With a high-end renovation, the sky's the limit. You can rip out walls and change the entire layout of your house, update your aesthetic, install a multitude of luxury home features, and make any other additions you can dream up.
The only problem with limitless possibilities is deciding which features you want to include in your remodel. Our team is here to help. Check out this list of high-end home essentials that our clients love:
Luxury Home Remodeling Features
Additional High-End Home Features
What is the Most Popular Home Upgrade?
What's Next? Finding a Luxury Remodeling Company
LUXURY HOME REMODELING FEATURES
1. THE PRIMARY SUITE
Your bedroom and bath should make you feel happy, comfortable, and relaxed. Start with windows that welcome natural light and give you the best views possible. We recommend adding a sitting area inside your bedroom where you can lounge after a long day or read a few pages of your favorite book in the morning. Nearby, place a bar with your favorite snacks, drinks, and maybe even a coffee pot programmed to brew before your alarm goes off so you can wake up to that delicious, rich coffee smell in the air. Of course, you'll also need a spacious walk-in closet with custom storage, display cases, and a dressing room.
The next priority is creating a spa-style bathroom because who doesn't want a personal spa for pampering? If you love soaking, by all means, include a soaker tub, but don't bother if it's a trendy addition that you'd seldom use. A glass-enclosed, walk-in shower or open wet room with multiple shower heads usually is high on homeowners' lists. Don't forget separate sinks and vanity areas, plenty of storage, and in-floor heat. Other possible upscale touches include towel warmers and high-end toilets.
2. CREATIVE KIDS ROOMS
An exquisite primary suite is a boon for you, but don't forget to treat your little family members too! Kids love rooms that are fun, unique, and super creative. Customize your kids' rooms to their personalities and interests, and use these ideas to stimulate their imaginations!
Built-in-Bunk
Here's an example of a kid's bedroom that's more than a bedroom. The owners built a bunk bed at one end of the room. Kids climb a "tree" to get into bed. The sleeping area also includes built-in bookshelves for storing whatever your child wants nearby at night. The area below the bed can be closed off with curtains to create a separate, private space for reading or just being alone.
Blackboard Wall
We've all seen the cartoons in which kids get in trouble for drawing on the walls. What if you could actually encourage the young artist in your family to draw and write on the walls of their room? Blackboard walls are a simple (and relatively inexpensive) way to accomplish just that. Encourage your kids to "decorate" it any way they want and ensure it comes with an adequate supply of colorful chalk. Another benefit is that you can leave your child notes at night that will greet them when they wake up — so cute!
3. GRAND ENTRYWAY
You want your visitors to feel like they have arrived somewhere special when they walk in. An impressive entryway that's spacious, has a vaulted ceiling, and features a grand staircase leading to the second story should do the trick!
Homeowners sometimes focus so much on curb appeal and living spaces that they forget the importance of this first impression. When you walk inside your home, is it poorly lit? Are you constantly finding clutter in your entryway when what you should see is a pleasing design? Expanding your entrance or adding windows might be a perfect solution.
4. Additions
High-end renovations often include adding more space. If you live in a one-story home, this might mean adding on a second floor. You can also increase your outdoor living space (more on that below), and you might consider installing shed dormers to make a steep roof pitch more spacious inside. Otherwise, a bump-out can add 50 or 100 square feet to your home without dramatically changing your home's exterior footprint.
5. HIGHER CEILINGS
High ceilings dramatically improve airflow and the look and feel of your home. They imbue a sense of grandeur that's difficult to achieve with other remodeling techniques. Raising a ceiling can be complicated, especially if it involves increasing the whole level or the roof. Still, it is well worth it if you're trying to achieve a luxurious, sophisticated home.
6. OUTDOOR LIVING
Yes, Portland has its weather challenges, but it's possible to design an outdoor space that can be a delight even in a cloudy, rainy climate. There's no question that spending time outdoors is good for you, and a pleasant, comfortable space that allows you to do that dramatically increases your quality of life. So be sure to put livable landscaping and outdoor living spaces high on your list of essentials.
If you have a relatively plain yard that is mostly grass, you may have a lot of room to get creative. You might be wondering, does adding a fence increase property value? Yes, but adding other things, such as an outdoor kitchen, allows you to take advantage of better weather days, with much more space for entertaining and a much better increase in property value. Installing hardscaping provides the perfect base for an extensive grill setup, preparation stations, and seating for the family or guests. Sturdy shading keeps you covered, whether it's sunny or raining.
