Luxury home buyers and sellers had a busy year in 2014. According to a recent Redfin report, sales of homes priced over a million dollars have steadily increased over the past year, outpacing the rest of the housing market. It’s clear there’s a demand for luxury, but what features are these buyers after?
When you have that much cash to spend, you can be picky. Interior design trends change every year, and buyers of luxury homes want the latest. We’ve been checking out new luxury home listings each week to find interesting ones to feature in the “UnReal Estate of the Week” series on the Redfin blog. As we browsed through the listings, we started to notice a few home features and interior designs popping up all over the place. These trends were confirmed by Redfin agents, who are out touring luxury homes with clients on a daily basis.
Here are the top 10 luxury home design trends of 2014, based on our research and insights from Redfin agents:
“It used to be all about the Jacuzzi tub, but now luxury home buyers are demanding luxurious showers as well,” said Charlie Baker, a Redfin real estate agent in San Diego. “Since most people take more showers than baths, they want to have a stand-alone shower with multiple shower heads.”
“One quick way to warm up after a dip in the pool is to curl up next to a fire, and now that fire is just steps away,” said Roseann Cossman, a Redfin real estate agent in Phoenix. “I’m seeing a lot of fire pits and gas fireplaces being placed right next to the pool.”
3. Tasting Rooms
This Golden, Colorado, home features a tasting room adjacent to the wine cellar. It’s located at 18716 W 56th Dr. and is listed by Paul Stone at Redfin.
“Wine cellars are no longer a cold dark place in the basement,” said Paul Stone, a Redfin real estate agent in Denver. “Now, homeowners are making them into comfortable living areas, where they can host tastings with friends.”
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This home for sale in Woodbridge, Virginia, has a kitchen with all-white cabinets, a 2014 trend. It’s located at 4255 Windermere View Pl and is listed by Anna Schwoerer at Redfin.
“Natural-colored wood cabinets are out,” said Anna Schwoerer, a Redfin real estate agent in Virginia. “Now, high-end kitchens have cabinets that are white, gray or black, with matching or contrasting countertops.”
5. Quartz Countertops
Quartz countertops, like the ones in this San Diego home for sale, are becoming popular. This home is located at 3628 Felton St. and is listed by Jordan Clarke at Redfin.
“Granite countertops have become outdated in kitchens; the new standard for luxury properties is quartz or other unique materials like sandstone,” said Jordan Clarke, a Redfin real estate agent in San Diego. “Quartz comes with a few benefits over granite; it is not as porous and therefore requires less maintenance, it is less prone to staining and it is better able to withstand abuses during its lifetime. Homebuyers are wowed when they see it!”
6. Beautiful Powder Rooms
This home for sale in Encinitas, California was built by Wiegand Neglia Communities and has a beautifully designed half-bath. It is located at 3445 Via Monteverde and is listed by Charlie Baker at Redfin.
“Powder rooms or half-baths used to be a forgotten area of the house when it came to interior design,” Baker said. “But lately high-end homeowners have given them just as much attention as the rest of the house.”
7. Neutral Dining Rooms
Neutral tones, like the ones in this Alexandria, Virginia, home for sale, have become the norm. This home is located at 6401 Fairland St and is listed by Roy Kohn at Redfin.
“A lot of the dining rooms that I’ve seen in luxury homes have dark wood tables with white chairs, a neutral shade of paint and a neutral rug,” said Roy Kohn, a Redfin real estate agent in Northern Virginia. “Often the only pops of color are in the place settings or art on the wall.”
8. Sticker Murals in Kids’ Rooms
It’s now common to see murals in kids’ bedrooms that match their personality. This one is located in Silver Spring, Maryland, and is listed by Margaret Plumly at Redfin.
“Sticker murals are a great way to make a kids’ room fun without having to paint,” said Margaret Plumly, a Redfin real estate agent in Silver Spring, MD. “High-end homeowners want to give their children a room that feels like it was made just for them.”
9. Outdoor Kitchens with Fireplaces
This home for sale in Golden, Colorado, has a large outdoor living area. It’s located at 18716 W 56th Dr. and is listed by Paul Stone at Redfin.
“Backyards are becoming places to lounge during the summer, with full kitchens, fireplaces and televisions,” Stone said. “Having a place to host friends for a barbecue has become important for many high-end buyers.”
10. Natural-Looking Pools
The natural stone waterfall and landscaping make this pool in Prince William, Virginia, a beautiful addition to the backyard. The home is located at 4255 Windermere View Pl and is listed by Anna Schwoerer at Redfin.
“Luxury homeowners want their pool to blend in with the environment,” Schwoerer said. “It should be a beautiful part of the backyard, not an eyesore.”
To tour any of these homes for sale or other luxury homes in your area, get in touch with a Redfin real estate agent today. Let us know which luxury home feature you wish you had in your home on Facebook, Twitter, G+ or in the comments below.
If you are represented by an agent, this is not a solicitation of your business. This article is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for professional advice from a medical provider, licensed attorney, financial advisor, or tax professional. Consumers should independently verify any agency or service mentioned will meet their needs. Learn more about our
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Alanna is the celebrity real estate expert at Redfin and oversees the Fun & Fabulous content for the Redfin Real-Time blog. Before coming to Redfin, Alanna was a local TV news producer and dabbled in the world of reality TV production. Her dream home would be a duplex in NYC with a balcony, washer/dryer and a dishwasher. Redfin is a full-service real estate brokerage that uses modern technology to make clients smarter and faster. For more information about working with a Redfin real estate agent to buy or sell a home, visit our Why Redfin page.
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