by Roberta Murphy

We’ve written about luxury closets in the past, but these days some are spending up  to $500,000 for a luxe master closet that might include a champagne refrigerator, sound system, glass-enclosed display cabinets, wet bar or even a breakfast area.

Gone are the simpler days of a luxurious dressing room. The master closet area has become a destination room.

The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday on four luxurious closet areas, ranging in size from a modest 600 square feet to a dressing suite with 1300 square feet.  What are the trends with luxury closets?

Luxury home owners today want closets that invite lounging–with prized clothing and accessories on display behind lighted display cabinets. Materials used may include exotic woods, crystal chandeliers and windows that allow for natural lighting. These dressing lounges might also have a sound system, television, jewelry vaults, exercise equipment and even an office nook. Clothing is easily compartmentalized, with large and organized spaces for shoes, hanging clothes, accessory storage and vaults for jewelry and valuables.

There will also likely be a secure safe of some sort for storage of jewelry and valuables. And frequently, these safes are cleverly disguised. Another security feature might be a security camera to protect against theft and pilferage.

These master dressing areas have become trophy rooms of sorts–and are a key selling feature in luxury homes we show in our own San Diego real estate practice. Frequently, properties are crossed off luxury home buyers’ lists if  a master closet is not large enough or appointed to their standards. Rejection might also occur if there are not equally and finely appointed dual closets for couples.

What are your demands when it comes to closets? Please share your list or photos!

For additional reading:

 The Luxurious Closet
The Luxury Pantry

The post The Luxury of a $500,000 Closet appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

This piece is for those of us unable to make the biannual trek to Paris for the biannual Maison & Objet trade show that features the hottest home decor designs produced by the smartest and most influential names in the industry.

Those in the luxury home business are always on the prowl, trying to spot the latest trends that might help update, inspire and improve the luxury home decor.

Patty Bouley was fortunate enough to attend the Maison & Objet show and was able to sort through around 3000 new products and note the hot new home trends for 2008:

• Purple and grey are THE new color companions.The combination is classy and elegant and I am rethinking my bedroom colors.
• Nature gets glitzy. Floral patterns are now accented with metallics: Think bronze, platinum and silver.
• Aspen is hot. Look for nubby wools and furs, bare wood and hunting themes to create the cozy ski chalet feel.
• Morocco is in. Think perforated metal, hand-tooled leather, intricate textiles and hand blown glass. Great for eclectics.
• So is Japan. You will see vibrant colors (think red), stylized floral patterns, origami folds, and delicate hand stitching and embroidery,

Enjoy the following slide show from one of my favorite sites: PointClickHome

The post 2008 Luxury Home Design Trends appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.