A Social Abode
As the modern home continues to evolve, traditional living quarters are being abandoned
in favour of shared, multifunctional spaces. Cultivating an abode for the modern entertainer starts with the design. Here, Tegan Lyon speaks with John Ugarkovic, director of Buildcraft Constructions, about the chief components of a social home and how best to incorporate these must-have features.
ESSENTIAL DESIGN TOUCHES
The key principle in designing a home for the modern entertainer is to create spaces that are flexible and multifunctional. Regardless of property size, any style of home can be tailored for entertaining. While larger-sized homes can certainly accommodate more guests, Urgakovic recommends not dismissing the necessity of smaller, cosy corners. “[It’s imperative to have] spaces that can also be used for informal gatherings for as little as two people,” Ugarkovic says.
Since the kitchen and living area form the hub of the home, installing a large kitchen island is integral in bringing the family and guests together. A large kitchen island makes excellent use of space and encourages a social atmosphere where the chef can interact with guests. Homeowners can take this one step further with an integrated cooktop and pop-up safety hood, which enables simultaneous cooking and socialising. An inviting, comfortable living area is another must-have, bringing guests together in intimate-sized groups within a larger party setting. Replicating a similar ambiance is equally important for your outdoor zones, particularly in warmer months when families and friends can dine alfresco. As guests tend to gravitate toward the kitchen for nibbles and appetisers, a bar area provides guests with another space to congregate and gives homeowners more entertainment options outside of the kitchen.
OPEN-PLAN SURGERY
Formal dining rooms and segregated kitchens are being phased out of the modern home design in favour of open-plan living, and this layout is conducive to entertaining for a number of reasons. Ugarkovic believes that an open-plan design offers a true sense of togetherness, not just for guests, but for families as well. Joined, multifunctional living spaces have been known to encourage greater interaction and mingling. The seamless flow between living, dining and kitchen areas offer “better access and movement” for guests and make it easier for parents to supervise children. For smaller blocks, open-plan areas with high ceilings, light colour palettes and natural light give the illusion of more space. However, open-plan designs can have their drawbacks if guests feel they lack privacy. Ugarkovic suggests using buffets, shelving, art dividers and contrasting wall furnishings to clearly define the different zones within your living spaces without closing them off to entertainment areas. Focal points such as fireplaces and walls arches have a similar effect, dictating the layout of your furniture and where your guests will gather around your home.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Secondary to your open-plan living area, an alfresco dining space is crucial for entertaining. As we are blessed with a warmer climate, a barbeque area is a staple of the modern Australian home and keeps the festivities outdoors, often long after the sun goes down. This casual style of dining is appealing for hosts and guests alike; a great option that involves less fuss, provides more seating and utilises a backyard to its full potential. When designing and building your home, it is important to create a seamless transition between your indoor and outdoor living spaces. This can be achieved by incorporating large glass areas in the design of your home, including sliding doors and floor-to-ceiling windows, “minimising [the] step between inside and outside,” Ugarkovic explains. Matching your outdoor tiles with your interior tiles enhances this connection and offers a pleasing, visual aesthetic. Tiled flooring is easy to clean and maintain, but homeowners should steer clear of glossier tiles and seek out a slip-resistant option. Alternatively, timber is a cost-effective choice for sloping sites and creates a warmer feel for the exterior of your home.
LIGHT UP THE ROOM
It may not be at the forefront of your mind when designing your home, but lighting plays a significant role in generating the right atmosphere for entertaining. Ugarkovic suggests homeowners take advantage of natural light by incorporating, “skylights, sliding doors or fixed glass panels, windows to kitchen splashbacks [and] benchtops.” These features will open up your home, giving it a distinctly airy character that will also give the impression of more space.
Special attention should be given to your outdoor lighting to create a warm ambiance. To achieve this inviting aesthetic, Ugarkovic suggests “lighting up outdoor areas and landscaping areas [with] wall lights in walkways, highlighting plants and hedging pathways and using different heights.” Harsh kitchen lighting can be overwhelming for guests, particularly as the night wears on, so Ugarkovic recommends incorporating LED strip lighting into your joinery for a subdued effect.
CLEANING AND UPKEEP
Even homeowners who live for entertaining dread the inevitable clean up, but this burden can be easily managed with the right design features. Stain- and scratch-resistant countertops are a necessity in kitchens and bathrooms to minimise long-term damage caused by heat, spills and scratches. Caesarstone products like granite and quartz are tough, durable materials favoured in many modern home designs. Granite is the more heat-resistant of the two substances, though quartz is non-porous and less likely to stain. Your interior floors are bound to suffer with an influx of guests, so Ugarkovic recommends harder-wearing surfaces including “large format tiles, timber, concrete [or] non-porous options.”
Dishes will inevitably pile up when entertaining, but nobody wants to clutter up their kitchen during a dinner party. In that same vein, hosts don’t want to start the clean up in the middle of the festivities. A butler’s pantry provides the perfect solution; a room that adjoins the kitchen and offers enough privacy to store dishes and any other prepping materials. A butler’s pantry can be equipped with storage cupboards, a dishwasher and sink – the essentials for hassle-free hosting.
Whether you are building from scratch or refurbishing your existing property, incorporating these attributes will help you cultivate a home that you will be proud to open up to others.