7. OUTDOOR POOL AREA
What better way to accentuate your outdoor living area than putting in a pool? Whether you want a place to relax and sunbathe or roughhouse with the kids, a pool is an addition you'll be glad to have. Here's a look at an outdoor pool area (that also includes an outdoor kitchen, eating area, and seating area) that was part of a whole home remodel we did in Lake Oswego. The owners can swim laps or relax in the built-in hot tub and enjoy the fantastic view from the infinity pool. It's hard to imagine a more relaxing setting.
8. HOME THEATER
Watching movies at home can be so much more than simply sitting on the couch with a bag of microwave popcorn. If your family enjoys browsing through the latest Netflix offering or watching classic movies from home, do so in comfort and style. Adding the proper lighting and window coverings can improve your experience. And don't forget about insulation or soundproofing so that you can crank up the volume when you want without disturbing other household members. While you're at it, add a snack bar for all your favorite movie munchies and custom storage for your film collection.
9. HOME GYM
No one loves the idea of driving to a crowded gym to share equipment with total strangers — yuck! A home gym can be the answer to that dilemma. You can select the equipment that best serves your specific workout needs and choose a décor that matches your sense of style. Of course, you'll want to engage a remodeler who will ensure that the room you remodel will handle the equipment you plan to use — and will be a comfortable and healthy environment in which to exercise.
10. WINE CELLAR/TASTING ROOM/Home Bar
Have the superb beverages from Oregon Wine Country turned you into an oenophile? Whether you simply enjoy sipping a glass of wine on occasion or enjoy collecting and sharing wine with your friends, you may want to think about adding a place to store the fruit of the vine. Your choices can range from installing a small free-standing wine refrigerator to creating a full-blown cellar and wine tasting room to enjoy vintages. Explore your wine storage options and choose the right solution for your wants and needs.
11. HOME OFFICE
As increasing numbers of us work from home regularly, the home office has become one of those must-have modern home features. Whether you occasionally work from home, do it daily, or have side projects you need a space to work on, you'll want an office space that allows you to be comfortable and productive. Simply shoving a desk into a spare bedroom doesn't create the kind of environment that's conducive to doing your best work. A well-designed home office, on the other hand, inspires your creativity and can help you focus.
Picture a room with a spot for everything related to your work. Start with the walls in a configuration that maximizes natural lighting and provides plenty of space for whiteboards, projector screens, or vision boards. Install a desk that is the perfect size for every project, with a supportive chair that is easy to adjust on the fly. Add organization, like drawers, file cabinets, and recessed shelving for books or binders. If you have room, create a separate station for the kids to do their homework. You will have a haven of productivity without having to give up your kitchen table.
12. A MULTI-PURPOSE GARAGE
Garages are often one of the most underused spaces in the home. But garages aren't just for cars anymore! You can turn your garage into a multi-purpose space that meets more of your needs or lets you pursue your hobbies. With proper planning (and some imagination), you and your remodeler can create a woodworking workshop or the perfect place to fix up that vintage car you've been eyeing. You can even create built-in tool chests so that your tools are right at hand — without taking up floor space.
ADDITIONAL HIGH-END HOME FEATURES
What we've highlighted here is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to high-end home remodeling. Depending on your desires and your budget, you might want to add some of the following features to your wish list:
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Hot tub or sauna
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Indoor pool
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Library (with rolling ladder, of course)
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Hidden passageway (swinging bookcase or mirror, pass-through wardrobe)
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High-end doghouse
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Dog shower
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Indoor basketball court
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Climbing wall
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Tennis court (indoor or out)
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Home arcade/game room (ping-pong, air hockey, foosball, pachinko, pinball, pool)
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Bowling alley
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Gourmet kitchen
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Outdoor kitchen
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Putting green
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Built-in aquarium
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Playground for kids
WHAT IS THE MOST POPULAR HOME UPGRADE?
The most popular home improvement in modern dream houses depends on the home. As a general rule, homeowners look to remodel the kitchen and the bathrooms with the highest frequency. Since these rooms get the most use in the home and can become outdated quickly, it's not surprising that they need surface updates every five to 10 years and a major overhaul at least once every 20 to 25 years. Besides those common projects, outdoor additions like a deck or patio are currently trending. They extend your outdoor living space, which is ideal for small homes or for people who enjoy entertaining. They also provide a great return when you're trying to keep a large project under budget.
Wondering how much all these upgrades cost? Read our blog on whole home remodeling costs for answers.
What's Next? Finding a Luxury Remodeling Company
Now that you have a sense of what to include in your home remodel, it's time to implement your plan. Your first step is to find a team you can trust with your home and vision.
With an all-encompassing design build process and artisanal attention to detail, COOPER Design Build might be the right choice for you. Our in-house designers are experts at turning lackluster homes into jaw-dropping sanctuaries.
Schedule a consultation to start building your dream home today.
