Fabulous
features, his-and-her rooms, lots of kitchens...
Upscale buyers,
look for new amenities in the luxury home
market. Today’s luxury homes are packed with
amenities and offer his-and-her features that
luxury homeowners of a decade ago never even
dreamed about.
One for him,
one for her
His-and-her sinks
in the bathroom have morphed into his-and-her
bathrooms. Separate closets, dual dressing
rooms, separate garages (she’s near the
kitchen), and his-and-her living areas are also
increasingly common features in million dollar
properties. In short, gender-specific rooms are
all the rage with affluent homeowners. She may
enjoy a yoga room while he has a cigar
room/gentleman’s retreat. He spends time on his
backyard putting green while she entertains
friends in her sitting/reading room. His closet
boasts quality paneling while hers has climate
controlled fur storage and a ball gown section.
Alas, they may have to share the
suitcase/packing room and the media room. And,
of course, they each have a home
office with broadband Internet access. In
addition, luxury home buyers are asking for a
room (usually adjacent to the kitchen) to use as
a computer/home management center. It’s a place
where kids can do homework, the whole family can
surf the Internet, and personal business can be
managed.
Four kitchens?
Another trend in
upscale homes is multiple kitchens. In addition
to a main kitchen, top of the line homes often
have special catering kitchens and mini-master
bedroom kitchens. In climates conducive to
outside living, complete outdoor kitchens (most
likely his) are gaining popularity. These
cooking spaces often include everything from the
outdoor kitchen sink to refrigerators, ovens,
ice makers, and an elaborate grill.
The main gourmet
kitchen has also been updated. Granite
countertops are increasingly popular. Corian,
concrete, and new quartz-based counter tops are
on some buyers’ preference lists. Freestanding
furniture-style cabinetry (on legs) teamed with
metallic finish appliances highlight up-to-date
kitchens. For those who remember harvest gold
and avocado green appliances, guess what?
Colored appliances are back. Today’s colors are
navy blue and yellow, perhaps with touches of
red. Translucent glass tiles, in lieu of
ceramic tiles, complete cutting edge kitchen
decor.
Showers are hot
The stress relief
bath is also an important amenity in luxury
properties. Roomy, multiple-head steam or rain
showers are gaining popularity while the newest
bathtubs are bright with LED lights. These
chromo therapy tubs let you change light color
according to your mood. Luminous glass tiles in
a variety of colors are also showing up in the
bath, so is the “fixture as furniture” look.
The addition of upholstered furniture -- from
chaise lounges to recliners -- is making
bathrooms more like home spas.
What else might
you expect buyers to request in their new
million plus property? More square footage.
Million dollar homes most likely measure-in at
least 4000 square feet and pricier properties on
the market today may be 45,000 square feet or
more in the main house. Guest cottages, pool
houses, courtyards, porches, elevators, even
ballrooms are common features in luxury
properties for sale across the country. A
butler’s pantry is a must.
From cocooning
to blooming
Don’t forget the
out-of-doors. Affluent homeowners have given up
cocooning, stepped outside and rediscovered
gardening. Multiple gardens, potting sheds,
garden accessories and garden art are more
important than ever, as illustrated by the
growing sales of garden catalogue companies and
garden emporiums.
Luxury homes are also blooming with the latest
colors. Did you know that representatives of
home product companies from wall paints to
linens meet regularly to agree on the next color
palette? That’s why disparate products from
differing manufacturers are color coordinated.
According to the Color Marketing Group, the
featured colors for today are rich reds,
innocent pinks, soft greens and blues, lots of
white, with bright yellow and navy often used
for accents. Purples, oranges (from tangerine
and apricot to hot, bright orange) and warm
browns are moving to the fore. You’ll also see
lots of metallic and mirrored finishes in
current luxury properties.
--Laurie
Moore-Moore |
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