Luxury vs traditional homes: Features that stand out

When people think about luxury homes, they typically know they are designed with high-end amenities and details. But what exactly are those details and amenities? Many of these details result in stunning differences that elevate a home and make it truly stand apart from a standard build. In 2023, there were several key amenities that became an expectation within luxury homes that result in stunning, elevated designs.

To fully understand the differences between luxury and non-luxury designs, the following six examples are trends you’re likely to see in high-end homes across the Triangle.

Garages in luxury homes aren’t just storage spaces for lawnmowers and leftover paint. Today’s garages have as much character and beauty as the inside of the homes. Luxury garages complete the home’s design and provide the same upscale experience as the rest of the home.

Luxury garages feature finished flooring such as a polyaspartic floor coating system, epoxy, polished concrete, or even stone. Garage doors match the home’s exterior to provide an elevated level of curb appeal. These spaces also feature windows, custom cabinetry, specialty storage, a smart technology to control the climate as well as the doors.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way people lived so greatly that luxury builders quickly responded to the growing needs of buyers. With an increase in online shopping and meal and grocery delivery services, builders started getting creative with a throwback to vestibules, which were used to protect the weather outside from the inside of the home. Today, this historic design has been reintroduced as an “Amazon room.”

Amazon rooms provide safety and convenience for packages you’ve ordered. These rooms feature smart technology to allow single door access to delivery drivers while you’re away, keeping deliveries safely out of sight while you’re away. Some even have refrigerators included in the room for an added level of convenience for grocery deliveries.

As natural colors, peaceful interiors, and layered textures remained popular this year, luxury builders responded with high-end stone designs throughout homes. From backsplashes to counters and tile to countertops, the stonework in luxury homes is intricately placed, elegant, and beautiful.

Brick, stone, and wood continue to combine for warm layers. Ecofriendly granite, quartz, limestone, and marble ensure a clean, luxurious look for any room while ensuring a home meets sustainable design standards. Meanwhile, bold, patterned tile provided additional attention to detail that makes a luxury home stand apart.

While many standard homes are built and sold without appliances included, luxury homes provide a much different experience for buyers. Most luxury homes are built with matching high-end appliances throughout the home. Chef’s kitchens, scullery pantries, under-the-counter refrigerators, and washers and dryers match the aesthetic of the home.

These appliances are part of the luxury home experience. Kitchens will be stocked with the favorite brand names that are icons in a luxury home: Wolf and Sub-Zero. Many of these appliances even feature the latest in technology with touch screens, WiFi capabilities, and more to make the experience even better.

A luxury home wouldn’t be quite the same place without spaces designed specifically for owners to pamper their pets. Known as “barkitecture,” builders are answering the demand for this growing trend by giving luxury homebuyers custom-crafted spots where they can spoil and care for their pets with ease.

A modern luxury home has numerous spots designed with four legged friends in mind. Designated dog wash stations keep mud and dirt contained with the help of flexible faucets and elevated platforms. Built in food and water bowls are staple within a kitchen, allowing the bowls to be tucked away when not in use. Under-the-counter refrigerators are built into cabinetry, too, creating a dedicated spot for refrigerated pet foods for additional convenience.

From the smallest hardware touches to crown molding, the attention to detail in luxury homes is exceptional. And it’s often those details that take a home to the next level. A non-luxury may have some nicer materials included, but not nearly at the same level as a luxury home.

Luxury builders will go above and beyond to put in stunning decorative hardware for doors, cabinets, windows, and fixtures. Window walls that allow light and the outdoors to come in through expansive views are growing in popularity in luxury homes. And the materials luxury builders use, such as automatic and energy efficient windows and doors provide ease for transitions when entertaining or relaxing. And special architectural details like crown molding, archways, exposed beams, and curved walls make a luxury home stand apart.

Luxury homes come at a higher cost, but it’s because they’re built with the details that make them truly stand apart.

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