Luxury Home Trends!

One of the best ways to update your home and ensure a good resale value is to adopt trends from the luxury home market. These cutting edge trends eventually find their way into the new construction market and become mainstream styles. While most households can't afford in-home elevators or a custom wine cellar, here are a few of the affordable latest luxury home must-haves that are well on their way to new homes across the nation.

In the Kitchen

Warming drawer - Better than the warm setting in your oven, warming drawers keep foods hot and moist until guests arrive or the rest of the meal is ready.

Refrigerating oven - Program it to refrigerate during the day then log on remotely to start the cooking and have your meal ready when you get home.

Multi-level islands - A raised portion of a kitchen island adds dimension, a comfortable eating surface and, if placed strategically, can mask the clutter around a sink or stovetop area.

Three-door refrigerator - Two French doors on the top and a large one-drawer freezer on the bottom make for easier access to the items you use most.

Food prep sink - An extra sink doesn't need to take up a lot of precious counter space but in a large kitchen it can improve the work flow and even encourage others to participate in the food preparation.

In the Bath

Vertical spas - One of the hottest trends in today's baths, these incorporate multiple showerheads, water diverters and sophisticated temperature control systems into your shower.

Heated tile floors - Add to the spa feeling with cozy radiant heat under tile flooring. If you're considering new flooring, this is easy to install and a big selling point.

Towel warming drawers - This luxury trend started in the kitchen and is taking electric towel bars to a new level by warming up your robe and slippers.

Stone countertops - Granite, marble and soapstone come in natural colors that complement most bathroom cabinets. They're also easier to keep clean compared to traditional tile.

In the Master Suite

Fireplace - Gas fireplaces are quickly becoming fixtures in luxury homes. Builders are maximizing their effect by constructing them into a wall adjacent to the master bathroom so they can be seen from both sides.

Walk-in closets - Walk-ins are almost required in new homes today, but the luxury market has taken them to a whole new level with the addition of extravagant cabinetry and center islands with storage drawers.

Outside

Outdoor kitchens - More and more homeowners are taking their cooking and entertaining out back with the addition of fully functional kitchens that include grills, custom cabinets and worktops, and even wood-fired ovens.

Heated patios - An emerging trend in cooler climates, radiant-heated patios and driveways melt snow and ice and keep walkways safe.

Whether you are thinking of selling soon, or simply want to enjoy the benefit of upgrading your home while you're still living there, these affordable luxury trends are certain to hold their appeal for years to come.

Americans to Spend More than $232 Billion on Home Remodeling in 2007!

Americans will spend nearly $233 billion on home remodeling this year, according to the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) 2007 industry forecast. That represents a 1.9 percent increase from the record $228 billion spent in 2006, according to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Driving the remodeling market are the size and characteristics of the housing stock. With an average age of 33 years and rising, older homes require more remodeling - both in terms of upgrading features to compete with new construction as well as maintaining their physical quality. Though remodeling is somewhat cyclical with new construction, homeowners cannot put off a major repair like a leaky roof as they can discretionary upgrades, and that stabilizes the industry during slower housing markets.
(Source: NAHB) Full Story . . .