The Most Popular Trends in Luxury Home Building

Here at The Cliffs, our seven mountain and lake communities in the Carolina mountains are abuzz with new development –– and if you are looking for inspiration for your custom home, you’ve come to the right place! Let’s discover the most popular luxury home trends we’re currently seeing in custom building across the communities at The Cliffs. 

1. Size and Openness

Well-appointed spaces that flow together are becoming more important than the large over-scaled floor plans of the past. Now, homeowners are looking for spaces that are just the right size. While the elegant look and feel of larger spaces are still achieved, the appropriate size makes the space feel charming and comfortable –– perfectly suited for the mountain lifestyle. 

To achieve this luxury home trend, ask your architect to conceptualize designs that take into account the size and scale of your furniture. This will help you achieve a balanced look in your space. Additionally, create a design that connects different areas together, seamlessly. For example, gourmet kitchens that are open to both dining and living rooms are not only functional but are also ideal for hosting dinner parties and entertaining guests. 

2. Handcrafted Details

Attention to detail and expert craftsmanship are of the utmost importance in luxury home building. Ultimately, they are what set a premier home apart from the average construction project. When custom-tailored pieces are used, they can help create a cohesive look throughout your home, while simultaneously improving functionality in a space.

To attain this, choose bold materials and finishes that add visual interest and make a statement. You may want to work with local craftsmen to incorporate one-of-a-kind elements such as handcrafted bookshelves, entertainment centers, and bars into your design as well. 

3. Outdoor Oasis

More and more homeowners are treating outdoor spaces as extensions of their interiors –– creating a seamless flow from indoors to out. Incorporating outdoor kitchens, living and dining spaces are great areas to relax and unwind while making the most of the gorgeous landscape around your home. 

At The Cliffs, our glorious setting in the Blue Ridge Mountains offers four distinct seasons — and we love to make the most of each of them. Our luxury homes have spacious patios and decks that accentuate the sweeping mountain and lake views. 

One example is the Player House located at The Cliffs at Mountain Park. This luxury mountain oasis was inspired by authentic elements found in South African culture and features a screened-in terrace with a built-in grill. 

When creating your custom mountain home, we recommend choosing a focal point to highlight. Also, consider designing built-in elements, such as cabinets, awnings, and fireplaces in your outdoor areas.

4. Two-For-One Spaces

For many families, long gone are the days of separate formal dining rooms. Many new home designs are incorporating dining spaces into their living and great rooms. This open floor plan creates a more relaxed, multi-functional space that the whole family can enjoy together. 

Looking for other inspiration ideas for your dream home? 

Be sure to check out our mountain home design series, where we take you through each room in your luxury home –– highlighting the latest design trends along the way.

The rooms in the design series include Kitchen, Living Room, Dining Room, Bedroom, and Bathroom. 

5. Pet-Friendly Features

Pet-friendly spaces are at the forefront of luxury home building. One of the most practical locations to incorporate a built-in doghouse is the area beneath a staircase –– creating a cozy nook your four-legged friends are sure to love. Also, pet baths and grooming stations are in high demand, as they make caring for your pets much easier for you. 

6. Maximizing Views

One important design element to consider when building your luxury home is the windows you choose. Strategically placed, large, picture frame windows will make the views a part of the design itself –– taking full advantage of your home’s surroundings. 

At The Cliffs, our members want to take in every breathtaking view the area has to offer. Fortunately, our communities are nestled among some of the country’s most breathtaking landscapes –– undulating Blue Ridge Mountain ranges, crystal clear waters of Lake Keowee, and acres upon acres of pristine, protected lands. This makes finding a perfect homesite that highlights these spectacular vistas quick and simple.  

7. Smart Home Integration

With the recent advancements in artificial intelligence and technology, today’s homes are becoming more and more intelligent. There is now technology available that allows for homeowners to control appliances, lighting, security, and even blinds –– all at the touch of a button. This range of capabilities in tech-savvy homes is only going to increase in the coming years. 

When it comes to technology, the possibilities are endless. For example, large windows that require blinds but would need a ladder to adjust them can now use technology to open and close them. Or integrated systems with voice control allow you to say the word and turn the lights on or off.

Building a custom home with a smart home design is definitely something you want to consider for the long term. Work with your builder and think through how you want to interact with your luxury home. Then, build in systems and use a technology infrastructure that can support your needs –– both now and in the future. 

Preferred Builder Program

We know that building the home of your dreams can be an intimidating adventure. To help keep the joy in and the headaches out, we’ve carefully vetted the leading builders in the region to develop The Cliffs Preferred Builder Program. 

Our luxury home building partners have years of experience working with the topography of the land, reducing the challenges you may face with an inexperienced home builder. They understand our communities’ design standards and expectations, ensuring they will design and build the highest quality luxury homes in the area. They’ve passed our tests for fit and finish detail, integrity, and financial condition. In short, they’re all builders we would hire ourselves!

If you are interested in starting the building process at The Cliffs, we invite you to take a look at our available homesites. As always, if you have any questions or would like to request a visit to any of our seven communities, feel free to contact us by clicking the button below. 

This post was originally written on January 16th, 2019, and rewritten on April 16th, 2021.