Making Your Home Look Luxurious Without Breaking the Bank

In new home purchases, these are often called “upgrades,” and they can run into thousands of dollars.

For those who can’t afford a total remodel or who prefer not to spend a ton of money trying to make the home more luxurious, here are a few things that can be done that won’t break the bank.

1. Get rid of clutter and clean
One of the easiest ways to make your home look more luxurious is by getting rid of things that you either do not use or no longer need. Items strewn about make a space look busy, cluttered and dirty. Try organizing and throwing things into boxes and baskets for safe keeping. By removing these unnecessary items you not only tidy the space up and make it look bigger but make the space look more inviting and luxurious. It is also important to keep the room clean by dusting, vacuuming or mopping on a regular basis which not only will make your space look cleanly but will facilitate keeping the clutter at bay.

2. Lighting
This is another simple and inexpensive way to upgrade your home. Harsh lighting can wreak havoc on a room. Switching all lights to dimmers not only softens the light and lets you control the amount of light in a room, but can make the entire home feel richer and luxurious. Also consider pendant lighting over islands for a fresh update. And while at it, you might also change out the white plastic switch plates for something such as brushed nickel or something artistic for a more sophisticated look.

3. Laminate and vinyl flooring
One of the most sought after luxury home features is hardwood or tile flooring. Buying genuine hardwood and tile can be quite expensive. If this is still the look that you are going for then there a couple options that are much cheaper. Laminate and luxury vinyl plank flooring is easy to install and come in a number of synthetic wood stain and tile types. These flooring types are both more resistant to damage and easier to take care of than those of genuine nature.

There are also numerous other relatively inexpensive ways to make your home look more luxurious but these three are some of the best.

Article contributed by Ashley

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When showing homes to buyers in San Diego, one of the first doors that is opened following the front door is…the pantry door.

Sometimes the “pantry” is nothing more than a large cabinet that may (or may not) have revolving and pull-out shelves. Hopefully, and regardless of size, the boxes of cereal, canned goods and other kitchen staples are stacked in an orderly fashion.

But the ultimate pantry might look like the one pictured to the left, courtesy of The Closet Works. I love the revolving shelves, the orderliness and spaciousness of this kitchen space.  It is also light and bright–and easy to see what foods and supplies are on hand.

On the other hand, if you are on a budget or have a smaller pantry you might want to try imaginative lighting, glass jars for  storing foods, and possibly a plant or two. With good lighting, you might also have a small herb garden.  (See photo at right). You want potential buyers to have a WOW moment when they open that door. And in the meantime, it will be something you can enjoy.

Looking for Pantry Ideas?

If at all possible, do everything you can to avoid having a messy or boring pantry. Make sure it is well lit and visit sites like Houzz or Pinterest to glean some creative ideas. This would also be a good time to prune out expired or items you’ll not be using in the next six months.  If there is room, you might also want to add a small and colorful area rug.

Another favorite for buyers are frosted glass doors leading into the pantry. If that isn’t in the plan, make sure the door and all shelves are  clean and freshly painted if needed.

Do you have any ideas you might share?

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Luxury Home Foreclosures?

It appears that even the luxury real estate market will not fully escape the financial ravages that are taking down less-expensive neighborhoods.

Housing Wire asks: Has REO gone jumbo? To find out, they consulted with Integrated Asset Services, LLC in Colorado to see if foreclosures are moving up the real estate food chain. And though not all properties with loans in excess of the the conforming $417,000 are luxury homes, it appears that an increasing number of residences in that loftier lending arena are heading to short sale or foreclosure. In California, for example, IAS and Housing Wire saw 102 REO’s sell for more than $417,000 during April, compared to just 13 in April, 2007.

Anecdotally, we have seen a spike this past year in San Diego luxury homes that are closing as short sales (where more is owed on the property than what it is worth), or which end up as foreclosures and REO’s (real estate owned bank properties). We have also seen that it takes lenders far longer to reach an agreeable sales price compared to smaller loans–and that may be understandable.

On one hand, more money is at stake and greater care must be taken in reaching a fair valuation; on the other, carrying costs (taxes, insurance, maintenance, security and HOA fees) run far higher than ordinary REO’s. And that those are bills most lenders and services do not want to shoulder.

In a recent transaction in coastal Encinitas Ranch, Washington Mutual required two appraisals and took almost four months processing time before reaching an agreed-upon sales price. And during that time, foreclosure sale was delayed twice. The original loan amount was $1.2 million and the final sales price was $880,000. It was a major hit for the lender/investor , but costs would surely have been greater if this Encinitas home had gone to foreclosure.

We are currently involved with two other sellers who have loans exceeding $1 million and whose custom homes could end up as foreclosures if Countrywide and First Franklin investors cannot come up with pricing that reflects current San Diego market realities. Neither home is coastal (which would help prop up valuation) and neither have area comparable sales that would support pricing anywhere near what is owed on these homes.

Outside of our San Diego real estate practice with Villa Sotheby’s International Realty in Del Mar, we are hearing whispers that there will be more luxury short sales and REO’s before the real estate market recovers. And out of the confusion and delays in disposing of these luxury properties will be opportunities that luxury investors have been long awaiting.

And even the ultra-luxury real estate market appears to be experiencing some correction. In 2006, we wrote about Donald Trump’s luxury estate in Palm Beach being offered at $125 million. Recent reports say it sold at just $100 million.

What may have been painful for The Donald would have been a coup for the lucky buyer. I guess every market has silver linings–for someone.

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Once upon a time, the lowly shower offered faint competition for the jetted bathtub.

The bathtub was where one went to luxuriate, while the shower was a functional cleanser.

