Entertaining ideas that transform your home into a "party pad" blend both conviviality and construction. Whether you're watching the game with a big group or winding down with an intimate gathering, a home's design should accommodate eclectic entertaining, says Giles Sutton, senior vice president of industry engagement with Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA), based in Indianapolis.

"People can entertain in a wide variety of spaces, as long as they are flexible and adaptable, not only in the physical space of the home, but also in the attributes of those hosting the party," Sutton said. "An open floor plan in a home is most conducive to entertaining: No one wants to be walled off during a gathering."

A progressively positive party generally has three physical places for gathering in a home: the kitchen, the media/great room and the outdoors. Ideally, these spaces flow into each other and are layered with mood lighting and the sights and/or sounds of a televised event or music. A homeowner can aspire to build a top-of-the-line "smart" home -- one in which lighting, entertainment systems/ television and stereo, heating/cooling, security alarms and/or cameras are automated and can be controlled by keypad in the house or remotely through the use of cellphones or internet-based devices.

But no matter how elaborate a home becomes with automation, Sutton says a wireless way of life isn't without its drawbacks. "With the explosion of connected devices, Wi-Fi in a home can be a blessing and a curse," he said. "No one wants to be streaming music or a movie, only to experience a disruption in service and the dreaded buffering."

While fewer wires may be needed as electronic components become more compatible with wireless equipment and controllers, the network for wireless systems still has to be hardwired into a home. "It's important to involve a certified integrator to make a technology plan before walls start going up," Sutton said. "Hardwiring a home is still the most reliable way to implement an electronic system, and with a range of technology that uses bandwidth -- from the doorbell to the home theater -- you add a group of partygoers with their own devices and your Wi-Fi can really be put through its paces."

Bring the Heat and Chill Out

A party begins and ends in the kitchen near the food and drink, says Ryan Herd, a consultant to the National Kitchen and Bath Association and entrepreneur in the audio-video industry for nearly 30 years, specializing in smart-home automation, based in Pompton Plains, New Jersey.

"No matter how evolved humans have become with technology, we still like to gather around the food," Herd said. "Today's kitchen isn't only the heart of the home, it's also a tech hub."

While many homes have charging stations for their cellphones and smart devices in the kitchen, more homeowners are borrowing design details from commercial kitchens. From creating a well-run workflow in the kitchen to the use of commercial-grade appliances in homes, culinary upgrades -- such as refrigerators -- are Wi-Fi ready, with internal cameras and door-ajar alarms that can be linked to a mobile device. The use of new technology in an induction cooktop heats liquids faster and is also a more efficient way to control the temperature. Under-the-counter refrigerator drawers are also an organized way to store bottled beverages and allow people to serve themselves.

The Great Room's Lounge Act

While the kitchen remains the heart of the home, an adjoining great room extends its heartbeat of food and fun. Outfitted with sofa, stuffed chairs and television, this place to lounge is a cozy space directly connected to the kitchen, where people can simultaneously be comfortable and keep company with the cook.

Furnished as a kitchen's living area, this great room space can also house a bar or fireplace so families can chill out and "lounge" around in a comfortable atmosphere. A home's dining area is simple by nature, but the space has evolved as the kitchen-dining layout has become more open by design.

"Entertaining isn't a one-size-fits-all proposition," Sutton said. "Whether you're having a sit-down dinner or a more casual gathering, it's about using the space to its full advantage, which can also include outdoor spaces."

The Great Outdoors

The great outdoors is the next frontier for entertaining. Sutton says to extend the party outside, one needs to look to nature for design inspiration. "Lighting and music can extend into the landscape outside," he said. "Even in the 21st century, humans have a primal need to gather in nature, whether it's in the garden, by the fire or poolside."

Keep the great room's windows bare or use light and airy window treatments so outdoor views are unobstructed. Motorized or easily movable floor-to-ceiling glass walls can replace windows to provide easy access to an outside deck, patio or porch. For many who entertain, "eating out" might simply mean walking into the backyard outdoor kitchen, which can also house an entertainment center.

But while technology informs the way people relate to each other in the 21st century, a great party is still about the human touch, Sutton says. "The use of technology in a home's entertainment center, lighting, music and cooking setup is no substitute for great human interaction," he said.

