'A little bit of showmanship': the trend that has put grand entertainers in hot demand

The approaching festive season and summer break are prime time for getting together with family and friends. And high-end agents are reporting that Australians are opting to entertain more at home, and prioritising great spaces for doing that in their chosen property.

“Every conversation I have at the moment is about entertaining at home,” says agent Michael Coombs of Sydney’s LJ Hooker Avnu-Lower North Shore, who’s currently selling a house on Moran Street in Sydney’s Mosman with no fewer than three outdoor entertaining areas.

“Everyone wants to entertain at home and have quality time with family and friends in a relaxed environment, especially as we approach Christmas time,” says Coombs, who will take the residence to auction on December 7 with a $7.5 million price guide.

It’s the same story around the country.

“I think when you entertain at home, there’s definitely a feeling of safety and security,” says Nicole Gleeson of Kay & Burton South Yarra. “And if you have a beautiful home, why not use it for that? Entertaining at home, and wanting to make the most of those areas, especially when they’re integrated with outdoor spaces, is on a bit of a high at the moment.”

The research backs them up. Social trends demographer Mark McCrindle found that Generation Y is leading the way back into home entertaining with 31 per cent increasing the frequency with which they entertain at home, 54 per cent cooking meals for guests and 46 per cent cooking for a social dinner party.

In addition, the sale of print cookbooks rose 21 per cent last year compared with 2017, according to NPD Bookscan data. Cookbook author Sophie Hansen says we’ve now recovered from a period of not entertaining at home when we were intimidated by cooking shows preparing elaborate dishes.

People are looking for kitchens that have plenty of room for guests to stand around, or perch on stools, to drink and chat to the host while they’re cooking, says Poliform Australia NSW state manager Meredith Ong.

“Kitchens are very sociable places nowadays, and people like to feel almost as if they’re in an external bar, or standing around a barbecue.

“Also, home owners who like to entertain want a kitchen with grunt and space for lots of appliances and to put down big platters.

“If there’s room for a scullery or butler’s pantry, they’ll have a second stove, wine fridge and dishwasher in there as a secondary cooking area, especially if they have hired help, and keep the Sub-Zero fridge for the main kitchen.”

Most prestige properties now have large dining areas or outdoor settings on terraces, decks or by pools as almost obligatory features, but award-winning architect Steve Koolloos of MCK Architects says the trend is to go further still.

“People now want to entertain more and they love the idea of friends coming over,” he says. “They’ve shifted to the outside to do it too.

“I think sometimes there’s a little bit of showmanship there too, when people might want an outdoor kitchen with a pizza oven and a firepit and wonderful things that 20 years ago no one would have ever thought of having in the backyard.

“They’re now all great contributions to outdoor living.

Three entertainers on the market

Toorak

This four-bedroom, four-bathroom 1930s family home has been extensively renovated to include lots of living and entertaining areas, including outdoor dining by the lawns and saltwater pool. 

It also has a media room and two home offices, along with the large formal living room, an informal sitting room and a dining space and rear family room. 

Upstairs, two of the bedrooms have private ensuites. The house is for sale via expressions of interest with a price guide of $7.9 million to $8.3 million through Nicole Gleeson of Kay & Burton South Yarra.

New Farm

There’s a complete undercover outdoor living area with BBQ in this five-bedroom, five-bathroom home, designed by award-winning Tim Stewart Architects with a brief of lifestyle and entertaining.

It also has separate dining, a heated pool, and clean lines throughout, while the use of Blackbutt timber brings a nice warmth.

It’s for sale by expressions of interest closing November 29 through agent Matt Lancashire of Ray White New Farm, with a guide of high $3 millions to early $4 millions.

Sovereign Islands

Entertaining with large open-plan living beside the canal enjoying the breeze is one of the lures of this five-bedroom, four-bathroom property, with a pool, BBQ and bar fridge.

On three levels, four of the bedrooms have their own ensuites, and the master bedroom has a balcony with waterfront views. There’s also a 10-car carpark with room for a gym or man – or women – cave.

It’s for sale for $3.25 million through agent Ivy Wu of Prestige Property Agents.