Like most people, luxury home buyers look for a location and size that meet their needs. They look for amenities that enhance their lifestyle, fit their character, and add prestige to their homes. As you can imagine, paint, floor coverings, and window treatments will be changed to meet the new owner´s taste, but aside from these basics luxury home buyers continue to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on the most sophisticated options and upgrades. According to industry insiders, many spend 20% of the base price on extras, and in today´s market they have more options to choose from than ever before. Some popular options include:
     

Today´s luxury homes are packed with amenities and offer his-and-her features:

One for him, one for her

His-and-her sinks in the bathroom have morphed into his-and-her bathrooms.  Separate closets, dual dressing rooms, separate garages (she´s near the kitchen), and his-and-her living areas are also increasingly common features in million dollar properties.  In short, gender-specific rooms are all the rage with affluent homeowners.  She may enjoy a yoga room while he has a cigar room/gentleman´s retreat.  He spends time on his backyard putting green while she entertains friends in her sitting/reading room.  His closet boasts quality paneling while hers has climate controlled fur storage and a ball gown section.  Alas, they may have to share the suitcase/packing room. And, of course, they each have a home office with broadband Internet access.  

More than one Kitchen

The gourmet kitchen is the feature most in demand by luxury home buyers.  In addition to a main kitchen, homes have special catering kitchens, mini-master bedroom kitchens, and complete outdoor kitchens (most likely his!).

The gourmet kitchen has also been updated.  Granite countertops are increasingly popular with freestanding furniture style cabinetry (on legs!) teamed with stainless steel appliances highlight up-to-date kitchens.  Translucent glass tiles, in lieu of ceramic tiles, complete cutting edge kitchen decor. 

Showers are hot

The stress relief bath is also an important amenity in luxury properties. Roomy, multiple-head steam or rain showers are gaining popularity while the newest bathtubs are bright with LED lights.  These chromotherapy tubs let you change light color according to your mood.  Luminous glass tiles are also showing up in the bath as is the "fixture as furniture" look.

What else might you expect in your new million plus property?  More square footage. Million dollar homes most likely measure-in at least 4,000 square feet or more in the main house. Guest cottages, pool houses, courtyards, porches, butlers´ pantries, are common features in luxury properties.

Don´t forget the out-of-doors

Affluent homeowners have stepped outside and rediscovered gardening. Multiple gardens, potting sheds, man-made streams and waterfalls, garden accessories and garden art are more important than ever.