prepping. Quality stone benchtops not only look stunning, but are also durable and easy to clean. Complement your island bench with some comfortable stools, so guests can relax with a drink, while chatting to you.
Handy butler’s pantry
There’s one feature that will really take your kitchen to the next level – the butler’s pantry. Not only does it add extra storage and prep space, but it also provides a handy place to hide mess while you prep for your gathering – leaving the kitchen looking great! Check out the Manly 223 home design from Hallmark’s Luma range, to see just how well it works!
Practical layout
It may sound obvious, but your kitchen should have a layout that’s practical and efficient. A triangular configuration that keeps the sink, fridge and cooktop within easy reach works best. And make sure you position the fridge where guests can grab a drink, without getting in your way.
Not surprisingly, open plan living has become the gold standard in contemporary home design, providing generous spaces where guests can relax, without feeling hemmed in. As well as enhancing the spacious feeling of your new home, an open plan design also allows you to keep socialising, even when you’re in the kitchen!
Enjoying the outdoors is an integral part of the South East Queensland lifestyle, and most of us love hosting barbecues, parties and gatherings outdoors, while still having protection from the elements. A seamless transition between inside and out creates another practical living area for entertaining. Incorporating large sliding doors and lots of glass in your new home will help achieve this. To take your alfresco to the next level, consider creating an outdoor kitchen. Whether you want to keep it simple with a stand-alone barbecue, or go all out with an integrated barbecue, benchtop, sink fridge or pizza oven, your alfresco can become an impressive outdoor entertainment zone!
One of the unwritten rules of entertaining is to make sure everyone has a drink. To avoid guests coming into the kitchen, consider creating a separate servery area, such as a stylish, built-in gin bar like the one on display in the Outlook 287 from Hallmark’s Luma range. It creates a stunning focal point and makes it easy for guests to grab a drink.
Depending on your stage of life, you may need a home with a separate area for the kids to hang out, away from the rest of the party. Many of Hallmark’s home designs offer a second living area and a media room – perfect for entertaining guests of all ages! Check out the Cedar 263 from Hallmark’s Nest range.
We’ve all hosted gatherings with more people than seats, where we’ve had to pull out the camping chairs for guests. To avoid this, try and think of clever ways to create more places to sit such as bench seating, ottomans and even hanging outdoor chairs. Timber stools also work well, and can double as handy side tables on a day-to-day basis.
Different occasions call for different lighting throughout your home, so you can set the mood accordingly. When it comes to the kitchen, it’s important to have the appropriate task lighting – but once you’ve finished prepping and serving, it’s great to be able to dim the lights. Consider adding strip lighting under your overhead cabinetry. It looks fabulous once the overhead lights are turned off. If you enjoy hosting dinner parties, make sure your dining area has lighting that can be dimmed, as required. It should be bright enough to see what you’re eating, but not so bright that you feel like you’re in a cafeteria! Always opt for bulbs that give off warm, rather than cool light. Placing candles on the table is also a lovely addition.
In your living areas, create conversation nooks by turning on lamps instead of overhead lights, so guests can sit and chat in a relaxed ambience. And if you love entertaining outdoors, consider a combination of lighting to suit various occasions, from a barbecue with friends through to a large party. Strings of festoon lights create a fun atmosphere for any occasion, and they’re easy to install yourself.
Not only does Hallmark have a fabulous selection of home designs that are made for entertaining, our Selection Centre Consultants can personally guide you through the design and selection process including colours and materials, cabinetry, stone benchtop options, appliances, finishes and fixtures, plus much more. Our Selection Centre, Select by Hallmark, is exclusive to Hallmark Homes’ clients, and entry is by appointment only.
Get inspiration for your new home design by visiting one of Hallmark Homes’ Display Centres. Beautifully styled to suit the South East Queensland lifestyle, you’re sure to get some great ideas for your dream entertainer’s home. You can also check out our virtual tours for ideas.
If you’re thinking of building a new home in South East Queensland and you’d like to know more about Hallmark Homes, have a chat to one of our experienced consultants. If you have any questions about our home designs or house and land packages, please contact us today.
Well-planned kitchens and bathrooms can add enormous value to your home but many people prioritise aesthetic over practicality! We have created this guide to make sure you get it right the first time! Here are the top 10 bungles you should try and avoid.
