Hospitality at Home: Entertaining-Forward Floor Plans
There is a particular kind of joy that comes from opening your home. The laughter that drifts down a hallway, the clink of glasses as friends reunite, the scent of simmering food in the kitchen. These are the moments that linger, and they deserve a home designed to hold them with ease.
For me, entertaining-forward design is not just about putting interiors on display. It is about something more subtle and more enduring: creating flow, comfort, and a sense of ease. When those elements are built into the floor plan, your home is more than beautiful. It’s an oasis where memories unfold naturally.
Why the Floor Plan Comes First
Over the past decade, working with families from Laguna to Beverly Hills, I have learned that the most successful homes do not begin with fabrics or finishes. They begin with the plan.
No matter how elegant a design detail may be, if the layout works against you, hosting feels like a chore instead of a pleasure. But when the plan puts people first:
- Guests feel relaxed and welcome.
- Hosts move gracefully, without strain.
- The atmosphere lingers long after the evening is over.
That is the quiet power of a well-considered floor plan.
A Los Angeles Home Designed for Connection
One of my favorite recent projects sits in the foothills outside Los Angeles. The house was built in the 1990s with a series of closed off spaces. Its Tuscan bones were elegant and beautiful but it’s layout was disconnected and difficult for the young, social family who lived there.
We reimagined it to serve the way they truly wanted to live:
- Kitchen as the Heart: We opened it to the great room, added a quartz-topped oak island, and suddenly the space became the center of gatherings.
- Guest-Centric Living: By softening circulation paths and reshaping seating, the great room now feels equally suited to a lively crowd or an intimate evening.
- Indoor-Outdoor Ease: Expansive doors now dissolve the boundary between inside and out, a hallmark of California living whether in Pacific Palisades, Bel Air, or Malibu.
The palette, layered in soft coastal tones with touches of brass, honors the home’s Mediterranean history while inviting in a lighter, more relaxed mood.
The Small Details That Make It Work
The real art of entertaining lies in details no one sees at first:
- A discreet butler’s pantry that keeps prep out of sight.
- Flexible seating that can grow with the crowd.
- Durable finishes that protect the host’s peace of mind.
Then there are the personal touches, a bold wallpaper, a treasured heirloom, or a piece of art that sparks conversation. These details turn a house into a story, encouraging your guests to discover the narratives behind each piece and share in the journey.
An Invitation
A floor plan may look like lines on paper, but when created with intention, it is the quiet stage for your family’s most cherished moments. If you are in Los Angeles or nearby, and want a home that makes entertaining feel natural and joyful, I would love to connect. Start here with my Project Inquiry Form.
With the right plan, hosting becomes second nature. I love helping our clients cultivate that feeling in their homes. I’d be honored to do the same for you.
Courtney Thomas, ASID
Principal & Lead Designer
My job is to make spaces functional in their layout, comfortable in their use, inspirational in their style and luxurious in their appointment. In that order. For that one moment after installation, the pictures are perfect.
