As Halloween approaches and the Indian summer temperatures appear behind us in Southeastern Wisconsin, most evening gatherings will be moving indoors. As seasons transition, so do dining and entertaining habits, as different rooms and areas of the house become more or less utilized. Today’s luxury custom-built homes usually contain several refreshing ideas for recreating or maximizing the functionality of traditional spaces, making them ideal for both every day living and accommodating groups of varying sizes.
In-home entertaining is best suited in open spaces, allowing for easy flow, where there is comfortable and ample seating. The rooms typically focused on for “public gatherings” are the kitchen, living or great rooms, dining rooms and patios. Modern luxury homes suitably reflect how gatherings have changed, how differently people entertain today, re-imagining spaces to make them more personal to the family, the home and the property.
The following custom home is a perfect example of how modern details can make a home decidedly unique to the family’s needs while seamlessly providing a perfect entertaining space. The kitchen exemplifies this ideal, suitable for the ever-changing needs of any family or group.
The modern styling is bright, crisp, airy and inviting, boasting generous countertops, streamlined details and ample seating. Perfect for cooking with friends or casual weeknight dinners, with plenty of space to sit, gather, cook, eat, drink and/ or work. The bountiful storage options allow for uncluttered counters; the clean white woodwork allows for the natural beauty of the stone and wood to shine.
The four seasons porch and patio is also re-imagined with a retractable screen/wall that erases the line from indoors to out, proving open air entertaining is a viable option in the Midwest.
Thoughtful enhancements to the room make this ideal setting even more versatile throughout the seasons: the ceiling fan circulates the air during hot weather while the fireplace adds warmth and cheer during dreary cold days. The comfortable seating arrangement facilitates post-dinner gatherings and relaxation, all the while enjoying the spectacular vistas of the property.
A custom bar area is also a much-desired modern feature of many entertainment spaces, often incorporated into finished basements or great rooms. The following custom bar, complete with a screen, is perfect for game day or other game nights, also a great communal gathering space for wine or beer tastings. The simple, yet elegant design blends beautifully with this multi-purpose room, while the thoughtful additions of cabinets, a sink, refrigerator and ice machine make bar service and clean-up effortless.
A designated guest room is always a welcome addition to homes with rooms to spare. Yet when homes are lacking the added space, creative solutions abound. The home office pictured below is one such perfect solution, as a well placed Murphy bed easily converts into a comfortable sleeping space in short notice.
As exemplified by this beautiful custom-built home, thoughtful design and details in the main living spaces make entertaining at home effortless and enjoyable.