The holidays may be the perfect time to gather valuable information for your next remodeling project. As you host parties, family gatherings and overnight guests, you can take note of potential areas for home improvement projects:

• Does your home provide the atmosphere to make your guests feel welcome and comfortable?
• Do your guests use a bathroom that looks sadly worn and dated?
• Does your kitchen layout allow you to enjoy your guests while preparing and serving food?
• Would a more open floor plan improve traffic flow?
• What changes could allow you to enjoy next year’s holidays more?

For many homeowners, a good step toward creating a home they and their guests can enjoy together is to open up some walls. According to C&R Kitchen Designer, Beth Rhoades,  “A more spacious room can accommodate more people and improve  funtionality”.  And creating a larger room does not mean you’ll end up with one big amorphous space. The key is to plan for designated work zones and for relaxing or socializing areas. The conjoined but separate spaces can pleasantly coexist, allowing those working in the kitchen to feel a connection with the other activities in the room.

There can also be transitional spaces, such as eating bars or islands, where guests can participate in prep tasks or  just sit and kibbitz with the cook. It is a win-win situation because the cook can be working at the island while enjoying a face-to-face conversation with guests instead of being confined to the perimeter countertops, facing the walls.

Kitchen islands can also serve as  a signature design piece.  No longer do islands and eating bars need to match the rest of the kitchen cabinetry. Many designs now call for an island in a more exotic wood or finish and a countertop complementary but different from the other countertops in the kitchen. C&R Designer Beth Rhoades says, “A stand-out piece like a contrasting island can add a great deal of interest and excitement to a kitchen.”

Exactly what your next holiday party might need.