Sure a few extra bedrooms and a fenced in yard for Fido are important reasons to consider moving up in the real estate world. And yes, they’re noble, logical reasons - your mother would be so proud. But what about that jelly-for-knees feeling you get when you step inside your gourmet kitchen? Or the calm that washes over you when you saunter into your serene yoga room? Not to mention the pride you feel when your buddies stop by your sports bar to watch multiple sporting events on your four plasma television screens.
If your idea of luxury is a whirlpool tub in the master suite, think again. Today’s luxury homes are jam packed with amenities and features that homebuyers of a decade ago never even dreamed about. Forget your logical reasons for a moment. Indulge your imagination, and consider the luxurious justifications for buying a home.
To have and to hold - in separate rooms
His-and-her sinks in the bathroom have morphed into his-and-her bathrooms. Individual closets, dual dressing rooms and his-and-her living spaces also are increasingly common features in luxury properties. Whether it’s a yogalates/workout room for her or a cigar room for him, gender-specific rooms are all the rage with affluent homeowners.
He’ll spend his time shooting hoops in the indoor sport court, while she entertains friends in her sitting/reading room. He’ll relish quality paneling in his closet, while she’ll savor the climate-controlled fur storage and ball gown section in hers.
Everyday’s a spa day
Today’s luxury homes take relaxation to the max. Current must-haves include roomy bathrooms with souped-up saunas, towel warmers and heated floors to keep the tootsies toasty. The stress-relief bath is another important amenity. Spacious, multi-head steam or rain showers are gaining popularity, while the newest bathtubs are illuminated with LED lights – and you can change the light color according to your mood. The appearance of upholstered furniture is making bathrooms more like home-spas as well.
Facilities for fitness and physical recreation also are expected. Expanded exercise space often includes various separate workout rooms, indoor lap pools, and sport courts. And don’t forget the locker room!
Technology lends a helping hand
Technology is the new personal assistant. Want to turn down the pool lighting while you’re cooking dinner? Go ahead. How about starting the bath from the living room? Sure, no problem. Homeowners are outfitting their residences with complex computer systems that connect electrical components to sensor panels throughout the house.
There’s an increased security element to the technology as well. The automated system can send text messages to a phone when sensors detect outdoor movement. The homeowner can hop online to look at surveillance cameras monitoring the front and back yards.
Other features include storm rooms for hurricane and tornado protection, fire protection systems and walk-in safes for valuables and files. Power generators, stone-coated steel roofing and the use of flood-preventing landscape design can help keep homes safe from the elements.
It’s easy being green
“Green building” and “healthy homes” are popular buzzwords in today’s building industry. Elite homeowners are searching for a place that’s gentler on the environment and made from healthy home materials that optimizes energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality and comfort.
“Green” elements such as eco-friendly woods and nontoxic building materials are incorporated into construction. Green flooring products like bamboo and cork are entering the picture. And affluent homeowners also are demanding environmentally-friendly kitchen materials including glass and metal instead of plastic, and chemical-free glues.
Homeowners want energy management systems that are environmentally-friendly and save on energy costs. Tankless hot water heaters, geothermal heating/cooling systems and automated lighting controls are all popular options.
The great indoor-outdoors
Outdoor rooms have been popular for the past few years, and today their chic-factor continues to rise. Outdoor rooms complement the idea of eco-friendly building by allowing for indoor/outdoor living.
Recently, many luxury homeowners have added summer kitchens, fireplaces and stone barbecue grills to their backyard oases. The outdoor kitchen and cabana area offers all the comforts of indoor cooking - an elaborate stainless-steel grill, granite countertops, sink, refrigerator, warming drawer, wine cooler and ice maker.
And inside is starting to feel like outside. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows that completely open to the outside create a beautiful indoor/outdoor living space.
And let’s not forget outdoor activities. Homeowners no longer want to stay cooped up inside and have rediscovered gardening. Multiple gardens, potting sheds, and garden accessories are more important than ever.
So, in your own dream home vision, what are some of your guilty pleasures?