Month: November 2019

Tips for Hosting Thanksgiving in Your New Home

Before long, family and friends will gather to share laughs, recount stories, and of course, indulge in Thanksgiving fare. With an abundance of room to relax, a new Frank Betz Associates home is the perfect space to host the big meal. Can you smell those festive flavors floating through your gourmet kitchen yet? 

 

If this is your first time hosting Thanksgiving in your beautiful new home, all you need is a little preparation and you’re on your way to your best holiday yet. Take a look at our recipe for a smooth, easy dinner party:

 

Plan Out the Meal

 

We all know that organization is key, so a concrete plan will help you visualize your evening. Grab your computer or a notebook and make notes about the following: 

 

  1. How many people will you be serving?
  2. Are there any dietary restrictions? 
  3. Which recipes can you make ahead? 
  4. Which recipes should be prepared the day of? 
  5. Which dishes will family members or friends prepare?
  6. Is there something new you particularly want to serve?

 

Pro Tip: If you’re a first-timer, start off slow (especially if you’re not a veteran chef). Enlist your family and friends to help out with cooking and choose easy-to-follow recipes. By the way, there’s nothing wrong with buying components of your dinner from a restaurant or market. If this is the best option for you, you can always bake a simple dessert or put together a cheese board appetizer. 

 

Getting a clear idea of what you want your meal to be like helps to alleviate stress. After all, Thanksgiving is about family, graciousness, and relaxing, so take the time to enjoy it!

 

Freshen Up Your Home

 

From seasonal table settings and a beautiful, festive centerpiece, to flowers and hors d’oeuvres in your spacious living room before the meal, there are so many ways to get creative. Freshen up your open interior by dusting, vacuuming, polishing silverware, fluffing cushions and pillows, and wiping down tables.

 

Most importantly, you don’t have to bend over backwards to fill your abundant space with festive flair. In fact, little touches (like painted pumpkins on your front step or entryway table) sometimes make the biggest impact. Scented candles are a timeless go-to — whether you opt for aromas like pumpkin chai or cedarwood and mahogany, this simple addition spreads happiness throughout your entire home.

 

Prepare For Post-Dinner

Of course, your focus will be on the fun of the big meal, but a few simple touches here and there will ensure that post-dinner will be just as easy and enjoyable as the dinner itself. Empty the dishwasher and trash bins to prepare for cleanup, and line your trash bins with more than one bag so that you have a fresh one ready to go when the first becomes full. Finally, stow any fragile items that children might get to.


Start the Party in a New Home


Last but not least, give your guests something to smile about as soon as they walk in with a festive drink. Whether you love warm, cider-based drinks, something fruity and fizzy, or classic wine with a kick, there’s a holiday cocktail out there to start the fun.

This Cranberry Champagne Cocktail is easy to make, fun to sip, and absolutely beautiful. All you need is cranberry juice, lime wedges, frozen cranberries, and Champagne or sparkling wine. Chill the flutes, add a squeeze of lime and cranberry juice, fill the flutes with your desired amount of alcohol, and finish off with 3-4 cranberries. Prepare these drinks ahead of time so everyone receives a “party favor” when they walk in.

From all of us at Frank Betz Associates, happy early Thanksgiving!

Trend Spotlight: Laundry Access From Master Bathroom

Have you ever browsed a house plan that seemed contemporary and stylish… but not quite the right fit for you? At Frank Betz Associates, we don’t just hold our new home design plans to the highest standards of construction and design — we hold our knowledge of what you want to the highest standards as well. 

 

No matter how small, a desirable home trend can make all the difference in the look and feel of a living space. This week, we want to highlight a home feature that we’re proud to incorporate into our plans: laundry access from the master bathroom. Take a look at how this unique shift in design enhances the way you live every day:

 

 

 

In a house plan like Lavista Park, you and your partner don’t have to lug laundry up the stairs to get it done. With a laundry room conveniently placed off of your gorgeous master bathroom, you can simply throw your clothes into the wash in the morning after getting ready or in the evenings while unwinding. Imagine: after soaking in that luxurious tub, you would only have to walk a few steps to get your laundry… not up the stairs.

 

 

 

Having your laundry close to your bedroom, as opposed to on a separate floor or near the kitchen, makes a lot of sense. Easy access means less hassle — and who wouldn’t want to take the hassle out of doing laundry? After a load is finished, all you have to do is fold is up and take it right into your bedroom. And if you’re not a fan of laundry baskets, no problem; taking “trips” to and from your laundry room is as easy as can be.

 

 

 

If you have a growing family or are planning to start one, laundry days become more frequent than ever before. With your laundry room an entire floor away from your children’s rooms upstairs, you never have to worry about a late-night load of laundry waking anyone up. Especially when you have a newborn, you’ll want as much sleep as possible, which means keeping them far from your washer and dryer will work wonders for everyone.

At Frank Betz Associates, we pride ourselves on creating house plans that live the way that you do. If you’re ready to move into a home that caters to your modern design preferences and personal needs, we’re right behind you. For more information about our house plans, please call 888-717-3003. We can’t wait to meet you!