Home Features If You Like to Entertain
Michael Weitzman • March 16, 2015
If you tell a Grand Rapid real estate agent that you like to entertain, you are inviting a few follow up questions. Entertaining certainly means different things to different people! Would you consider having the neighbors in for game night, or hosting a dinner party, or inviting relatives to enjoy your pool? Drinks on the patio, inlaws for a month in the summer, entire department of coworkers during holidays? Perhaps you need a home that invites all of those types of entertaining, and more.
Although you can entertain in almost any home, certain spaces and home features lend themselves well to entertaining. These are the main areas to think about:
- Outdoor entertaining. In Michigan, outdoor entertaining can be a 3 season sport. Think about a 3 season porch, which can be enclosed with screens or even windows, or an open underdeck with a cozy fireplace. Pool or Jacuzzi? For many, some sort of fire feature or water feature is a must, as well as landscaping that provides privacy, or a lawn for games, or even a pool. And so no one goes hungry, think about at least a grill pad, if not a full-fledged outdoor kitchen.
- Kitchen and living room. Open concept continues to grow as it has for the last 25 years, with no change in sight. Appliance makers are even making appliances in a variety of finishes that blend in better with the rest of the home. And a kitchen should be sufficient to support the type of entertaining you like to do – large if you like informal gatherings, or with specialized appliances like warming drawers to keep the party humming, or gourmet features to allow you to showcase your cooking skills.
- Dining room. In some homes the dining room is no longer part of the floor plan. However, if you enjoy large sit-down dinners, a dedicated dining space might be high on the list.
- Home entertainment center. Home entertainment centers continue to be a popular room in the home. Although they can be mainly for the enjoyment of the family, they can also be a great place to host the big game party or a neighborhood movie party.
- Game room. A game room can provide a dedicated space for a pool table or a game table, which works for either the current board game party trend, or the classic monthly poker party.
- Wet bar or mini kitchen. A wet bar or a mini kitchen makes a family room that much more handy for everyday use or for hosting guests.
- Spare bedrooms. You may also want to factor in extra space for overnight guests. Depending on how often you entertain, or for how long, you may want to consider a guest room, bunk house, or even a separate guest cottage.
We’ve seen a wonderful trend in the past several years of people making a conscious effort to do more entertaining in their homes. If you look forward to inviting friends and family to enjoy your new home, contact The Sprich Group, and get ready to plan your next housewarming party!
Photo: Beatrice Murch ( some rights reserved )
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