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California
Luxury Homes
California has something called
"cultural lead" and often starts trends which
spread across the rest of the country. This also happens
in housing trends and is exhibited in the finest California
luxury homes.
Some of these trends represent the future of residential
architecture.
Click on the following related
article links and learn more about California's trends
below.
Real
Estate values locally
Types of homes
Custom building |
The latest trends in the California
market
One such trend is adding a "patina" to get an aged
appearance on exterior and interior finishes and surfaces.
This is just one example of the lengths to which builders
of luxury and custom homes will go to please picky clients.The
interest in luxury homes means those wealthy enough to afford
the newest in home design are often the tastemakers and harbingers
of future housing trends.
California Luxury Homes
Today's hot amenities include basketball
courts, exercise spas, home theaters, prayer rooms, walk-in
cold-storage lockers and safe rooms. Below are some of the
more popular features in California's luxury homes:
- Specialty rooms are popular. Basketball
courts and gyms are being built, and wine cellars are moving
up to the ground floor level.
- Some people want massage rooms
to relax from their high-stress lives.
- Master baths are big enough for
a lounge or seating.
- People are looking for non-traditional
spaces, such as yoga studios and exercise spas, they
want more than just traditional workout machines.
- Some homes have two family rooms,
two or three laundries, two exercise areas -one for the
kids, one for the adults. Also, many have two offices -
usually mom's is off the kitchen.
- One item that appears to be diminishing
in popularity is the vaulted two-story ceiling.
People want the floor space.
- Elevators are growing in popularity,
and not just for older couples. Elevators are becoming standard
in luxury homes. They even
are being built into townhouses, (even though prices for
an elevator begin at $15,000 to $20,000).
- Outdoor space is hot - including
pools, fire pits, barbecues. Outdoor living is important,
and especially attractive in Southern California.
- Shallow-depth wading pools are popular
and rectangular pools are coming back because of the need
for safety covers that only are made in rectangular sizes.
- There is resurgence in enclosed
porches and areas which may be opened or closed off to the
weather. These days some people want to make them year-around
rooms and put in fireplaces.
- Homes are often designed to take
advantage of whatever views are available based on the specific
site.
- Custom buyers have embraced home
theaters and plasma televisions. Home theaters are almost
standard. Home walls and floor plans are now
designed around plasma TVs and luxury homes have as many
as three.
- Software programming for the whole-house
electronic system.
- One high-tech area that continues
to be in demand is home security. A
number of custom homes are being outfitted with multiple
security cameras that are tied to the TVs. Some buyers are
even asking for safe rooms, as an escape from intruders
or terrorists as seen in the movie "Panic Room".
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