One of Laureen and Ron Nowakowski’s goals for retirement was to entertain more. “We love having friends and family over for dinner,” Laureen says. The couple had been living in New Jersey and decided to move back to Ohio, where they’re from. But the cute little cottage they had their eyes on in Rocky River was, well, a little cottage. Laureen remembers telling her book club that there wouldn’t be room to fit many guests in their new dining room. “They assured me I could do buffets,” she says. Here, Laureen and Ron sit in the cottage's sunroom.

Ultimately, the house’s architectural charms won her and Ron over. They worked with designer Ashleigh Clark to maximize space, reno the kitchen and refresh rooms with paint, wallpaper and new furniture in punchy blues and yellows. Laureen was quick to tally up the hosting possibilities: “There are 27 places to sit!” she says. And she’s happiest when they’re all filled up.

Two distinct hangout areas make the room seem more expansive and welcoming. Ashleigh had the built-in painted blue (Oceanside by Sherwin-Williams) to help define the dining area, which has a table and chairs from Zuo. She grounded the other side of the room with a sunny Surya rug. A sofa with a chaise means extra seating; it’s from Joybird. “And there’s plenty of room for me and Ron to stretch out,” says Laureen. The petite coffee table with a big personality is by Bungalow 5.

Wallpaper on a ceiling is just the right touch to jazz up a small room. (This one’s by Schumacher.) The Nowakowskis’ traditional table and buffet look fresh teamed with modern chairs from Homesense, a vibrant Surya rug and a cool pendant by Stray Dog Designs. Adding a pass-through to the kitchen brings light to both rooms.