Designing for the Way You Live

There's something special about a home filled with friends, good food, and great conversation. For Wilson and I, entertaining has always been a big part of our lives. And when we began looking for our Seattle home, we knew that creating a place where people could gather would be one of our biggest priorities.

In fact, we'd already bought the dining table before we'd even found the house!

Finding a Home That Fits Your Life

When we moved to Seattle in 2019, we were living in a 650SF apartment while searching for our next home. We knew we'd be buying a house within the next 6–12 months, and we had a pretty good idea of how we wanted to live.

One of our first purchases was a 9ft dining table.

Admittedly, it was a little ambitious for a 650SF apartment. But we loved entertaining and envisioned a home where friends could gather around a big table for long dinners, great conversation, and perhaps another bottle of wine.

The challenge, of course, was finding a home that could accommodate it!

When searching for a home, it's easy to get caught up in the numbers. Square footage, bedrooms, bathrooms, lot size. They're important, of course, but they don't necessarily tell you how a home will live.

For us, entertaining was a priority. We wanted open, connected spaces where people could move comfortably between the kitchen, dining, living and outdoor areas. A home where cooking dinner didn't mean disappearing into another room while everyone else enjoyed themselves.

That 9ft dining table became an unexpected part of our home search. We needed a dining space large enough to accommodate it, but equally important was how that space connected to the rest of the home.

It wasn't simply about finding enough room for our furniture. It was about finding a home that supported the way we wanted to spend our time.

Designing Around the Way We Entertain

Once we found our home, we took that philosophy a step further when we remodeled the kitchen.

I've always believed the kitchen is the natural gathering place in a home. No matter how many comfortable seating areas you create, somehow everyone ends up in the kitchen. So rather than fight it, we decided to design around it.

One of the first questions I asked our marble contractor was, "What's the maximum length we can make the island and still have a waterfall edge?"

The answer helped shape what became a 15ft center island.

But its size wasn't simply about making a design statement. We wanted plenty of room for cooking and preparing meals while still providing generous seating for friends to gather, share a drink, and keep us company.

The waterfall edge gave the island a clean, architectural presence, while the seating made it an inviting place to linger.

Today, it's exactly what we'd hoped for. Whether we're hosting a dinner party or having a few friends over for cocktails, everyone naturally gravitates toward the island.

It's a perfect example of how good design can be both beautiful and purposeful.

Thoughtful Design Is Personal

Of course, not everyone needs a 15ft kitchen island or a 9ft dining table. And that's the point.

For some, the ideal home might have a quiet library filled with books and natural light. For others, it's a garden that becomes an extension of the living room, a dedicated art studio, or a flexible space where visiting family can feel at home.

One of the things I love most about midcentury modern and Northwest Contemporary architecture is the consideration given to how people actually live. Open floor plans, thoughtful proportions, connections to the outdoors, and natural light aren't simply aesthetic decisions. They're ways to make everyday living more enjoyable.

And thoughtful design doesn't necessarily require more square footage. Sometimes a smaller, well-designed home lives far better than a larger one with rooms that rarely get used.

That's something I encourage my clients to consider when searching for a home. Beyond the usual checklist of bedrooms, bathrooms, and location, think about how you spend your time. What do you love doing? Where do you naturally gravitate? What would make your everyday life a little more enjoyable?

Sometimes those answers are far more revealing than the numbers on a listing sheet.

Making Room for What Matters

Last Thanksgiving, Wilson and I hosted nearly 20 of our Seattle friends for dinner. We brought together 2 long dining tables, filled the kitchen with food, wine, and plenty of conversation, and somehow managed to get everyone around the table for a photo!

Looking at that photograph now, I'm reminded of why we bought that oversized dining table back in 2019, and why we put so much thought into designing our kitchen around entertaining.

It wasn't really about having a 9ft dining table or a 15ft kitchen island. It was about creating a home where we could bring together the people who matter most to us.

And that's something I often think about when helping clients find their next home. Beyond the square footage, architectural details, and beautiful finishes, what really matters is how a home supports the life you want to live.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I'm particularly grateful for the friendships we've built here in Seattle and for having a home where we can bring everyone together.

After all, the best homes aren't just designed to be admired. They're designed to be lived in.