Not any more.

These days the lowly shower is one of the hottest home luxuries in demand. The shower stall might contain a steam shower, a multi-headed storm of warm water, or simply a place to stand under a rainfall of ambient temperature.

More and more, as we tour San Diego luxury homes, we are seeing the shower stall (or room) overtake the once dominant bathtub. And even if the shower stall doesnt have a steam feature, discriminating home buyers will often stand back and scrutinize the possibilities of extending glass walls to the ceiling so that steam features and functionality can be installed.

What are these luxury buyers seeking? They want oversized shower rooms with a tiled seat and multiple shower heads. They also like the possibility of sharing the luxury shower with others.

Hence, dual shower heads are also popular. On busy mornings or playful evenings, it might be necessary, compelling, or just plain fun to shower in toto.

These days, the luxury bathroom is closer to a luxury spa than the tiled bath with sink, toilet and tub of the last century. Owners now want not only the jetted garden tub, but also a high-performance shower system that can deliver calming massage sprays as well as invigorating jets that might awaken the most sleep-starved soul.

And even if a complete shower overhaul is not possible, there are some alternatives and remedies to consider:

1. Consider installing a shower arm extension to raise the shower head. Most older homes assumed that nobody in the home stood over 5² 5³ tall.
2. If you are considering relining the shower stall, consider alternatives to the traditional tile. How about travertine or other stone products?
3. Is it possible to add a second shower head especially if there is a tub and water supply nearby?
4. Be sure to locate shower head products that accommodate your local water pressure. The higher the better.
5. Want a steam shower? When remodeling the bath, this might be an alternative to consider especially if the glass enclosure and door can be brought to the ceiling.

Other luxurious appointments:

The Snoring Room

The Self Service Spa (Do it at home?)

Long-Lasting Roses

Induction-Cooktop for the Luxury Kitchen

Ultimate Phone for the Luxury Bath

How to Hide the Bedroom TV

Switchable Mirror Glass Windows

SONOS: The Ultimate Sound System

Haute Refrigerators for Cool Kitchens?

The Overflowing Infinity Tub

Luxury Wine Storage for Oenophiles

The Illuminated Bathtub

Luxury Design Trends for 2008

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Peering into the future, it is nice to imagine a home that is smart in every sense–and inviting to all.

Sunset Magazine and Popular Science recently team-conceived the Idea House, the House of Innovation , in Alamo, California. This intelligent $5 + million smart home provides a trajectory of design and technologies that will end up in homes of tomorrow. It is loaded with sustainable materials and innovative ideas. This Idea House has drywall that is paperless and prefinished plank hardwood flooring that locks into place for fast, glueless and nail-free installation.

What do we like best?

• Air quality filtration system systems that filter particles down to one micron.
• Windows that turn translucent with the flip of a switch.
• Wine vault that maintains a bar-scanned inventory of both wines stored and wines comsumed.
• Family Center (just off the kitchen) with informal dining table invites gatherings, homework, projects and snacks.
• Kitchen as a news-gathering center and meeting spot. Web-accessed security monitoring views the entrance path, pool and patio areas. There is a family computer in the corner and a dedicated counter-mounted computer dedicated to foods.ot
• Robotics that vacuum the carpeting, mop the floors and mow the lawn. (Can you say FUN???)

Smart Trends in decor?

• As a counter-balance to the high tech functionality of the home, nature inspired hues dominate throughout. Look for colors ranging from tawny summer yellows to taupey jute to deep sunset purple.
• A return to dining rooms that are visually separated from the kitchen, tied together by dark hand-hewn floors.
• Bringing the outside in and vice versa. Look for enormous glass doors that slide inconspicuously into the wall, turning the great room into an extension of the rear garden. The garden, in turn, offers casual seating and additional room for entertaining.
• In the master suite, look for vanity mirrors mounted above translucent windows to provide for private natural lighting.

It is a worthwhile journey to go through both sites and see for yourself this remarkable home! Unfortunately, it is no longer for sale and has been sold. It was listed by Peggy Cortez with Alain Pinel Realtors and closed just before Thanksgiving to an undisclosed buyer. The 6500 square foot luxury home was offered at a price close to $5.3 million and exchanged hands for an amount reported by the agent to be close to the asking price.

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The attraction?

What a gift to awaken in the morning and see the light of a new day as it glints over the water or emerges from behind the mountains. And how better to end the day, when one can relax and watch the sun slip over the edge of the earth and into the water beyond. The enormity and every-changing beauty of these views somehow helps put life and its struggles into a different perspective.

Once in awhile, a home comes along that is gifted in every sense of the word. It has heart-stopping lagoon and ocean views, is custom-crafted throughout, has a location overlooking San Diego’s famed La Costa Golf Resort and Spa, and sits on 2.4 private gated coastal acres. This

La Costa Estates home would make a wonderful full or part-time residence for some discriminating buyer or home collector.

It has over 4600 square feet designed and constructed to take every advantage of its priceless views. If you can pull yourself away from the expansive windows, you will immediately note the solid cherry leaded glass doors and cabinets, granite surfaces, Austrian crystal chandelier, the stunning stairway, gleaming floors and the easy-moving floor plan. Closer inspection reveals a central vacuum, sophisticated security system, a large safe room, and fully-automated exterior landscape lighting system. There is a wind-protected spa, a three car garage and a large driveway and entrance that can accommodate up to ten vehicles.

Savvy real estate investors will appreciate that locations such as this are rare finds and that at $2.6 million, this 1999 estate is priced well under replacement value. For additional information or an appointment to preview this property, please call Roberta Murphy (760-402-9101) or Scott Murphy at 760-613-6190.

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