Elevating Everyday Life: Designing Homes for Entertaining and Relaxation
At Hardwick General Contracting, we believe a home should be more than just a place to eat, sleep, and store your belongings. We build homes designed for connection, celebration, and leisure – homes tailored for you to create memories with family and friends. When designing our floorplans, we carefully consider how to incorporate features that entertain, relax, and bring joy into everyday life.
Chef’s Kitchens: The Heart of the Home
A superbly equipped kitchen forms the backbone for fabulous get-togethers and effortless everyday meals. Our chef’s kitchens include spacious islands for gathering and top-of-the-line appliances to handle elaborate dishes. Some of our favorite entertaining-friendly features include:
Double Ovens
With two ovens, you can simultaneously prepare different components of a meal. Roast the main course in one oven while baking sides or desserts in the other.
Induction Ranges
Induction cooking appliances offer the perfect combination of features, combining the quick response time of gas with the easy cleanup and eco-friendly benefits of electric stoves. They heat water faster than either gas or electric alternatives and provide added safety, as the burner won’t heat without a pan on it.
Pot Filler Faucets
A pot filler faucet mounted right above the cooktop provides an ingenious convenience. Simply swing the faucet over any burner to swiftly fill large stock pots with water, then swing it back against the wall when not in use.
Walk-In Pantries
Never run out of ingredients mid-recipe with an expansive walk-in pantry connected directly to the kitchen. Ours include custom storage solutions like pull-out shelves, tiered drawers, and corner lazy susans to neatly organize dry goods.
Extra Prep Space
From chopping vegetables to staging cooked dishes, ample countertop prep space smooths workflow. We design L-shaped kitchens to maximize usable surface area. Our standard granite countertops run 4 feet deep so multiple people can work simultaneously without crowding one another.
Media Rooms: Your At-Home Entertainment Hub
Movie premieres, championship games, and video game tournaments – our media rooms provide fully immersive environments to enjoy big events both live and pre-recorded. Integrating screen, sound, and seating into a dedicated space, we create home theaters rivaling what you’d experience in commercial venues.
Oversized Screen
Today’s movies and games come to life in ultra high-definition and widescreen formats. Our media rooms are designed around wall-mounted 75-85 inch screens to showcase modern cinematic special effects in their full glory. Paired with surround sound, it’s like having a private IMAX in your home!
Comfortable Seating
From spacious sectionals to plush recliners with built-in speakers, our seating selections envelop you in cushioned comfort. We arrange the furniture in a staggered pattern focused around optimal viewing angles so everyone enjoys an unobstructed view.
Surround Sound
Crisp, clear audio draws you into the on-screen action. We install 7.1 surround sound systems and wire for up to 9 built-in speakers placed around the room. The multi-channel audio setup makes you feel like you’re right in the middle of the excitement.
Mood Lighting
We install dimmable LED lighting on multiple circuits so you can set the perfect ambiance for daytime sports viewing, after-dinner films, or late night gaming sessions. Backlit shelves, accent walls, and even glowing floor strips are options for taking the atmosphere to the next level.
Wine Cellars: Showcase Your Collections
Wine collectors rejoice – a custom wine cellar preserves and displays your best bottles in style. Humidity control, specialized racking, and artful lighting keep both reds and whites at peak drinkability while creating an elegant entertaining area. Our cellars range from walk-in closets to full-scale tasting rooms.
Individual Storage
Group similar wines together in designated bins, with reds and whites separated to maintain optimal temperature and humidity levels. Bins keep the labels visible so you can inventory your collection at a glance.
Display Case
In the tasting area, glass-enclosed refrigerated cases highlight special occasion wines and recently acquired bottles. Display your prized possessions like works of art!
Tasting Table
A large granite-topped bar with sink provides plenty of space to open bottles as well as store accessories like corkscrews, decanters, and glassware. High stools invite guests to take a seat while you showcase new pours.
Backyard Oases: Al Fresco Entertaining
When the weather’s nice, the backyard becomes bonus living space. Our homes situate the rear of the house to capture natural light and frame scenic views. Patios, pools, and outdoor kitchens provide everything needed to host guests in an open-air setting.
Pavilions
A covered pavilion anchored by a stone fireplace defines a comfortable gathering area shaded from the midday sun. Serve appetizers around the firepit or dine al fresco at the adjoining patio tables.
Outdoor Kitchens
Cook, mix drinks, and clean up without going back inside with a fully-equipped outdoor kitchen. Stainless steel components withstand sun, rain, and humidity while sparkling lights and granite countertops add polish.
Negative Edge Pools
Water blends seamlessly into the surrounding landscape with our negative edge pool designs featuring sheer descending walls and concealed gutters. The peaceful sight and sound of cascading water enhances the atmosphere.
Designing for Everyday Leisure
Entertaining possibilities aside, a home should also simply feel enjoyable to spend time in day-to-day. When drafting floorplans, we consider how to make spaces that promote relaxation and rejuvenation during ordinary routines.
Spa Bathrooms
Few things feel more restorative than a long, hot bath or shower. We conceive bathrooms as private sanctuaries outfitted for self-care rituals with these pampering touches:
Soaking Tubs
Lower your stress levels soaking in an oversized tub while surrounded by calming nature views through expansive windows. For a truly decadent experience, we install models with massaging water jets.
Steam Showers
Steam showers infuse bathrooms with the atmosphere of a sauna. Inhale moist air to ease breathing and let the gentle heat relax muscles. Select from a variety of settings to customize the steam temperature, lighting, and music.
Heated Floors
Warm underfoot flooring heightens the comfort of bathrooms. We install electric radiant floor heating under tiles to take the chill out of natural stone surfaces.
Private Retreats
Tucked away corners for reading, listening to music, or simply gazing out the window give family members personal space to decompress.
Window Seats
Bay windows with cushions and pillows create cozy seats flooded with natural light. Nestle in with a cup of tea and a good book to rest your mind.
Reading Nooks
A comfy chair next to built-in bookshelves makes a perfect reading hideaway. Add a swing-arm sconce for illumination that directs light precisely where needed.
Home Offices
With work and school activities often based from home now, a dedicated office provides an ergonomic and aesthetically pleasing workspace. Desks are situated to capture inspiring views while rooms are wired for fast internet and device charging.
Hardwick General Contracting: Realizing Dreams
We don’t just construct houses – we build homes personalized for how you want to live. Our team helps translate your vision into reality, from preliminary sketches to turning over the keys once construction completes. We handle all permitting and subcontracting so you can enjoy a streamlined process with a single point of contact.
Quality Craftsmanship
With over 20 years of building experience across central Florida, we deliver homes constructed to last using proven techniques and premium materials. You can enjoy the results for years to come. Let us elevate your everyday living by planning your next custom dream home! Reach out today to schedule a consultation.