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By: Elaine VonCannon
The trend in luxury home building is to help create livable
spaces on the exterior as well as the interior of the home.
The selective luxury home buyer may be looking at a home for
outdoor as well as indoor qualities and features. Even if
these features are not included in the home at the time of
purchase, the luxury home buyer may still be able to have
them, provided the right amount and type of space is available.
According to an article by Realty Times writer Blanche Evans,
“41% of luxury homebuyers plan to do major renovations
on their million-dollar properties.”
Here are some popular features of new and existing luxury
homes:
Outdoor Living Rooms in Luxury Homes
Outdoor spaces that resemble interiors are becoming more
popular in luxury homes. Outdoor living areas need to reflect
the overall style of the home. If it’s Victorian it
will lean towards traditional and formal. For Spanish style
homes – select furniture, terra cotta pots, and lots
of color and flowers might work best. A Cape Cod could be
more relaxed and informal. Whatever the decorating needs,
functionality and privacy, as well as appropriate seating
for entertainment, are also factors in decorating an outdoor
space. For privacy, hedges and fences work well. For flooring,
stepping stones, decks, or actual slate tiles may be installed
on wood. And, ceilings can include trees, retractable awnings,
or permanent roofs.
For ambience, homeowners may choose to add a trellis with
roses or other colorful vines and professionally landscaped
gardens. Flower and herb gardens, a small vegetable garden,
and specialty flowers and shrubbery can also enhance outdoor
living rooms.
Outdoor Kitchens for Luxury Estates
These days, many homeowners are cooking outdoors. There is
more than a barbeque grill or fire pit and picnic table involved.
Outdoor kitchens, now incorporated into luxury homes, can
even rival indoor kitchens in the style and quality of materials
used. Custom builders are beginning to incorporate grander
outdoor kitchens than ever before to accommodate this trend
in home buying.
A properly outfitted outdoor kitchen means the host does
not have to shuttle items from indoor spaces. Thus, the outdoor
kitchen is rising in popularity with the home buyer. Some
items included in outdoor kitchens are sinks, stoves, and
cabinetry. Countertops are often made with high-end natural
materials such as marble, granite or stone. Some are outfitted
like a full kitchen with grill, refrigerator, sink and eating
area. Kitchen appliances are sometimes incorporated into the
outdoor kitchen. Outdoor flooring types that are popular in
luxury homes are ceramic, marble, and brick.
Pools/ Hot Tubs
A nice addition to any living space, pools offer a place
to relax outdoors, exercise, spend time in the sun, and entertain.
And, hot tubs are almost becoming the norm in the luxury home.
Hot tubs are an ideal place to relax after a stressful day,
or spend romantic time with a loved one. For privacy and convenience,
erect a fence and build a small deck around the hot tub.
Luxurious Porches in the Old South
Old southern porches with swings are back in style. Sitting
on the porch brings back nostalgic memories of grandmas’
porch, drinking iced tea, courting, or eating a family supper
on Sundays.
There are many different types of porches suitable for the
luxury home. Choose from: covered front and back porches,
wrap around porches, screen porches and sunrooms, and breezeways.
Courtyards and Piazzas
For the luxury home owner with a large space in the front
or rear, a courtyard may be an option, and these are usually
decorated with a spectacular fountain as the focal point.
Piazzas are usually paved and form a grand entranceway to
a formidable building, such as an estate property, or a luxury
home built with Roman architecture. A well-designed piazza
can offer distinction to the luxury homeowner who wants to
set his property apart from others.
Do not neglect the outdoors of a luxury home when assessing
a property and feeling if it is right for you and your loved
ones. The exterior spaces, when designed well and for functionality,
are just as important to the luxury of a home. Decorating
outdoor spaces allows more room for entertainment. Outdoor
living spaces are spilling into all sectors of home buying
from empty nesters, to large families, to people with no children.
Trend setting in home building begins in the luxury home
market. Often these trends are emulated by the middle class
home buyer on a smaller scale.
In Southeastern Virginia, a temperate and agreeable climate
exists for 6-9 months out of the year, making for a comfortable
temperature outdoors. The exterior of any home can easily
be part of the overall living space. It can be custom designed
with features that make for luxurious living, even outdoors.
Why not retire, relocate, or purchase a second home that brings
you and your loved ones closer to the outdoors?
About The Author
Elaine VonCannon is an award winning REALTOR with RE/Max Capital
in Williamsburg, Virginia. She specializes in retirement and
relocation in the Williamsburg, South Eastern Virginia area
and in Virginia Estate properties. To learn more visit http://www.voncannonrealestate.com
or http://www.estatesinvirginia.com. Email Elaine at vonmor1@cox.net.
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