Top 10 luxury home must-haves

Royal LePage reports on the most sought-after and unique accessories for luxury homes:

Multiple car garages and lavish walk-in closets are a thing of the past; indoor car washes and walk-in refrigerators are the new rage. As demand for luxury homes continues to grow, so do the wants and needs of those looking to buy.

"The million dollar home is no longer the exclusive domain of the rich. In fact, many typical middle income Canadian families now own million dollar residences due to soaring property prices," said Elli Davis, sales representative, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd. "Accessorizing the property with the hottest must-haves is a natural extension of living a luxury lifestyle and a way to stand out from the crowd."

With the help of its Carriage Trade real estate agents, Royal LePage compiled a top 10 list of the most unique and sought-after accessories that Canadian luxury homes are outfitted with.

1. Elevator car lifts, indoor carwashes - Luxury homeowners spare no expense for their priceless automobiles. Avid car collectors, especially in city homes where property size is limited, install elevator car lifts to expand garage capacity. Keeping a fleet of cars clean is no small feat. In fact, for many it necessitates an on-premise indoor car wash.

2. Walk-in refrigerators - Professional kitchens akin to what one may find in a five-star restaurant have taken over luxury homes. With growing emphasis placed on home entertaining, walk-in refrigerators and multiple ovens, sinks and dishwashers are the norm for even the novice gourmet.

3. Spas, gyms and yoga and Pilates studios - The home gym has undergone a makeover and the focus now is on complete health and wellness facilities. Professional-style spas complete with steam rooms and massage rooms overtake the outdated sauna or whirlpool. Yoga and Pilates studios trump stair climbers, treadmills and rowing machines.

4. Wine cellars and tasting rooms - Grand wine cellars often found in Rosedale, Forest Hill or Westmount residences are the norm for today's connoisseur. Individual cellars for red and white wines, as well as specialized tasting rooms equipped with various sinks and buckets for wine sampling are becoming all the rage.

5. Concierge services - Concierge services are no longer limited to condominium owners or hotel guests. Today's luxury homeowners utilize companies specializing in concierges. From making dinner reservations to picking up dry cleaning or purchasing opera tickets, concierge services are now a common trend within many luxury neighbourhoods. There are several companies that will provide typical concierge services to homeowners - essentially acting as a live-out butler.

6. Media rooms - Media rooms that rival the local public theatre are as prevalent in luxury homes as the family room. These windowless rooms typically boast a theatre-size screen, surround sound and rows of plush seats to accommodate large groups.

7. Wrapping and sewing rooms - Specialized rooms to accommodate particular hobbies or tasks, which are completely outfitted help to keep homeowners organized, are very popular. Dedicated rooms for gift wrapping boast everything from ribbons to paper varieties to bags and bows, while sewing rooms have every type of thread, button and zipper imaginable with tables and machines tailored to the homeowner's needs.

8. Structured wiring and security - A wireless home is a thing of today. Many luxury residences feature security capabilities (e.g. door locking), entertainment options and light settings that can be accessed remotely throughout a home in various rooms. Some properties are even equipped to remotely control security features in far away cottages or second homes. Another innovative perk for those with deep pockets are security systems that allow property owners to view their home while at work, at the cottage or on holiday.

9. Home elevators - As homes are increasing in size, and are being built higher to accommodate several floors, home elevators are becoming an accessory of convenience as well as necessity.

10. Heated driveways, walkways and garages - Manual snow removal is a thing of the past for those in exclusive neighbourhoods that favour heated driveways, walkways and even garages. Built on top of heating coils, snow melts as soon as it touches these warm surfaces.

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