The 40 Luxury Must-Haves
The best of today’s high-end homes contain many of these features.
By Camilla McLaughlin
Forty years ago, Unique Homes was founded to showcase upscale real estate. During that time, we’ve seen a parade of extraordinary features: bowling alleys, discos, helicopter pads, indoor shooting ranges, landing strips, beauty salons, recording studios, private golf courses, professional laundries, luggage elevators for individual bedrooms, ballrooms, roof-top observatories, kitchens everywhere in the home, salt-water aquariums and salt-water pools.In the last four decades, the number of amenities incorporated into all homes has increased exponentially. And the motivation isn’t simply conspicuous consumption. What matters for consumers today is the experience a home offers, and, quite frequently, amenities make that experience possible. So rather than just a nice little extra tacked onto the home, amenities cater to the changing ways we live in our homes.
In this installment of our series celebrating 40 years of Unique Homes, we take a look at the top must-haves for luxury homes today, those features that make the humdrum extraordinary and give new meaning to the term “feathering your nest.”
Super-Efficient House
The feature most in-demand today, according to real estate professionals and designers, are smart home technologies that monitor and manage systems inside and outside the house. Whether the task is making sure the doors are locked, turning on heaters under the driveway to clear the snow, adjusting shades, changing the indoor temperature or turning on or off an appliance and light, owners now can get the job done from anywhere in the world using their smart phones.
The feature most in-demand today, according to real estate professionals and designers, are smart home technologies that monitor and manage systems inside and outside the house. Whether the task is making sure the doors are locked, turning on heaters under the driveway to clear the snow, adjusting shades, changing the indoor temperature or turning on or off an appliance and light, owners now can get the job done from anywhere in the world using their smart phones.
Lighting a room today requires more than switching on a lamp; rather, layers of lighting from ambient to task are mixed to match the different functions of a room. Lighting controls make it easy to switch from one to another with touch screen or remote. In some areas of the country, keeping the home fires burning might necessitate duel fuel or auxiliary power sources.
Outdoor Living
Mention outdoor living 40 years ago and most people would assume you were talking about camping. Pools and tennis courts are traditional luxury mainstays, but outdoor living is an entirely new concept, dramatically altering landscapes and turning the land surrounding the house into a kaleidoscope of gardens, terraces and patios for adults and children to play. Whimsical or formal, gardens expressing a theme or fulfilling a desire are luxury’s newest indulgences. Scent gardens attract butterflies, dragonflies and hummingbirds; meditation gardens are designed for yoga; and simple cottage gardens evoke childhood memories. Growing in popularity, according to the American Society for Landscape Architects, are kitchen gardens, even orchards. Outdoor rooms are also becoming an essential.
Mention outdoor living 40 years ago and most people would assume you were talking about camping. Pools and tennis courts are traditional luxury mainstays, but outdoor living is an entirely new concept, dramatically altering landscapes and turning the land surrounding the house into a kaleidoscope of gardens, terraces and patios for adults and children to play. Whimsical or formal, gardens expressing a theme or fulfilling a desire are luxury’s newest indulgences. Scent gardens attract butterflies, dragonflies and hummingbirds; meditation gardens are designed for yoga; and simple cottage gardens evoke childhood memories. Growing in popularity, according to the American Society for Landscape Architects, are kitchen gardens, even orchards. Outdoor rooms are also becoming an essential.
Grill envy!The lowly gas grill has gone high tech. Ultra-deluxe models can burn charcoal or even wood in addition to gas. Side burners, smoking baskets, integrated lighting, searing options and infrared burners turn a grill into a versatile appliance. But grills are only one feature of outdoor kitchens, which are becoming one of luxury’s most desired amenities. Along with a grill, an outdoor kitchen can include beer taps, refrigerators, drawer freezers, wine chillers, a sink, even a dishwasher.
Green Living
Upscale consumers are opting for energy-efficient products and green features such as permeable pavers, programmable sprinkler systems that conserve water, methods to capture and store rainwater, efficient appliances and natural materials. It’s much easier for luxury owners to incorporate new technologies such as solar, geothermal and wind turbines. And a green certification such as LEED and NAHB Green are luxury’s newest status symbols.
Upscale consumers are opting for energy-efficient products and green features such as permeable pavers, programmable sprinkler systems that conserve water, methods to capture and store rainwater, efficient appliances and natural materials. It’s much easier for luxury owners to incorporate new technologies such as solar, geothermal and wind turbines. And a green certification such as LEED and NAHB Green are luxury’s newest status symbols.
Fun in the Sun – (And the Privacy to Enjoy It)
Privacy for many is the ultimate, and a few of our top 40 amenities are prized because they deliver this priceless commodity. Fences, walls and plantings that create a buffer along the perimeter — and most importantly, the entry — are a first line of defense, making the entire property an oasis of privacy.
