The definition of a luxury home has less to do with price per square foot or actual cost, but rather, the quality of workmanship that goes into a home. The special custom features that accent the home are important because they reflect the home buyer’s character or taste in an individual way. A luxury home should include some design flourishes that add to quality of life, highlight interiors or exteriors in an artistic way, and are made from materials that last for a long time.

Square Footage is Not the Definition of a Luxury Home

Many builders and home buyers confuse large square footage homes with a luxury home. A 2,000 square foot home could be defined as a luxury home or a 6,000 square foot home, that is just a big box, built with cheaper materials. It may not be classified as a luxury home.

Custom Features in Luxury Homes

In some of the luxury homes, the stair rails are custom made. You may find a stone harp on a cathedral ceiling, or a slab of redwood for a fireplace mantle. The redwood would be imported from a reliable source, and the finest cut of redwood available. Some other details would be faucets, light fixtures, custom stonework, custom embellishments on the front or back of the house, hardwood floors, and custom windows or windowpanes. These are among the features that make a house a unique luxury home, though this is not a definitive list.

Today, there are some common amenities the contemporary home buyer may want to add to a luxury home. These include billiard rooms, wet bars, wine cellars, home theaters, outdoor fireplaces, home offices, home gyms. In warmer climates, swimming pools, outdoor kitchens, and outdoor living rooms are commonly requested additions to luxury homes.

A luxury home is well-planned and executed. This means that the home utilizes space to the optimum potential for the homeowner. Many of the mansions which have been built in the last decade are constructed with number of extra bedrooms. This is not the best use of space when only two adults are living in 4,000-6,000 square feet of space. Even with just one or two children, this sort of space can be adjusted to fit a billiard room, wet bar, home theater, or home gym instead. Any of these features would add to the quality of life of the inhabitants of the home and make better use of space then extra bedrooms.

This is merely a short list of some of the amenities and special custom features that can be added to a luxury home. The list could be as unique as the owners’ imagination. For those looking for a custom builder, remember to look for a builder with a number of years of experience and good references. Attention to detail, as well as an ability to hire the right subcontractors to install the custom features correctly, is a must. Finally, if you are looking to build a custom home, know your budget. This way you will be able to decide upon the specific building materials used, and the design in advance.