In the News
Bring a touch of luxury into your home
Brenda L. Desjardins / Baltimore Business Journal’s 2008 Luxury Living Magazine
 Brenda L. Desjardins is a development consultant for The Residences at Bulle Rock, a resort-style community in Havre de Grace, Md. She can be reached at 410-939-8700 or through www.bullerock.com.
You no longer have to look in architectural magazines or watch HGTV to envision fabulous home amenities. Some can walk through their own houses to find these features. Others may be able to glean some ideas from these descriptions. Once considered off-limits to those outside of custom-built residences, these amenities are more readily available to all.
Gourmet kitchens
Gourmet kitchens aren’t just for Martha Stewart. Now, you can have the kitchen of any chef’s dreams. Today’s kitchens are often equipped with two islands to allow for expanded work space for the gourmet cook. Built-in sinks with cook pot steamers allow even the basic cook to master pasta and vegetable dishes.
Kitchen cabinets are finished as pieces of fine furniture and easily blend into more formal spaces. Appliance fronts can be fitted to match cabinets. And, more specialized finishes including brushed stainless or oiled bronze are easily available. The opportunity to view high end products at home improvement stores such as Expo Design Center has increased the demand for products and use on a daily basis.
Rooms with a view
As rooms and even interiors and exteriors spaces blend, windows, doors, patios and decks once considered exterior treatments now are important design elements. Sliding doors even French doors are now passé. Doors fold back and open full view to exterior living rooms.
Bringing the outside in, outdoor “built-ins” include gourmet gas grilles, fireplaces and full-weather flat screen televisions. Fountains, fish ponds and high end four seasons furniture extend inside living to the outside, while creating sensory buffers from the world beyond.
Spa-like baths
Luxury spa-like baths are where all the senses are lulled. Previously the epitome of luxury, soaking tubs and Jacuzzi baths are now standard features in many homes. Often, options can be added for steam rooms and saunas – allowing owners to experience spa treatment every day.
Some like it hot and running out of hot water is no longer a problem, thanks to on-demand hot water heaters. Thanks to radiant heat, cold floors are a thing of the past. Heated toilet seats with built- in bidets and, yes, blow dryers so common in Japan, make Toto a well-known brand name here in the United States.
Walk-in showers with seats and multiple shower heads are common features.
Beds, baths & beyond
Today’s upgrades are all about luxury and convenience. A coffee station in the owner’s suite means you won’t have to walk far for your morning cup of Java. And, if you like to watch the news while getting dressed in the morning, simply turn on the television built into the mirror in the bath.
What’s more, basements now offer much more than the old-style recreation room. Wine cellars, massage rooms and home theatre with surround sound and reclining seats are much more common on the lowest level of homes.
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