Is it really all about champagne wishes and caviar dreams? For many it is. A luxury house is a high-end residential property designed to offer a charmed resort-style living, characterized by opulence, rich abundance, exclusive leisure activities, along with the best privacy and security. We can envision grandiose mansions, opulent penthouses, architectural masterpieces, and expansive estates with lavish amenities and sprawling landscapes. We see them in prime one-of-a-kind locations on hill tops, waterfronts, or overlooking city lights from towering enclaves. And instead of basic necessities we can be assured there will be over the top conspicuous consumption of the best the world has to offer: luxury cars, watches, jewelry, designer clothing, yachts, private jets, and corporate helicopters.

We should clarify the difference between expensive and luxury. Just because a home is expensive does not mean it is a luxury home. We expect high price tags. It used to be that any home priced over a million dollars fell into the luxury category, but not anymore. Today, in many areas, 1.5 million dollars will only buy an average priced home. It is better to categorize luxury homes as those properties priced in the top 10% of the local real estate market.

Whereas owning a luxury home is certainly attractive and has obvious perks, it may not represent the end goal for everyone. There are many definitions of luxury and concepts of value. For some, the definition of luxury revolves around values of responsibility, conscious consumption, and sustainability. Each of us is on a journey to discover who we are and design a life for ourselves. Owning a home is an accomplishment and regardless of size, through imaginative design, we can make even a small home luxurious. Not all the wealthy and successful reside in mansions. Not all of us find happiness from owning the best or from consuming the most. Warren Buffet from Berkshire Hathaway is one of the richest men in the world, yet still lives in his first home, and drives an older 2014 Cadillac. Thomas Fuller stated “Contentment lodges oftener in cottages than in palaces.” Define what Luxury means to you in your journey to create your own Lifestyle.