luxuryspaces.net

Who says luxury spaces always has to have the function of opulence, take a look at some of the greenest homes around and they are all of the criteria you may look for in a luxury home. There are however sacrifices that have to be made in terms of the way you live and how you live life outside of the home to be truly committed to the greening of the world. Light bulbs are one simple way to help reduce carbon emissions, switching to LED or CFL’s are proven to reduce some of the energy needs. Most appliances today come with stand-by options that leads to vampire power, or power that is minimal yet still consumes a few hundred dollars a year as it piles up. Better to install switched Read the rest…

Several model gardens that are not only green but sustainable as well, with sensors that monitors the soil moisture, delivering only the necessary amount required by the plant to thrive. Waste water management has also been addressed with some gardens using nature to filter household waste water from the many sources into a natural recycling and filtration system that gives water so clean even fish can thrive. Weeds, rotting trees and other garden refuse are turned into compost, along with animal waste making the soil naturally rich and fertile. Refraining from using insecticides Read the rest…

The term bio gas or methane, has been around for a long long time and it is once again a promising source of free energy in a home where waste (the stuff you flush down the toilet) is fed to billions of bacteria that in turn produces methane, a highly flammable gas that if released to the atmosphere would be like sending energy to the clouds. It is also a greenhouse gas which makes disposal of the gas for other, more greener uses a must. Commercial farms have realized the benefits of self-power generation through bio gas digesters and the same can be said for the home, especially large ones with many occupants. Laboratories in waste management have been developing ways of harnessing this free energy source, minus the foul odor that is, turning it into free energy by Read the rest…

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when decorating your home is to not choose your furniture wisely - which often times involves impulse buying. Your furniture is important because most of them are long-term investments. Even if you’re not overly concerned with money, it always is a hassle when you keep changing furniture. So before you buy one (or a set), keep in mind the things you want for your home. Visualize the style of the furniture you want so it’ll match whatever theme you have for your home’s design. Remember also that whatever piece of furniture you buy should always have a purpose, and not simple be for decorative purposes only. Furniture takes up a lot of space, so when buying, choose not only something that looks good, but something useful as well.

Luxury is the illusion of opulence that may have started when our medieval ancestors saw it to surround themselves with the bounty of their ventures. Gold guilt furniture, silk curtains and many other exotic stuff adorned the castles of old and so goes the story of luxury which we strive to attain so much in this modern day and age. True to this, we also crave for exotic and hard-to find stuff such as antiques and other items you don’t find at the local mall. From family heirloom’s to priceless works of art, we bring them into our homes to bring a sense of grandness to our humble abodes how ever small they may be.Silk and other exotic items of past are now quite common yet they are still quite expensive.
Read the rest…

Having a luxurious vacation home in some far away beach offers a peaceful getaway for those boring holidays, which is around a couple of weeks the most a year. Considering this, most property owners opt to rent out their properties to vacationers who use them off season when the owners don’t have plans. Renting out is a good idea but it also adds to the amount of maintenance needed for the said property as they are used over and over again. Proper maintenance is key to keeping the property working and pleasing to you and your prospective renters.
Having strictly private areas in the home is a good idea such as a corner where the family stays and sleeps. Kitchens and dens may be used casually but secured against theft. You should also have a properly prepared contract that should be mandatory to cover all the bases so to speak.

Image Source: thehomesteadgroup.com

Second, begin gathering up moving boxes as early as possible. You can buy or ask for some boxes from your neighborhood stores. Boxes that were once used to carry fragile items like glasses and bottles are ideal for you. Ensure that all the boxes are clean and well-built, they can be supported with packaging or duct tapes. Number and label each box properly and don’t forget to indicate what is inside, so that your things will be treated accordingly. For example, if you label the box fragile, the movers will know that inside is something breakable and will proceed to handle it with care. As added precaution, write your name on each and every box and make a list of its contents to make sure that nothing will get lost.

Image Source:z.about.com

Majority of people have their vacations during peak season, hence the phrase “peak season”. But there are also those who prefer to go somewhere in the colder months because thay want to: avoid the crush of people in vacation spots during peak season and take advantage of off season vacation rates. Your goal as an investor is to make your vacation home synonymous with value for vacation money.

Here are a few things that are sure to help.

• Winterize your advertising. Emphasize amenities in your house like a jacuzzi and sauna room. Use inviting words like snuggle, cuddle, cozy and warm. Tickle their fancy and paint tempting pictures like “Imagine yourself gazing at picturesque vistas of snow-capped mountains while half submerged in the warm jacuzzi bubbles gently playing around you.” Then add an off season photo or two of the house to your website.

• Give off season promotions. An example would be book “one night and get one night free” in the same suite. People love good bargains and they anticipate one in winter. When you get inquiries from a caller hoping to book in the summer, offer them a “winter rate” like 40% discount on a weekend booking - that way, they can inspect the place earlier. Or, your off season promo can go like this: Make 2 off season bookings and your third off season booking is free. What’s important is for you to be creative while not forgetting about your bottom line.

• Make the most of holidays. Early November is not early to put up a Christmas tree or deck the halls with boughs of holly. People from all walks of life, from 9 to 99 are sure to enjoy the holiday trimmings.

Are you ready for the world’s first billion-dollar home? In this age of economic crisis, the idea of such extravagance feels like its bordering on sinful. Well, apparently to Mukesh Ambani, the fifth richest man in the world, and his wife Nita, if you’ve got it, flaunt it. The head of Mumbai, India-based petrochemical giant Reliance Industries is building the world’s largest and most expensive home: a 27-story skyscraper in downtown Mumbai that will be 50 feet high with 400,000 square feet of interior space, all with a cost nearing $2 billion. They contracted the services of architecture firms Perkins + Will and Hirsch Bedner Associates, the designers behind the Mandarin Oriental, based in Dallas and Los Angeles. Once finished, the Ambani home, called Antilla, is set to have six stories of parking lots, a lobby with nine elevators, a ballroom, a health level with an ice room where guests can escape the Mumbai heat with man-made snow, a four-story open garden and entertaining spaces for the business guests.

Image Source: www.bornrich.org
Luxurious condos are also on the rise. While the ownership of these are centered more around a buyer looking for a quality lifestyle, extravagant amenities, and great locations, there are many that are willing to pay the price. In Florida last year, a 4,800 square foot condominium was sold for $4.65 million dollars. In 2005, California experienced a 90% jump in condominiums priced over one million. There were 1,677 condo sales, all in the one million dollar price range. Many of these luxury condominiums are located in areas of wealth and many have top-notch views. Amenities in such luxury condos may include quality furnishings, such as appliances, granite counter tops, and window treatments. Many luxury condo buyers like the fact that the properties are secure and feel their items of wealth are protected in this type of environment and they don’t have to pay the added cost of security. Condo hotel developments are on the rise in larger cities, as well. This type of luxury living affords one the opportunity of living in their own condominium with all the amenities of hotel living, such as room service, maid service, and concierge service. Research shows the average condo hotel buyer to be between the ages of 35 and 50 years old and many simply are purchasing them as both an investment property and vacation property.