It’s the most wonderful time of the year—delicious recipes, cozy and inviting spaces, and heart-warming visits from friends and family. If you’re looking for fresh home entertaining ideas to get into the holiday spirit, here are some of my favorite ways to celebrate that will sweep you and your guests away.

Designed by Lisa Mende and Gwyn Duggan

A Pop of Personalization
From luxury appliances to kitchen design, personalization is a top trend that is here to stay. And when it comes to holiday entertaining, this sentiment rings even more true. One way I like to make holiday guests feel right at home is to greet them with a welcome sign or customized dinner menu during the holiday party. For a more elegant look, I pen my greeting on glass, a mirror, or another translucent surface. Freshening up my tablescape is another way I give my home a special touch. Add a bold statement centerpiece or a custom table runner with a pop of color. These details hardly ever go unnoticed by my visitors. In keeping with this theme, my Thermador Under-Counter Double Drawer Refrigerator is the ultimate holiday party companion. It shines in every environment—seamlessly creating a cohesive feel in my kitchen, while keeping my holiday desserts precisely the temperature I want.

Festive Foods 
My favorite part about hosting holiday guests is the opportunity to serve my most cherished dishes. I like to start the evening with a beautiful cheese board and a savory selection: an aged cheese, a firm cheese, a soft cheese, and a blue cheese. Next, I add fresh fruit, olives, cured meats, crackers, and nuts. For an entrée, I like treating my guests with a rich pasta carbonara. My Thermador Freedom® Induction Cooktop keeps prep time calm, as it can heat up to 6 pots or pans simultaneously—perfect for holiday cooking. I can boil my favorite pasta dish and curate several delicious sides at the same time. For dessert, I once again turn to my Freedom® Induction cooktop to make my famous pecan-peppermint fudge. This delectable sweet always captures the attention of my guests.

Let Glassware Sparkle
It isn’t a successful holiday party without holiday drinks—and I love giving my guests plenty of options. Whether they gravitate toward an oaky merlot, a sparkling cider, a specialty cocktail, or craft beer, I always make sure to have a standout selection of sips on hand – and with my  Glass Care Center from Thermador, I’m always prepared. It’s specifically designed to accommodate glassware of various shapes and sizes, and holds my beer steins, cocktail glasses, champagne flutes, and even features the largest wine glass capacity of up to 26 large wine glasses. Whether my guests choose a hoppy beer or a sweet champagne, I’ll always have sparkling clean glassware ready for the next pour.

How do you prepare your home for the holidays? Share your thoughts with us in the comments or on our social channels: www.facebook.com/thermador, @ThermadorHome and @Thermador.