Home security measures provide peace of mind, protect loved ones, and safeguard the significant possessions within it. However, achieving the right balance between aesthetics and safety in home security can be a challenge. Learn more about these security measures, both exterior and interior, and how to deploy them without compromising your home’s appeal in our quick guide to home security and balancing aesthetics and safety.

Exterior Security: Fences, Doors, and Security Gates

The first line of defense in any home security system is your property’s perimeter. Fences can serve as an effective deterrent for intruders while adding to your home’s appeal. Choose sturdy designs that are difficult to climb over and complement the overall look of your house. Stone, brick, and cast iron are all great options. Jagged coping or stone caps or spear-shaped cast iron spires can help to deter intruders from trying to climb over.

Security doors offer many benefits, and gates play a crucial role in home protection. They should be robust and durable, yet blend seamlessly with your home’s exterior design. Choose steel security doors and security storm doors that you can customize with coating colors and designs to blend with your home’s architectural style while bolstering defenses against intruders. Consider options with steel framing and advanced locking systems for added security.

Lighting and Motion Detectors

An artfully lit exterior can add significantly to your home’s aesthetic appeal as it also deters potential intruders. Strategic placement of lighting fixtures can highlight your home’s architectural features and landscape while illuminating dark corners where intruders might hide. Motion detectors add an extra layer of security, triggering lights, or alarms when they detect movement.

Interior Security: Windows and Alarm Systems

Security does not stop at your front door. Inside, consider installing security windows. These windows are tougher than standard glass, resisting break-ins while allowing natural light to flood your home.

Alarm systems, including fire and carbon monoxide detectors, are essential for your household’s safety. Modern systems offer sleek designs that can fit into any home décor, and you can remotely control most of them through an associated app on your phone.

Security Cameras: Eyes Where You Need Them

Security cameras have become more sophisticated and less obtrusive over the years. You can place them strategically to monitor key areas of your home, both inside and out. Many modern cameras blend seamlessly with their surroundings, ensuring they maintain your home’s aesthetic.

Integrating Aesthetics and Safety

Balancing aesthetics and safety, and our guide to home security, is all about integration. Choose security measures that complement your home’s design, whether it’s a sleek camera system, sophisticated alarm systems, or robust yet stylish doors and fences. By doing so, you can maintain your home’s appeal for eventual sale while ensuring its security.

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Wondering about Luxury Home Trends for 2019? Here are some things you might want to consider in your purchase or remodel of your luxury home.

By Jennifer Karami

While the average sale price for luxury homes nationwide rose 4.7 percent annually to $1,772,000 in the fourth quarter of 2018, a few things remain constant: the kinds of features and luxury home trends  associated with high end residences.

Money can buy you a lot of things, and in luxury homes, several amenities ring universal, says Los Angeles-based agent Alec Traub.

“The higher the price point, the more features buyers expect and that desire intensifies,” he said.

If you’re looking to buy or sell a luxe abode in 2019 –or just love daydreaming about them–these are the features and luxury home trends to watch this year.

1. Privacy

“In higher price points privacy is one of the things people are expecting. If you buy a $5 million home, you don’t want to see your neighbors or have someone on the street be able to walk up to your front door. People want gates, walls and hedges, but they must be aesthetically pleasing–no big chain link fence– especially somewhere like LA where you have a lot of celebrities, which adds a whole different layer to it as well.”

2. Smart Security

“In addition to the privacy element, there is the security element. Most homes these days on the higher end allow you to remotely control everything from lights, fireplace, pool, air conditioning and security cameras from an iPad or a phone. It’s something that’s almost come to be expected. Rather than, ‘that would be nice,’ it’s become, ‘that needs to have it.’

We’re also seeing super high tech safes hidden in closets for valuables like expensive jewelry, watches or purses. Or they’re being displayed in a way where you can’t just open a drawer and take something. You have to open up your closet drawer like you unlock your phone.”

3. Smaller Pools

“A pool is expected, but these days, no one really wants a big deep pool taking up the whole backyard. Instead, my clients are looking for smaller plunge pools that are almost glorified jacuzzis. While houses have been built bigger and take up more space on the lot, the pool is still something people still want and expect–just less of it.”

4. Guest Suites

“Luxury buyers I’m working with this year want guest suites. It doesn’t have to be detached–it could be downstairs off the garage, or a bedroom with en-suite bathroom that can be used for a live–in nanny or maid, or friends or family who come to visit. My clients want that extra space, as well as rooms that can be a home office, as well as a gym or workout room.”

5. Upscale Design Touches

“I’ve seen an emphasis on imported finishes–but pieces imported to LA from Italy as opposed to New Jersey. In the kitchen, an obvious design choice is still Ceasarstone or quartz over granite, but also high-end appliances. A $5 million home shouldn’t have Kitchenaid or GE. Not because they’re bad, but because they don’t fit with the narrative of a luxury home. Similarly, if there are sliding doors, my clients want them to be pocket doors that disappear into wall. Those are the kinds of added touches expected in a luxury home.”

6. The Power of Two

“A lot of homes I’ve shown have a trend of two. It’s no longer one stove and oven, now it’s two stoves, two ovens, two dishwashers, two sets of washers and dryers, and all upscale, designer brands. Luxury means never waiting or having dirty clothes or dishes.”

7. Overly Customized

“There is also a risk with ultra luxury homes in that features might be too customized to fit an individual need. I’ve seen houses where a musician put in a recording studio, and a basketball player had a full court. Those are things that won’t appeal to everyone, and as a result, can negatively affect a sale.”

We keep a close eye on luxury home trends and if you feel we have missed something that is up and coming, please feel free to comment!

Author bio: Jennifer Karami is a writer at Redfin, a technology-enabled real estate brokerage. Redfin’s mission is to redefine real estate in the customer’s favor

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