Privacy for many is the ultimate, and a few of our top 40 amenities are prized because they deliver this priceless commodity. Fences, walls and plantings that create a buffer along the perimeter — and most importantly, the entry — are a first line of defense, making the entire property an oasis of privacy.
Sporting accoutrements from tennis courts to stables and trails long have been luxury staples, but anything related to golf is the penultimate for many. The next best thing to your own private course: a putting green with multiple holes configured to match those on famous courses.
Master of It All
Private refuge doesn’t begin to characterize master suites today. A mini-kitchen makes it easy to enjoy morning coffee or a nightcap without stirring too far. Most offer some access outdoors with private balconies and decks but the ultimate might be a private garden with a plunge pool.
Private refuge doesn’t begin to characterize master suites today. A mini-kitchen makes it easy to enjoy morning coffee or a nightcap without stirring too far. Most offer some access outdoors with private balconies and decks but the ultimate might be a private garden with a plunge pool. Closets continue to grab more square footage with elaborate systems to organize wardrobes, ample dressing areas and space to pack suitcases. Extras include laundry facilities, flat-screen televisions and cappuccino makers.
Tubs are still the jewel of master baths, and the freestanding sculptural vessel of today is as much a work of art as a place to bathe. New options for jetted tubs include sound waves broadcast through the water, effervescent air bubbles similar to champagne, and chromathrerapy.
And few amenities have as many bells and whistles — not to mention multiple sprays and shower heads, even fixtures that mimic rainfall — as showers. Electronics take out the everyday guesswork, allowing owners to program their preferred water temps and spray patterns for each bather.
Connecting Mind and Body
Perceived as the place to renew mind, body and soul, homes today are also called upon to facilitate well-being. A home gym or exercise room is a must-have. The most elaborate have additional space for yoga and Pilates, along with all the basic equipment. No home gym would be restorative without the additional pampering of a home spa. Not too long ago, a sauna and perhaps an indoor hot tub were considered ample enough, but today steam showers, a sauna spacious enough to accommodate several people, a massage room and a hot tub are considered essentials. And, whether it’s a modest resistance pool or a grand affair reminiscent of a roman bath, an indoor pool is nirvana for many.
Perceived as the place to renew mind, body and soul, homes today are also called upon to facilitate well-being. A home gym or exercise room is a must-have. The most elaborate have additional space for yoga and Pilates, along with all the basic equipment. No home gym would be restorative without the additional pampering of a home spa. Not too long ago, a sauna and perhaps an indoor hot tub were considered ample enough, but today steam showers, a sauna spacious enough to accommodate several people, a massage room and a hot tub are considered essentials. And, whether it’s a modest resistance pool or a grand affair reminiscent of a roman bath, an indoor pool is nirvana for many.
Making it Your Own
Another important luxury trend is making a home uniquely your own. Anything commissioned for the home such as metal work, a sculpture or stained glass is very desirable. Unique finishes such as Venetian plaster on the walls, reclaimed or rare woods and imported marble put an owner’s stamp on interiors. Open floor plans reduce areas available to display art or collections, so many owners have art walls or even galleries added for this purpose. The art itself is a prized amenity, and few other extras have the potential to bring so much beauty, depth and emotion to any area of the home.
Let the Games BeginIn spite of ubiquitous flat screens, builders, architects and real estate professionals tell us home theaters, still very much in demand, have become a luxury mainstay. The word game room may conjure up flashbacks to rec rooms of the 1960s, but there is nothing dated about the video and arcade games found in these spaces today, unless of course it’s a classic such as billiards, which has always found a place in luxury homes. Homeowners today are asking for full-blown pubs, complete with darts and a full poker table.
High on some wish lists, particularly in cold climes, is an indoor sport court. And even with a couple of feet of snow on the course, golf addicts can still get their fix and hone their game with virtual golf. Plus, how else can one get the opportunity to play a number of legendary courses, all in the same day?
Office
Few can leave work behind, so a home office that is a sanctuary and also designed for productivity is much desired. Today, offices also are likely to include a conference room for meetings and offices for ancillary staff. Another trend is an office built for two.
Few can leave work behind, so a home office that is a sanctuary and also designed for productivity is much desired. Today, offices also are likely to include a conference room for meetings and offices for ancillary staff. Another trend is an office built for two.
Can anything be as nurturing as a library? As beautiful as they are utilitarian, libraries are as much a place to strategize, plan and recharge as they are a home for books. Lately, almost every upscale home seems to have a library, even if it’s just a cozy spot for cognac or port at the end of the day.
