Entertaining Must-Haves

Your home is your haven - a sanctuary from the outside world. Designing the place where you can kick off your shoes, exhale, and relax at the end of the day is our passion. However, there's another function of the home we may like planning for just as much: entertaining guests!

Creating spaces to host with hospitality is a design goal for many of our clients. From cozy media rooms to classy bars to elegant dining rooms to open kitchens perfectly suited for weekend brunch - we've built it all. Scroll further to catch a glimpse of some of our favorite entertaining-ready homes.

Home Happy Hour
Why grab Friday night drinks at a loud and crowded bar when you could mingle with friends over a cocktail in this stunning living room?

Kid-Friendly Hideout
Every home needs a place where the kiddos can run free while the adults enjoy some quiet conversation - this playful lower level is just the spot!

Weekend Brunch Spot
Whether you prefer pancakes with the family or quiche and mimosas with friends, a bright, open kitchen is ideal for leisurely Saturday plans.

Movie Night with Style
This lower level media room and bar/buffet are all set for major movie marathons, cozy parties, epic game nights, or Friday evening sleepovers!

Elegant Dinner Parties
What's a home without a sophisticated (or casual - your choice!) dining room for hosting lovely dinner parties or festive holiday meals?

Comfy Master Bedrooms

Today on the blog we're about all things restful, soft, and welcoming - this is our ode to comfy master bedrooms. Historically, bedroom trends haven't always centered around comfort. Look no further than those formal 50's era single beds or the bizarre waterbed craze of 70's and 80's.

Current master bedroom style focuses much more on creating a balance of sophistication and serenity. Our clients want a peaceful getaway, a private haven that recharges them after a busy day. This call for relaxing spaces often means simple is best. Colors, textures, finishes, and architectural elements all filter through this lens of comfort.

The centerpiece of these blissful bedrooms is a big, beautiful bed. From there, plenty of bright natural daylight and a cozy nighttime reading nook are both necessities. After that, it's all about personal taste. Maybe you need an extra lounging area for lazy mornings or an elegant decked-out vanity for weekend primping.

If you're dreaming about giving your master bedroom a fresh look, look no further than our clients' stunning spaces. Each of these lovely bedrooms below is sure to provide ample design inspiration!

Real Home Feature: Modern Cottage

We recently shared a bird's eye view of our newest Pamela Park model home, but we couldn't resist sharing a closer look at the stunning interior! Natural light and park side views abound in this spacious five-bedroom, five-bathroom home.

A beautiful combination of modern trends and cottage-style architecture echo throughout the home. The design highlight of the main level has to be the bright gourmet kitchen. Between the furniture-style center island with inset cabinets, latch-style hardware, 48-inch range, and oversized 60" fridge, any experienced home chef would happily call it home!

The main floor also includes space for a study, den, or family room, a shiplap covered mudroom adjacent to a convenient grilling deck, and a charming patio for hosting family and friends. Without a doubt, the star of the upstairs is the serene master suite with its Juliet balcony overlooking Edina's sprawling 64 acre Pamela Park.

Explore more design details of this warm family home below. And check out our previous blog to see more of the neighborhood's fantastic location!

Center of the Holidays: Dining Room Styles

It's the time of year for warm gatherings, holiday cheer, delicious meals, and making memories with family and friends. At the center of all this joyful merrymaking is the dining room. No matter what different traditions each family celebrates with, almost all of them culminate in sitting down together for a beautiful dinner.

While dining room styles have evolved a lot throughout each era, they will always be a mainstay of most floorplans. It doesn't matter if you prefer a traditional and formal space or an open and relaxed atmosphere; we all need a place to eat each day.

The diversity of lifestyles and preferences that we see among our clients is one of the fascinating parts of what we do. We've created elegant classic dining rooms, kid-friendly eat-in kitchens, and everything in-between! The bottom line is, much like there's no right or wrong way to celebrate the holidays, there's no one ideal dining room design. It's all about what works for you

.In honor of the holiday season, we've pulled together a bunch of our favorite spaces for celebrating. Take a look, and comment below on your most beloved festive foods and family traditions!