Bring on the turkey, mashed potatoes and all of the fixins! There’s no meal quite like the Thanksgiving Day meal, so it’s essential to have the most optimal space for cooking, serving and eating. That’s where Drees comes in.
Drees kitchens are the base upon which we build our signature living triangles, an open space that allows the host (and guests!) to see the kitchen, dining room and family room. The Drees living triangle makes everyday living more functional, and it makes gathering for special events like Thanksgiving perfect.
We partnered with Drees homeowner Tara Berger from One Stylish Party to illustrate how to best utilize your Drees kitchen when hosting this year’s Thanksgiving celebration. Tara beautifully styled the kitchen and dining area of our Finley floor plan, available in our Cleveland market.
Islands are no longer a wish list item for the kitchen; they’re a must-have. In fact, some Drees homeowners opt for two kitchen islands. The island makes for a perfect space to set up your Thanksgiving Day spread. It provides ample counter space for the bird, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie.
And in terms of entertaining, setting up a dinner buffet on your island is a win-win for both hosts and guests; guests are able to serve themselves and make the perfect plate, and hosts are able to enjoy themselves and mingle.
“When hosting a fall gathering, I like to do as much food prep ahead of time, that way I can enjoy myself,” Tara shared. “I typically take care of the main dish and a few sides, and set everything up buffet style so guests can serve themselves. This not only keeps me out of the kitchen while entertaining, but it also makes it easy for guests who offer to bring an appetizer or other side dish to add it to the lineup.”
When it comes to decorating your island, Tara recommends using fresh florals and sticking with neutral decor that you can use over the years. She decorated the island of our Finley model home with fresh eucalyptus, seasonal art and white pumpkins.
A gas range (and don’t forget about the stylish range hood) with a long stretch of counter space on either side allows you to go from cooking to serving seamlessly.
Bonus decorating tip: Florals look stunning on the range hood, or you can use this area to hang a Thanksgiving banner or burlap. Some Drees homeowners select a double oven for their kitchen, which allows you to bake the bird and the pie all at once!
Our Finley floor plan, like most Drees homes, offers a large dining room adjacent to the kitchen and family room. The dining area offers plenty of space for a large table, which is vital when hosting large events. You’ll have plenty of room to comfortably seat a crowd.
Tara offered the following tips for creating a gorgeous table setting:
“The key to a well-styled Thanksgiving tablescape is almost always in the layers,” Tara shared. “The first layer is typically a table runner or tablecloth that helps to set the tone for the rest of the design. For each place setting, start with a textured placemat, and then layer on a dinner plate, a salad plate and a linen napkin that pulls together your color scheme.”
“In my opinion, there really is no substitute for fresh florals when designing a tablescape,” Tara shared. “I leaned on a local florist to create my centerpiece with fresh eucalyptus and ivory and mocha roses. However, you can also get creative by picking up a few bundles of fresh florals from your local grocery store and making your own arrangement too.”
“Finding ways to incorporate thoughtful details in your tablescape is a great way to make your guests feel extra special. For my Thanksgiving table, I included caramel apples with handwritten tags as the place card for each guest. In the past, I have also used pears, mini pumpkin bread loaves, personalized cookies and more as my place cards. My advice is to think outside the box to come up with something unique and fun to surprise your guests.”
From Instagram inspiration and Pinterest pins to your final floor plan, Drees makes it easy to bring it all together. We know your home is more than a dwelling; it’s an expression of who you are and what you value. Designing a custom home is a very personal endeavor, and we want to be here to help you every step of the way. To learn more about building your dream home, visit, dreeshomes.com.