When you think of luxury homes, you may imagine a beautiful house built to look fantastic from every angle, inside and out. But the truth of the matter is, these houses are not just about looks. The best luxury homes today offer many convenient features for homeowners that can make their day-to-day lives more enjoyable — for themselves, their families, and their guests. Here’s a look at four trends that are gaining in popularity with homeowners.
Built-in Storage – This convenient feature is being found in nearly every room of the house. Libraries and offices feature custom-designed storage for not only books, but to display awards, trophies, or prized travel mementos. Children’s playrooms may have an entire wall filled with different-sized compartments built to accommodate all sizes of toys. Mudrooms have seating and lockers for sporting goods, rain gear, and gadgets that every on-the-go family needs.
Personalized Touches – Builders are working closely with their clients to put customized finishes on luxury homes so that the space feels personalized to their tastes. Many of these add-ons exist outside the main house, and they work with contractors to complete the project on the same timeline as the main house build. A pergola can be built to shelter a piece of the green space while still allowing light to come through. With gardening as a trend with young people today, a small raised-bed garden can be installed before a family moves in. Backyard entertaining spaces feature fireplaces, full outdoor kitchens, projection screens for movie nights, and other attractions perfect for hosting guests or keeping the family entertained. Another hot trend for car enthusiasts is a car lift in the third or fourth garage.
Exercise Space – Exercise space varies greatly from house to house. Yoga enthusiasts can request a customized room with rice paper paneling, natural light, and a raised yoga platform, where as more traditional gym goers will likely want free weights, stationary machines, and other standard gym equipment. Families can stay active in the home with the inclusion of a racquetball room, half-basketball court, or indoor/outdoor pool. Homeowners are customizing pools to feel more like a resort and less like the typical backyard. New features include cozy grottos, fun-shaped slides, in-pool seating, and waterfalls. Post-activity relaxation spaces are also on the rise, with in-home steam rooms being a popular choice.
Automation – Technology is being incorporated into luxury homes in new ways. Homeowners can opt to have control of lighting, heating and cooling; all their home electronics; and security systems. In-house control stations give homeowners absolute control, and portable controls–like apps on smart phones–enable users to control systems on the go. Builders connect their clients with electronics specialists who can sync all of the homeowner’s systems to give them simplified access to every speaker, inside and out, and every electronic, from the master bedroom’s sound system to the media room’s projection set-up.