There is a sense of belonging when everyone comes home for a family gathering. You have old traditions to be honored, and new traditions to be made. Whether everyone is celebrating the holidays or enjoying a family vacation, there is nothing like the warmth and laughter of being together under one roof.

If you want your luxury custom home to be the place the entire family gathers, plan for flexible spaces that can adapt with you and a location that puts your favorite outdoor activities only steps away.

Here are five tips to consider as you design the perfect custom home for bringing your family together.

Plan for Multi-Generational Celebrations

As your family grows, so will the age differences between the oldest and the youngest. Consider what makes sense for your family now and when you have families within families.

Start with main-level living for the homeowners with an open floor plan great room and kitchen for easy maneuverability and accessibility. The space can still feel intimate year-round, but easily accommodate the influx of family for holiday gatherings.

No modern home design for family is complete without a dedicated space for your visitors. Your guest suites or casita should include a private sleeping space with a common area for individual families to have some privacy. Include a kitchenette with a small fridge and microwave for extra flexibility. They should also have separate entrances so people can come and go without disturbing the rest of the house.

The Elk Hideaway home, nestled in the Coconino Forest, exemplifies open-concept living with a foyer that opens into the great room, and the kitchen and dining area extend to the deck and BBQ patio.

“My favorite aspect of the home,” said UDA’s Jessica Hutchison-Rough of the Elk Hideaway residence, “is the elevated main level, providing a breathtaking view through the pine treetops and creating a sense of floating above the forest. This vantage point offers stunning views of the mountains and golf course below, truly creating a hideaway feeling.”

The guest accommodations are located below the main level, with suites as well as a jacuzzi and golf simulator.

Include Kid-Friendly Details

Whether your kids are school-aged or have kids of their own, include design details that provide the young people in your family autonomy and safety. Make your home feel welcoming by featuring organic, rounded shapes in the architecture and mirrored in the furniture. Not only do undulating walls and soft furniture provide a warm, inviting environment, but it’s also safer for toddlers and energetic five- and six-year-olds.

Include nooks, shelves, and alcoves to keep breakable or valuable artwork out of reach of curious little hands. But do provide storage space for kid-friendly books and toys, which can be housed out of sight when not in use.

In the kitchen, make sure there is kid-appropriate seating at the island so budding chefs can be part of the holiday cooking tradition. Keep a lower section of the pantry stocked so kids have easy access to healthy snacks and drinks.

And of course, provide ample space for your youngest family members to be creative and expend energy. Whether you have a dedicated playroom or lots of space to explore outside, provide safe activities for kids to enjoy their holidays.

Create Spaces for Indoor and Outdoor Fun

But the play areas shouldn’t just be for the under-18 crowd. Equip your game room and outdoor spaces for fun that brings the whole family together.

Stock your game room with options for everyone. Include a table that works for board and card games and has plenty of seating. Nooks and end tables are perfect for puzzles and extended games of chess. Create a stunning focal point with a pool table that doubles as a work of art.

Install a movie-theater quality sound and video system for movie nights, or multiplayer games on your favorite console. You might even include pinball or arcade-style games for a little nostalgia.

Whether your family enjoys pickleball or bocce ball, include your favorite outdoor sports for a friendly tournament leading up to the holiday celebration. Make sure your pool has a shallow end for the kids–which also doubles as a relaxing area to dip your toes in the water from a lounge chair.

The Water Way home, inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s prairie style, has a water feature that starts at the main courtyard, runs through the home, and ends at the outdoor pool, where there is also a bocce ball court.

Choose a Site with Nearby Favorites

Whether your family enjoys comparing handicaps over a Thanksgiving meal or debating the merits of skiing versus snowboarding, choose the lot for your custom luxury home so your favorite outdoor activities are only a golf cart ride or ski lift away.

If golf is the family favorite, a Pine Canyon home in Flagstaff or any of Arizona’s other exquisite golf communities would be a great starting place. Create a landscaped path for the quickest route to the green–and to discourage rouge treks through your yard. If you prefer outdoor activities that involve snow, establish a skiable course to the closest lift.

Because your favorite outdoor activities will be so close, make sure you have a convenient space to store the equipment. Consider a separate garage with a charger for your electric golf cart or space in your mud room to keep winter gear organized and within easy reach.

Expand Your Cooking (and Eating) Spaces

Family gatherings wouldn’t be complete without delicious meals, so make sure you have the space and equipment to feed–and clean up after–your extended family. Expand your counter space with two islands, one with a sink and one for extra storage. The extra storage will keep the small appliances that you need to make quick work of big dinners–such as your air fryer and Instapot–from cluttering your counters. Multiple islands also gives you more space for casual meals in the kitchen.

An open floor plan provides extra flexibility for your dining area. You can extend the table into your great room or even outside onto the patio to accommodate everyone. If you have members of your family who enjoy cooking outside, set aside space on your patio for an outdoor kitchen. Equip it with all the grilling and smoking necessities, and a pizza oven is also a great addition to a menu that pleases everyone.

Design the Perfect Home for Family Gatherings

Whether you are looking for a primary residence to host gatherings or a vacation home for family get-togethers, it all starts with an experienced design team. If you are looking to build in the Phoenix area, reach out to the best Scottsdale architects to help you create a luxury custom home that the whole family wants to come home to.

Designing the Perfect Home for Family Gatherings