Party People

To find a certified kitchen professional, go to the National Kitchen and Bath Association's website, www.nkba.org, and click the "Find a Professional" box at the bottom of the page.

Consult a local Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association professional to help install automation or smart-home technologies at

www.cedia.org; click on "Find a CEDIA Professional."

The "Smart (Technology) Guy" Ryan Herd: RyanHerd.com

A home office really works when it's designed to be both productive and pleasing. With more workers telecommuting in this digital age, home offices are workspaces that can also incorporate elements from a house's overall design, says Erin Hardy, California Closets' National Manager of Design, based in Boston.

"There is an art to working and living under the same roof," she says. "The key is to create a space that literally works for you."

In fact, more than 26 million employed persons do some work at home as part of their primary job, according to the 2018 United States Department of Labor's American Time Use Survey. Today's home offices are not only functional, they can also be fashionable, ranging from contemporary clean-lined furniture to an organized workspace in a multiuse room.

Having an in-home office cuts one's commute and affords persons the flexibility to work early or late on a project by simply walking down a hallway. But Hardy says striking a work-life balance is imperative when a home office is accessible all hours of the day.

"Every home office is highly personal, based on the layout of your living space, and how one likes to work," she says. "It's important to customize it into a space you love, but one you can also leave."

Get down to business

When selecting the space for your home office, it's important to try to keep its location separate from highly personal areas that have nothing to do with work, such as the bedroom.

"Most people find their home office is a room in their house in which they can close the door to free themselves from distractions and be able to get down to work," Hardy says. "What the room looks like depends on the space available and your personal style."

Hardy says for most people wanting a more traditional office experience at home, California Closets transforms and customizes an unused bedroom or space dedicated in a house to a library. "But, more often, a person's home office is a multifunctional space, which can also serve as a guest bedroom or a family's technology room with a printer," she says. "Because laptops don't need to be tethered to a wall and files are shared digitally, there's less need for cabinetry to accommodate papers and large computers."

Manufacturers add technology-driven functionality to home office furniture that can accommodate built-in power strips with charger cable hookups for computers and digital devices, electrical outlets and a Wi-Fi booster. These features are often hidden inside a cabinet to keep cords and cables organized, so the workspace remains uncluttered.

California Closets can customize a small office space starting around $1,200, Hardy says. "You want the space to be visually clean so you can jump right into work," she says. "No one wants to climb under the desk to deal with a tangled mess of cords. That's a productivity killer."

Work in progress

The centerpiece of any home office is its work surface or desk. The style of your home office furniture should take a cue from other furnishings found in the home. Manufacturers such as California Closets offer work surfaces that are modular, with the capability to add drawers, bookshelves and cubbies as needed.

While many manufacturers offer furniture options that reflect a modern minimalistic movement, Hardy says a table can also serve as a workspace. Investing in a sit-to-stand height-adjustable desk means that selecting a comfortable, functional chair is a decision best made when sitting down in the home office. Whether one chooses to sit in a traditional ergonomic chair or balance on a large exercise ball behind their home office desk, make sure the chair works in the space, with plenty of clearance on all sides.

A bright spot

Making light work by creating a multilayered lighting plan is something best done before constructing a home office. To illuminate the work you do in a home office, consider using a combination of light sources:

-- General -- This type of lighting addresses overall illumination, with the goal to enhance natural and overhead light fixtures so people feel comfortable and look good in the space -- especially when it comes to teleconference calls.

-- Task -- Lamps are relatively inexpensive, personalized accents that can be as stylish as they are useful when shedding light on the work surface.

-- Accent -- Indirect LED lighting installed in display shelving can serve as a cool design feature and make it easier to retrieve documents.

Enliven the space

What one hangs on home office walls can be highly personal -- such as awards and degrees -- but items or artwork shouldn't distract from the business at hand. For the ultimate enlivened accessory, decorate a space with live plants, such as an orchid, low-maintenance succulents or cut flowers.

If your home office is a multipurpose room -- such as a family technology center or guest bedroom -- organize the space with less personal items that refer to your work. A bedroom/home office can feature a fold-down bed, which is hinged at one end to store vertically against the wall inside framed cabinetry. Multiple workstations in a single room can be a place for the family to do their "homework" together.

