Have you ever driven by an exceptionally beautiful house, one you would consider a luxury home, and wondered what the inside looks like? Do you see houses online or on TV and think about how many people can afford the luxury of a home that is more than 5,000 square feet and has a multimillion dollar price tag?
Today’s luxury homes are smaller but loaded with amenities that support the homeowner’s hobbies and overall lifestyle. Wherever there are great views of the ocean, a river, or the city skyline, that’s where you tend to find luxury homes. They are found in neighborhoods with a golf course, gated security, a marina or even a landing strip.
We can get a glimpse of the future by looking at today’s emerging trends. Many new ideas come from homeowners who are willing to buy new products and finishes before mass production makes them more affordable. Let’s look into the world of luxury homes. Why not pick one feature and try to imagine how you could incorporate the idea into your home.
Trends in Luxury Homes
Trend #1 - Instead of buying bigger homes, luxury homeowners are updating their current house to better reflect their lifestyle. Those who do decide to build new homes are working closely with their architects to create distinctive homes.
Trend #2 - Luxury homes typically had backsplashes of stone or tile. These days high end textures such as raw stone, imported woods, tile and glass abound throughout the house.
Trend #3 - A large open room with higher ceilings serves as a combination kitchen, dining room and living room. Ceilings of varying heights differentiate the area and large floor-to-ceiling windows with great views compliment the higher ceilings.
Trend #4 - Luxury homeowners invest in millwork for built-in cabinetry in the kitchen, family room and home office and paneling previously associated with the mansions of yesteryear.
Trend #5 - Home automation is helping high-net-worth homeowners manage heating and cooling systems as well as lights and window treatments automatically and remotely.
Trend #6 - Easy to maintain finishes on countertops and floors are very popular. The trend continues outside with the planting of native species that require less specialized care.
Trends in Luxury Kitchens
Trend #7 - Casual, open kitchens designed for entertaining family and friends are popular with luxury homeowners. Some are even adding butler pantries and catering kitchens to keep the food prep separate from the guests.
Trend #8 - Wood-fired pizza ovens are a must in the ever popular outdoor kitchen.
Trends in Luxury Home Bathrooms
Trend #9 - Wet rooms are replacing Jacuzzi tubs as the must-have bathroom feature. A wet room has a bench or a slab in the middle of jets built into the surround to envelope you in a relaxing cascade of water.
Trend #10 - The master bath is evolving into the a master spa. Some luxury houses even have separate master bathrooms for him and for her. Marble is the material of choice for tub surrounds, shower stalls and floors.
Features of Today’s Luxury Home
Trend #11 - The focus is slowly moving from outdoor entertaining spaces to using lanais, screened in porches and walled garden areas off the master bedroom.
Trend #12 - Luxury homes frequently feature whole house sound systems and extensive media centers. Banks of high-definition TVs and cameras support videoconferencing for the busy professional. Media rooms are made for entertaining with features like wet bars, refrigerators, small kitchens and for movie nights, a popcorn maker.
Trend #13 - Trulia listed roof decks and terraces among the top 20 features included in listings of luxury homes in urban markets.
Other features identified by Trulia include wine rooms, gyms, tennis courts, private elevators, wood burning fireplaces, ponds and walk-in closets.
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