What defines a luxury home?

Many estate agents firmly believe that they know what defines a luxury home and will bombard the public with adverts that promote us to indulge in opulence and promise that the property will make you feel pampered and living the life of luxury. While the glossy brochures and virtual tours may impress many, you often find that the features offered don’t justify the exorbitant price tag of a luxury home.

In our opinion, there six key and essential features that define luxury.

Living space
Generous living space is the primary requirement of any well-designed home. Luxury homes must offer spacious living rooms as well as four or more bedrooms with an open floor plan. Each room would ideally have under floor heating, air-conditioning, premium branded fittings and the obligatory in-home entertainment system. The number of bedrooms in a project should equal the number of available car parking spaces on the driveway.

A grand entrance hall and a well designed lobby is a must. The ceiling is also equally important, as height adds to the overall spaciousness. Some interior designers will focus on one or two pieces of furniture or spaces that make a statement. Often the entrance is the focal point of the home along with the kitchen. Some designers also state that the “luxury feel” is severely compromised if the floor-to-ceiling height is less than 12 feet. Also, homes with a low ceiling do not lend themselves optimally for interior design choices.

Attention to detail in every aspect is a must. From the door knobs, the electric switches, the paint or the kind of lighting are key components to setting your home apart from the rest.

Add-ons
The location is the second, and some would say important, consideration. Local amenities available in the complex are important too. Limitations in the size of the driveway, the number of parking spaces, a narrow road outside the home, heavy traffic congestion when heading home every day, don’t add up to luxury.

Unless you’re looking for solitude and are willing to compromise ease of entry etc for security and a quiet life, you must look for something with easy access to major routes and airports etc.

Add ons such as a state-of-the-art gymnasium, temperature-controlled swimming pool with body jets, saunas, home offices etc are all on the wane. Luxury home owners are more than likely to look for a hot tub, orangery, in-home cinema, games room, wine cellar and extra garage space than a swimming pool that they’ll rarely use.

Exclusivity
One key must-have in a luxury home above all is exclusivity. Luxury is an individual and highly subjective matter, but when it comes to owning a luxury home, no one wants to have the same home as the next door neighbours. Luxury projects typically have a limited inventory so that the elitist factor is maintained. We found a small number of developers in the UK that offer homes that are for sale by invitation only and each property is designed by potential purchasers.

Unique value
More utilitarian home owners may see technology as a value-add on. High-speed internet connectivity with fibre optics, home automation systems and smart homes are now firmly on the menu. This includes wi-fi enabled homes with one-touch control of ambient light, climate control and security with video phones. A luxury home remains pristine if well maintained and so finding the right home cleaning service and or house keeper is also essential.

Security
Another consideration that’s over looked often is home security. High value homes attract attention from those that see them as an easy target. Over the past few years high profile sports people have been robbed at home or burgled and it makes you question their security arrangements. More and more luxury home owners are moving away from panic buttons and safe rooms and into close protection officers and the ultimate deterrent the K9 bodyguard.

Your style
The luxury home reflects its owners style. Designer features that do not match your personality and definition of lifestyle will make you feel out of place. So you may want to check on the customisation that can be done to suit your lifestyles. Every room should reflect you and your family, be useful and not just a piece to fill a space.

Rich pickings
Price is often seen as the biggest luxury but does a home costing £5 million automatically become a luxury home. Certainly not in London but maybe in that safe haven for footballers, Alderley Edge in Cheshire. A home of that price would be the height of luxury and good taste.

There is no magic price that is a threshold for luxury homes. Just watching Grand Design or The Renovation Man will bear testament to that.

At the moment a prime location for luxury homes is Surrey. Is it because of the close proximity of Chelsea FC’s training ground or the ease of transport into London? Unlike in the past luxury is now extending to suburbs and weekend homes away from the city. Holiday homes by the beach or a river, with views of back-water or hills are popular choices for luxury property. Apartment complexes are increasingly viewed as luxury too. They offer open space, living space and the privacy of an independent home with a host of other amenities.

For us a luxury property is one that has been custom built. From the initial design of the floor plan, the discussion over materials, key features, amenities all designed exclusively for you. But often, luxury homes follow certain common design features that are appreciated by the buyers in the segment and customised to suit your unique tastes and needs.