Works like a charm

Hardy says the goal of a home office is to help people lead a more integrated life between personal responsibilities and work. "It's important to customize your home office into a space you love," she says. "A home office doesn't need to be fancy; it can be simple and functional, while still getting the job done."

Work It

For more information:

-- Go to CaliforniaClosets.com, or call 1-888-336-9707, and request a free consultation.

For more homeowners, being in the doghouse is a good thing, especially when it comes to design centered on their four-legged family members.

According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA) National Pet Owners' Survey from 2018, an estimated 84.9-million United States households own a pet. The research found that Americans spent more than $72 billion on their pets, and that spending has steadily increased every year over the past two decades, says Tierra Bonaldi, Pet Lifestyle Expert with APPA, based in Stamford, Connecticut.

"Owners no longer consider their pet just an animal, but rather, equate them to another family member," Bonaldi says. "Because we view our pets in more human terms, our demand for higher quality and design has grown to be more in line with our preferences for products for the rest of the family."

Homes can have that (bow) wow factor with doggie decor and feline furnishings, which mirror our human preferences. "Home decor manufacturers are making products for pets that are not only functional and convenient for owners, but also something pet owners actually want to display in their homes," Bonaldi says. "With millennials now taking over as the primary pet-owning demographic, there is a demand for pet furniture that takes up minimal space, stores easily or seamlessly fits into their living space."

According to APPA, many builders are investing in special architectural accommodations for the four-legged inhabitants of homes. "Builders recognize that more than two-thirds of the population owns pets, and accommodating their needs as pet owners only makes for a more desirable home," Bonaldi says.

Evidence that home construction has gone to the dogs -- in a good way -- includes:

-- Washing and grooming stations in a mudroom, custom cabinetry with built-in food and water bowls, doggie doors and specialized low windows so pets can see outdoors.

-- Simple pet-friendly built-in options such as wall hooks for leashes and collars by the door; bins for pet food and toy storage; or a fold-down pet bed that is hinged at one end to store vertically against the wall when not in use.

-- Flooring and home furniture manufacturers offer pet-friendly options that essentially protect from everyday wear and tear of pets, including stylish stain-proof fabrics, while using materials that are durable, easy-to-clean and made to withstand claws and paws.

But to understand what pets truly need, form and function must also work from the four-legged perspective, says Abbey Stark, senior interior design leader at Ikea-US. A Swedish-founded company, Ikea designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture and home accessories, and is one of the most accessible contemporary home-goods retailers in the world.

"We brought in pet-loving designers and trained veterinarians to help develop Ikea's cat and dog home collection," Stark says. "The LURVIG line was created with our pets' natural needs and behavior as starting points."

With products that include a cozy cat hidey-hole, which fits into a bookcase, and snug dog beds with easy-to-clean cushions, a pet's essentials can be integrated into a minimalistic home design. "Having dedicated spaces for food storage, toys, and a place for your pet to enjoy a good night's sleep are all important for the happiness of your pet and the organization of your home," Stark says.

APPA says pet products that serve a dual function are most popular, including a dog bed and nightstand in one, or a litter box and end table combination. "We also noticed many manufacturers offering white and gray furniture, with more modern designs, again, mirroring the decor trends we're seeing on the human side," Bonaldi says.

Pet owners and homeowners can stylishly coexist by creating Zenlike zones for animals inside a house. "Nooks can create a cozy sleeping area for your pet, store a litter box or a food station," Stark says. "Selecting blankets and cushions that match the decor of your home is one easy way to provide a cozy place for your pet, while protecting furniture and not compromising the design of your home."

Homeowners don't have to undergo a house remodel to enjoy the perks of having a pet. Items in Ikea's LURVIG line range from $5 to $50, but you can also borrow inspiration from existing items in your home to attain pet purr-fection.

Living with pets as companions can fill a need for connection in this busy tech-filled world, Stark says. "Pets have become part of our daily lives," she says. "Pets give us unconditional love, and for that, we want to provide them with a home that is cozy, filled with happiness and a lot of treats."

Creature Comforts

For more information:

-- American Pet Products Association, www.americanpetproducts.org

-- Ikea-US, https://www.ikea.com/us/en/, Search LURVIG