trends Archives - Luxury Home Digest

7 Luxury Home Trends for 2019

Roberta Murphy Thompson — Tue, 21 May 2019 20:25:58 +0000

Luxury home terrace

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.

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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

The post 7 Luxury Home Trends for 2019 appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

2008 Luxury Home Design Trends

Roberta Murphy — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 01:28:51 +0000

by Roberta Murphy

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.

Luxury Home Digest a Winner (and in good company!)

Roberta Murphy — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 01:17:27 +0000

by Roberta Murphy

Last nights annual New Years Eve bash at the Murphy home was lots of fun for all, and almost everyone was ready to drop kick 2007 out the door and welcome the promise of 2008 with open arms.

I thought 2007 had been put to rest (save for income tax drudgery); but when I opened todays email I discovered not one, but two 2007 accolades for Luxury Home Digest.

The first was an alert regarding RealEstateUndressed choice of the Luxury Home Digest article, Real Estate Fraud: Cash Back and Consequences as one of the real estate blogospheres top 7 articles for December 2007.

Very cool, I thought, and quickly went over to Larry Craguns site to express my thanks.

The next surprise email came from Zola Marquis at EliteChoice.

Zola (and crew?) had combed through the entire blogosphere to find the best 125 blogs for 2007 in diverse categories such as fashion, travel, wine and food, design, entertainment, advertising, best of the best, gadgets, automobile, social networking technology, sheer luxury, blogging forums and of course, real estate. Luxury Home Digest was chosen as one of the top six real estate blogs, sharing the stage with five outstanding real estate blogs (the comments are all Zolas):

Bawld Guy
Real Estate Investing through Purposeful Planning

Luxury Housing Trends
Home improvement ideas

Luxury Home Digest
Luxury resides here

Overseas Property Mall
Guide to international real estate investment

Realestalker

This blog talks about who lives where, whos buying and selling and for how much

Luxury Portfolio
Luxury Homes, Luxury Real Estate, and Luxury Homes for Sale From Luxury Portfolio

I am presenting Zola Marquis and Elite Choices entire list of winners, if only for my own future reference. These are all blogs I intend to visit:

BEST-OF-THE-BEST BLOGS

Buzz Machine
Anything & Everything

Brookly N Vegan
Music, Photos & News from a Vegan in Brooklun

Improve Everywhere
Improve everywhere causes scenes of chaos and joy in public places

Taking Illustrations

This online space makes fun of some things and sense of others through illustrations.

Strange Maps
When maps say it all

Tree Hugger
Space Dedicated to drive sustainability mainstream

Book Of Joe
Things that you need to know

GADGETS

Engagdet

News that drive your tech soul