True luxury projects aren’t just about its size. It’s a combination of aesthetics, materials, function, comfort and personalization. This equates to a fully customized design with attention to detail.
I feel that function and comfort in any project at any price point is a given. But beyond that, how can I give my client a personal, custom design that sets their luxury projects apart and elevates them to a high-end experience? It all boils down to the custom details and materials created for each customer.
Defining Storage/Usage Needs
You can customize the interior storage to suit any needs: plugs installed in shallow drawers to charge electronics out of sight, refrigerator drawers to make healthy snacks more accessible for kids and a designated beverage station for morning coffee or tea. There’s an increasing demand for walk-in pantries, including an area to either display or refrigerate wine and store occasionally used large or seasonal items out of sight.
Mind the Aesthetics
At the advent of open-concept design, kitchens had to be less ‘kitchen-y’ and more integrated into the surrounding interior spaces. Even now, when there’s a movement toward more defined kitchen areas, aesthetics have evolved beyond mere function.
The following are some of my tips:
- Hide the toaster, integrate appliances with cabinet fronts, and use open shelving or glass-fronted cabinetry to display personal objects.
- Find ways to creatively hide electrical outlets on the backsplash.
- Specify custom lighting for inside glass doors, above windows and on top of or under cabinets.
- In open floor plans, I’m using small, directed recessed lighting over the island. That way, I can use higher-end statement lighting over the connected dining or living space and get away from a defined kitchen island look.
- Range hoods are either a custom focal point, or they’re completely hidden.
- Mix finishes, wood type or color to make the kitchen look more like a living space. Custom-ized seating with performance-type fabrics in both the kitchen and the adjoining living space blur the lines between the two areas.
Customizing Outside the Box Elevates the Design
Everyday items like cabinet hardware, appliance handles and even faucets are great ways to introduce luxury and personalization. Wood or leather combined with metal brings in an artisanal touch to both cabinet and faucet handles. You can also specify a ‘live’ finish that takes on an aged patina.
Some appliance manufacturers offer custom and mixed finishes and textures in their handles to get that one-of-a-kind look. Colorization of refrigerators and ranges keeps getting better. Not only can you choose from a range of hues, but you can also customize a color just for your clients.
WHAT ABOUT THE BATHROOM?
We all know that luxury baths must accommodate a lot of wishes for a spa-like experience. From multiple showerheads and body sprays to steam features, it’s all about user comfort. More common elements that shouldn’t be overlooked can elevate the experience, such as a heated floor, towel warmers and lots of custom additions inside the vanity cabinet.
Examples include:
- A space for hair grooming products and outlets
- A mix of shallow and deep drawers for various-sized items
- Trays or dividers to segregate smaller items
- A pull-out hamper or waste can
Using high-end materials and products with close attention to detail, combined with your artistic vision, is the pure definition of luxury.
By Patricia Gaylor, owner of Patricia Gaylor Interior Design, Henderson, Nev., patriciagaylor.com
ABOVE A neutral palette with custom patinaed finishes and rough wood textures combines eating and living spaces flawlessly in an open-concept home. Rendering credit: Midjourney
