A Home for Gathering: Designing Your Space for Connection and Comfort

By Home by Hattan

From House to Heartfelt Home

Family is at the heart of this home designed by Karen Hattan https://homebyhattan.com

Dated kitchen with dark cabinets and countertops — Kitchen Before - water damage and a desire for better layout kicked this project off! Source: https://www.homebyhattan.com/

Renovated kitchen with gold fixtures and taupe cabinets. — Kitchen After - fresh and new, we expanded the size and created better layout for conversation and cooking. Source: https://www.homebyhattan.com/

For this family, home is about connection—sharing meals, playing games, and creating moments together. But their existing layout didn’t fully support their lifestyle. The kitchen felt too small and dark for daily gatherings, the home office took up too much space, and the overall flow needed improvement to bring people together more naturally.

Our goal? To transform their home into a space that seamlessly blends function and warmth, making it effortless to work, play, and gather.

French country dining room table with six chairs. — We refinished the kitchen table and chairs and included a beloved stained glass window in the family's new design. Source: https://www.homebyhattan.com/

We started by expanding their kitchen, designing a spacious island with seating to make everyday meals and conversations more inviting. We designed appliance garages with slide-out shelves to hold necessary equipment, and we added the large area of open shelving for character and display of family treasures. We gave new life to their existing table and chairs, ensuring family dinners remained a cherished tradition.

Office nook with vintage chandelier. — New home office area with custom cabinets and a beloved family heirloom chandelier. Source: https://www.homebyhattan.com/

To improve the use of space in the home, we moved the home office to an alcove in the upstairs landing, incorporating custom cabinetry and a built-in desk. This freed up the former office, allowing us to create a cozy, conversational gathering space—one that could also convert into an additional work-from-home spot when needed.

Office Before - see the transformation of this room to foster connection below. Source: https://www.homebyhattan.com

The new gathering room in what used to be the home office. The family loves to share conversations and laughter in this comfortable, light-filled room. Source: https:www.homebyhattan.com

Beyond these core updates, we refreshed their family room, mudroom, and a few other spaces, enhancing both beauty and function. The end result? A home that truly works for this family, offering comfort and style while supporting their everyday life.

Dated living room with dark furniture. — Family Room Before. Source: https://www.homebyhattan.com/

Renovated living room with two grey couches and a fireplace. — Family Room After. Source: https://www.homebyhattan.com/

Designing for Life in Motion: What We Learned

Coffee bar with blue and flower tile. — We added a little fun and a lot of organization to this Dining Room-turned-Pantry. Source: https://www.homebyhattan.com/

Every project teaches us something new, and this one was a reminder of how important adaptability and connection is in home design. Modern families need multipurpose spaces—places that effortlessly shift between work, relaxation, and connection. By rethinking traditional layouts, we were able to give this family exactly what they needed: a home that works for their lifestyle, rather than one that forces them to fit into rigid spaces.

We also saw how impactful personal touches can be. We decorated with family photos and beloved pieces, preserving some of the sentimental value of the pieces that our client already had (their family heirloom chandelier, their table, their favorite comfy chair), while making it feel fresh and new. Thoughtful details like this make a house feel like HOME.

Entryway with black table and lamp — Updated white oak staircase and a more welcoming entry for this family! Source: https://www.homebyhattan.com/

Takeaways for a More Connected Home

If you’re looking to create a more functional and inviting home, here are some key takeaways from this project:

Think beyond traditional layouts. Your home office doesn’t have to be a separate room—built-in alcoves or convertible workspaces can be just as effective.
Invest in a kitchen island. If your space allows, an island can serve as a gathering hub, offering extra seating, prep space, and a casual dining spot all in one.
Refresh what you already have. Not everything needs to be replaced! Consider updating key pieces—like refinishing a dining table or reupholstering chairs—to blend sentimentality with fresh design.
Create conversation-friendly spaces. Arrange seating to encourage connection, whether it’s in a dedicated gathering room or through subtle changes like adding cozy chairs near the kitchen.

At Home by Hattan, we believe design should enhance your life, making your home a place that truly supports the way you live.

Let’s design for how you want to live!

Master bathroom with wooden vanity and gold fixtures. — Primary Bathroom gets a fresh new look! Remodel Design by Home by Hattan. Source: https://www.homebyhattan.com/

Bring Your Design Vision to Life with Home by Hattan

Feeling inspired to create a space that highlights both you and your spouses preferred styles? That’s what we do! Contact us today to learn how our services can help you design for how you want to live!

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