Remodel with guests and gatherings in mind

The holidays bring joy, warmth, and—often—a house full of family and friends. If you’re planning a remodel, thinking ahead to accommodate holiday gatherings and overnight guests is a smart investment that pays dividends all year long.  In our 45 years in the remodeling business, we have helped hundreds of homeowners remodel with guests and gatherings in mind.

Here are some important considerations for a remodel that provides both hospitality and year-round function.

Guest Ready Spaces for Overnight Accommodations

A great remodel maximizes the comfort and privacy of overnight guests while ensuring those spaces remain useful every day.

• Multifunctional Bedrooms: New home additions can include guest rooms that also function as offices, hobby or craft rooms or home gyms. Our in-house custom millwork shop can create custom built-in cabinetry with a Murphy bed that can allow the room to do double duty.  Flexible spaces like these can provide function and comfortable guest accommodations.
• The Power of the Powder Room: While adding a full guest suite may not be possible, adding or upgrading a powder room on the main floor significantly eases the strain on upstairs or private bathrooms during large gatherings. We focus on durable, easy-to-clean finishes and excellent ventilation.
• Storage Solutions: Guests need closet and drawer space. Built-in cabinets and custom closets, even in smaller rooms, ensure guests have ample room to unpack and settle in. During the rest of the year, these storage options provide valuable, organized places for linens or off-season clothing.

Kitchen and Dining Flow for Effortless Entertaining

The kitchen and surrounding living areas are the hub of any holiday gathering. Your remodeling project should prioritize flow, prep space, and serving accessibility.

• Oversized Kitchen Islands: A dual-purpose superstar! For the holidays, islands can serve as buffet lines, casual gathering spots, and extra staging areas for plating dishes. All year round, they are homework stations, large meal prep surfaces, and casual dining spots. Islands with storage on both sides maximize utility.
• Pantry Perfection: Dedicated pantry space is non-negotiable for holiday cooking. We’re big fans of walk-in or custom built-in pantries with roll-out shelves that allow you to stockpile ingredients, store platters, and keep small appliances out of sight until they’re needed. This keeps your main kitchen organized daily.

Pro Tip:  When your remodel involves a home addition, expanding the kitchen footprint, or reclaiming an underutilized formal dining room, the opportunity to add a butler’s pantry or a “butler kitchen can be a worthwhile splurge.

• Seamless Dining: In open floor plans, the transition from kitchen to dining area must be smooth. We work to create enough clear space around the dining table to pull chairs out easily, even when guests are mingling. A custom built-in buffet or serving counter in the dining room can be perfect for storing holiday dishware and providing a dedicated surface for serving meals.  We especially love including these in older Twin Cities homes.

Living Spaces Comfort and Connection

Common areas need to welcome a crowd without feeling cluttered or cramped.

• Zoned Seating: Even in an open concept, seating nooks, 4-season porches and breakfast bars become cozy conversation zones.  They are perfect ways to allow guests to have conversations or for kids to play games, read books or curl up for a nap away from the hubbub of a holiday gathering.
• Strategic Storage: Clutter is the enemy of coziness, especially when you add gift wrap, extra coats, and shoes into the mix. Especially in Minnesota, custom mudroom cabinetry near the entrance with dedicated hooks, shelving, and bench seating keeps mud, snow and bulky outerwear contained and organized. They are also vital for managing family backpacks and gear throughout the school year.
• Integrated Entertainment: Built-in cabinetry around a fireplace or media center provides an organized home for electronics, games, and books. This not only keeps the space tidy for guests but also creates a beautiful, permanent focal point for the room.

By planning your remodel with holiday entertaining in mind, you are not simply preparing for two weeks of the year; you are investing in features like multifunctional rooms, enhanced storage, and improved flow that will make your home more comfortable, organized, and valuable for your family every single day.  Let our design team help you remodel with guests and gatherings in mind!