Unlocking Hospitality
Imagine your home full of unmasked friends and conversation—doesn’t that seem utterly exotic?!
A neighbor over for coffee in your kitchen. An actual in-person committee meeting at your dining room table. A non-virtual book club in your living room. Or even a spontaneous game night downstairs!
Are you looking forward to the possibilities as much as I am!? Or do these images bring forth feelings of dread and unpreparedness? Perhaps not unlike facing the reality of exchanging those sweatpants for real work clothes.
Especially now, as we imagine a post-covid normalcy, it’s important to invite people into our homes. The convenience of virtual meetings simply can’t replace the necessity of getting together and sharing a common space. Coffee shops, bars and restaurants are wonderful; but practicing hospitality in our own homes forges connections in a very different way. It’s simply one of the most authentic ways to reconnect.
Hospitality, just like yoga, is a really good practice — even if it’s a little disarming. It doesn’t have to be an elaborate dinner with fine china. Remember, under pandemic restrictions we figured out that even lawn chairs around a camp fire — 6ft apart — made for a wonderful welcome. Let’s not lose sight of that!
What often stops us from inviting others into our home is the idea that we’re too busy, or perhaps we think our house isn’t perfect, or our lives are too cluttered. Trust me, I’ve been there, and I don’t judge.
I’m here to let you know that strategic interior design can make hosting a breeze!
No dining room? No problem! A young executive client didn’t have space for a real dining room, but still wanted a table to host the occasional dinner. A cocktail table in the living room that transformed into a table for six did the trick. Design can often provide a wonderful sleight of hand.
Downsizing? —doesn’t mean you have to downsize on hospitality. After downsizing, one couple still dreamed of hosting holiday gatherings with their large family and have friends over for sit down dinners. A smart kitchen renovation opened their home up to more cooks and conversation. The right dining table, one that could expand to seat 14, and easy-to-move living room furniture made the transformation of their space possible.
Incorporating the functional needs of hospitality into the design of a home reaps huge rewards. Hospitality builds our connections with one another at the ground level. It has the power to delight and to heal us. It’s just too important to be an afterthought of design.
Designing your home in a way that facilitates gatherings doesn’t have to be intimidating. It simply takes a bit of Artistry. Re-open your doors and fill your home with laughter once again. Schedule your Artistry Discovery Call today!