Luxurious living

Living large starts at home. Today the buzzword for realtors, developers and designers alike is luxury (just read a few ads for new properties or look up an MLS listing and you are bound to see the 'L' word). We have discovered that we don't have to book a vacation to a five-star resort to experience luxury; we simply have to go home.

Luxury at home doesn't have to cost a bundle. Let's begin by defining luxury. Luxury or a luxurious feeling comes from sensual textures (think of a cashmere throw across the arm of your favourite chair or a leather sofa that is so soft the leather actually feels as if it is melting into you like butter). Luxury also comes from convenience. Consider what item would make your life easier ? a coffee maker in the bathroom or steam system (complete with aromatherapy) built into your existing shower or a fireplace that conceals a flat-screen TV that pops up from the mantel when desired?

Sensual textures and convenience are the two checklist items that bring luxury home. The concept of luxury is different for all of us; your husband?s idea of luxury may be hidden wall speakers?yes, you can hide the speakers in the drywall so you never know they are there yet the room is filled with sound (check out Onsia Flat Panel Speakers). Or it may be a two-sink kitchen (I don't mean a double sink; I mean two separate sinks, one for prep or vegetables and one for washing dishes and other larger items). Or how about a six-burner stove instead of the standard four burners? Luxury could be remote-controlled window coverings or a built-in sparkling-water system such as Everpure's Exubera Sparkling & Chilled Water Dispenser, which is a filtered sparkling-water system that can be built into your bar.

Luxurious items enhance life at home?before you begin redesigning or building a new home, start to think about what you can bring into the home that will give you a true sense of luxury. Spoil yourself and say the 'L' word more often when talking about your living space.