When investing in something as significant as a custom home, you want the property to exude luxury and reflect the money that you poured into it. Whether it’s your forever home or you want to maximize resale value, there are many reasons why someone would want to invest in a luxury custom home, but what makes a home luxury, exactly?

From architecture to location to amenities, there are several clear factors in determining a luxury home. If you’re working with a design/build firm to create a custom home design, here are some key signs of a luxury home that you may want to consider incorporating into your new build.

Main Features of a Luxury Home

There are three main features that home buyers typically want in a luxury home: advanced technology (i.e., smart homes), open floor plans, and amenities such as zero-edge swimming pools. These upgrades and features of modern home design are highly desirable and often drive up the cost of a home, making them key indicators of a luxury property.

Smart homes are a prime example of this. These homes are equipped with state-of-the-art automation systems that allow homeowners to control various aspects of their home — such as lighting, security, and temperature — with just the touch of a button. Offering unparalleled convenience, the advanced technology integrated into smart homes is highly sought after in luxury properties.

Another key feature of a luxury home is an open floor plan. Gone are the days of small, closed-off rooms. Luxury homes now boast open floor plans, where the living, dining, and kitchen areas flow seamlessly into one another. This not only creates a sense of spaciousness but also allows for ease of movement and better socializing when entertaining guests. Open floor plans also often include large floor-to-ceiling windows, which provide plenty of natural light and stunning views of the surrounding area throughout the main living space of the property.

Popular Architectural Styles for Luxury Homes

Although luxury homes can have a wide variety of architectural styles, there are a few key styles that are more commonly found among luxury homes. Luxury properties are typically known for having distinct architecture, and this has made European styles, traditional styles, and northwest regional styles most popular.

European-style luxury homes are highly intricate and detailed, with complex roof designs and richly detailed exteriors. These homes typically have open floor plans and tall ceilings, creating the illusion of more space and increasing property value. With rich textures, sophisticated designs, and sleek archways throughout, European-style homes are beloved by luxury homeowners throughout the country.

Traditional styles are also popular for luxury homes designed for families. Exuding warmth, comfort, and familiarity, this architectural style with roots in 19th-century Europe is minimal and optimized for substance over style. Subdued architecture is accented with embellishments like tufting, piping, and gentle curves, offering an elegant and timeless appearance that is never over the top.

Finally, the northwest regional architectural style has had newfound popularity as wood textures and natural elements have become on-trend once again. At its most popular from 1935-1960, the northwest regional style is minimalistic and offers an ultra-modern appearance. There is heavy use of unpainted wood throughout the home, and decoration is minimal. Floor plans tend to be asymmetrical, and there is a significant use of glass to maximize surrounding views as well as enhance the modern feeling of the space.

Ideal Locations for Luxury Homes

No matter the size or design style of your home, luxury homes are inevitably defined in part by their location. Especially if you want to maximize the resale value of your home one day, investing in a location that is high-value and highly sought-after is imperative.

The most desirable luxury homes in California can be found in the San Francisco area, Los Angeles area, and San Diego area. Each location offers the benefits of urban living as well as the benefits of a coastal lifestyle. These regions are also home to millions of jobs, making them attractive to high-salary employees and, in turn, driving up the local cost of living and desirability of the area. This helps protect the value of your custom home construction and virtually guarantees that your property value will increase steadily over time.

There are endless combinations of architectural styles, design features, and plots of land to choose from when creating a custom home design, so the possibilities can quickly become overwhelming. At C&C Partners, we understand the process of custom home design and custom home construction, which is why we work closely alongside you from concept to completion, guaranteeing a seamless process that results in a one-of-a-kind design/build experience. 

Since 1987, we’ve committed to an unwavering standard of excellence and top-tier client satisfaction that has helped us stand above the rest and remain Southern California’s premier luxury home builders. If you want to experience the C&C Partners difference for yourself, contact us online or give us a call at 310-322-0803 today.