Water, water, everywhere
One of the most expensive homes sold in 2010 featured a swan pond. While a swan pond might be the ultimate, nothing is making a bigger splash outside than water features. Koi ponds, fountains and waterfalls enliven sight and sound, adding sparkle and a dimension to landscapes that few other amenities can deliver. In the last 10 years, pools have gone from being eyesores to eye candy, blending artfully with the landscape, often valued more as a design feature than a place to play. On everybody’s wish list are cocktail pools — small pools that look pretty and are the ideal backdrop for drinks.
One of the most expensive homes sold in 2010 featured a swan pond. While a swan pond might be the ultimate, nothing is making a bigger splash outside than water features. Koi ponds, fountains and waterfalls enliven sight and sound, adding sparkle and a dimension to landscapes that few other amenities can deliver. In the last 10 years, pools have gone from being eyesores to eye candy, blending artfully with the landscape, often valued more as a design feature than a place to play. On everybody’s wish list are cocktail pools — small pools that look pretty and are the ideal backdrop for drinks.
All in the Family
Renewed appreciation for family and friends is a powerful incentive for upscale consumers today. Whether they have a young family, teenagers, grown children or grandchildren, luxury home owners want their home to enhance family life. Separate guesthouses and casitas, especially in warm climates, never have been more popular. If children are in the picture, many consider a playroom a must-have. It may begin as a playroom for younger children and transition into a place for video games, band practices or whatever suits the passion of the day. Upscale homes, it seems, can’t have too many kitchens, and playrooms and game rooms often incorporate a mini kitchen.
Renewed appreciation for family and friends is a powerful incentive for upscale consumers today. Whether they have a young family, teenagers, grown children or grandchildren, luxury home owners want their home to enhance family life. Separate guesthouses and casitas, especially in warm climates, never have been more popular. If children are in the picture, many consider a playroom a must-have. It may begin as a playroom for younger children and transition into a place for video games, band practices or whatever suits the passion of the day. Upscale homes, it seems, can’t have too many kitchens, and playrooms and game rooms often incorporate a mini kitchen.
Your children might not consider anything related to homework an amenity, but chances are you do. Homework isn’t left to happenstance anymore. Rather, dedicated homework or computer areas often are located in flexible-use space near the young darlings’ bedrooms, or in an alcove or dedicated area adjacent to the kitchen and great room.
Entertaining
Nothing symbolized glamour more than ballrooms. Ballrooms are rare today, but that doesn’t mean the penchant for glamour and grand entertaining is passé. Living rooms, grand salons and conservatories still host large-scale events that spill out to terraces and patios. Formal dining rooms, spacious enough to seat 20 or more, are another must-have, especially as the price of the home increases. Wine cellars continue to be an important feature of upscale homes, not only to display wines and sip vintages, but to also ensure top-notch libations. A catering kitchen, or at the very least a working pantry, is a must to facilitate large events.
Nothing symbolized glamour more than ballrooms. Ballrooms are rare today, but that doesn’t mean the penchant for glamour and grand entertaining is passé. Living rooms, grand salons and conservatories still host large-scale events that spill out to terraces and patios. Formal dining rooms, spacious enough to seat 20 or more, are another must-have, especially as the price of the home increases. Wine cellars continue to be an important feature of upscale homes, not only to display wines and sip vintages, but to also ensure top-notch libations. A catering kitchen, or at the very least a working pantry, is a must to facilitate large events.
What’s Cooking in the Kitchen?
No matter how many rooms or how many square feet, the kitchen is still the heart of the home. Here, the ideal is a mix of finishes, several different places to hang out and to dine, and a warm ambiance. Wood is back in vogue with natural or dark tones on some of the cabinetry or exotic varieties such as rosewood or Tasmanian Blackwood topping a peninsular or counter. A stove such as La Cornue’s Grand Palais 180 may be the ideal for some, but there never have been so many options for the cook. Some of the newest appliances combine steam and convection or conventional heating. For many, the newest “must have” in the kitchen is an induction cooktop.
Beverage centers are a new activity zone in the kitchen. Located away from the cooking area, they might include a built-in espresso machine, beverage chillers and some wine storage.
It’s a Wild World Out There
There is a lot of talk about safe rooms, but one that is completely self contained is beyond most budgets. However, creating a space with some basic electronics to buy time until police arrive isn’t. Designers and architects are using found space behind bookcases or camouflaged in closets for this purpose, and as a repository for a safe or to store valuables.
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[...] The 40 Luxury Must-Haves Forty years ago, Unique Homes was founded to showcase upscale real estate. During that time, we’ve seen a parade of extraordinary features, from from discos and ballrooms to helicopter pads and rooftop observatories. Here, in honor of our 40th anniversary, we name 40 features you may expect to find in the best of today’s high-end homes. By Camilla McLaughlin [...]