5 Must-Have Luxury Household Features

Once upon a time, updating your home meant a new lick of magnolia paint – but nowadays homes can be transformed beyond recognition. The possibilities for improvement have never been so accessible, with inspiration and examples of what can be achieved readily available on the internet, as well as the advancements in technology which have made it all possible.

Having a luxurious home isn’t just about the location, it’s also about the amenities that it provides – your home can make the inhabitants feel lavished with extravagance and opulence. The word luxurious implies pools, saunas and tennis courts, but what are the features that luxury home buyers want the most? Here are five must-have household features that you can take inspiration from or replicate.

Technology

We live in a digital age, and with recent technological innovations it’s now possible to lock your doors, control the heating and lighting, and set your burglar alarm – all with a touch of your smartphone. Built-in wireless home automation devices ooze luxury.

Environmentally friendly

On the other side of the technology coin, there’s the need for materials to be environmentally friendly. Reclaimed materials have been fashionable for a while, but it’s the new materials such as Terrazzo that are making an impact. It’s made of cement with other materials incorporated, such as scrapped marble, rock or post-consumer glass. Sustainability and environmental impact are high on the list of desirable features.

Al Fresco

The greatest luxury of all is having time for relaxation and leisure. An outdoor kitchen is an amenity that screams luxury. How about a built-in grill, a fridge, a sink and food prep area, and for entertaining, a natural stone seating area? If space is an issue, consider building a wood-fired pizza oven as a cheaper alternative that still supports an al fresco lifestyle.

Expansive pools with pool heater, hot tubs and water features such as waterfalls rank high in ‘must have’ features, and can add flair to any garden space. Water-garden.co.uk provides advice and support to cater for your water feature requirements, whether they’re for a full-sized lake or an ornamental pond.

Open Floor Plan

An open floor plan refers to the living areas of the house such as the kitchen, living room and dining room, when they’ve been combined to create an open, flowing layout without internal walls. You may not want to go the whole hog – if you wish to keep the living room separate, there’s usually an easy way to combine the kitchen and dining room to form a wonderful communal living space.

Spa Bathroom

Often the smallest room in the house, and the one that’s thought about the least, is the bathroom. Having a sumptuous bathroom is a clear sign of luxury, but not just a normal functional one – how about a spa bathroom? A spa bathroom requires a walk-in shower with head-to-toe shower jets, underfloor heating, a heated towel rail, and a large and deep freestanding bath. If you don’t have space for these modifications, simply buying new towels and a new shower curtain are one way you could instantly add a little more flair.

http://freshome.com/2014/05/30/10-must-items-luxury-home-buyers-want/