As you browse luxury homes in Scottsdale, you will likely see a lot of the same terms appear on property descriptions. But not everyone knows what they mean, making it hard to decide whether the house is worth a look.
Before you start looking for a luxury house to buy, learn the definitions behind some of the most common features you’ll find.
1.Built-ins: Homes that are built with luxury in mind rarely have empty walls, even when no one lives there. That’s because they tend to have built-ins galore, from shelves to desks to drawers. For example, many houses come with built-in shelving in the family room, and it often has more than enough room for a TV, movies, games, pictures, and more. The home’s library might have more built-ins in the form of bookshelves (as in the above photo), while an office might have a large built-in desk. Many homes also feature lots of nooks and crannies for vases and other home decor, often complete with accent lighting.
2.Butler’s pantry: It sounds pretty fancy, and it shows up in a lot of luxury homes in Scottsdale and elsewhere. But don’t worry: you don’t need a butler to make good use of it. The butler’s pantry is the pass-through between the kitchen and formal dining room where you can store everything from your good china to your wine. In fact, it’s often used as a wet bar or simply an area for displaying décor, since it usually has some counter space, cabinets, and sometimes a small sink and wine fridge.
Butler’s pantry leading to kitchen
3. Coffered ceilings: This type of ceiling has one or more sunken panels that are usually rectangular, square, or octagonal in shape. So if you look up and see a crisscrossed pattern on the ceiling – or even just a big square, rectangle, or octagon that’s higher than the rest of the ceiling – it’s coffered, which is increasingly popular among luxury homes in Scottsdale.
Coffered ceilings in a home office
4. Crown molding: This is practically a staple in luxury homes in this area because it adds a little elegance to any wall. Crown molding is basically wooden or plaster trim that flares out a bit, resulting in a more dynamic look. It’s usually added to the top of the wall where it meets the celling, though you can also attach it around windows.
5. Home automation: Do you want a smart home? Many buyers of luxury Scottsdale homes do, and that makes home automation a must. This means you can control many of your home’s features virtually, even from your phone or tablet. So if you want to lock or unlock your doors, heat up or cool down the air, or turn music or lights on or off from anywhere, you can.
6. Negative edge pool: This type of pool creates the illusion that the water flows into its surroundings, because you can’t see any clearly defined edges like you can with a traditional pool. This option is popular among waterfront homes, where the pool’s water looks like it’s flowing into a nearby lake or ocean. But even in Arizona, negative edge pools are interesting to look at, because the water in the home’s pool appears to flow into any surrounding mountains, rocks, or desert.
Negative edge pool
7. Outdoor kitchen: Many Scottsdale residents have a barbecue in the backyard, but they don’t all have complete outdoor kitchens. This luxury feature usually includes a built-in barbecue, a small refrigerator, plenty of counter space, and even a sink. Just envision your indoor kitchen, but without the dishwasher. Some outdoor kitchens we’ve seen in DC Ranch even include a pizza oven!
Built-in BBQ and pizza oven
8. Pot filler: This is a simple but helpful feature you’ll find in many gourmet kitchens. Pot fillers usually attach to the wall right above the stove and connect to the water line. This makes it easy for you to fill pots on the stove instead of at the sink, making cooking a little faster and more convenient.
9. Vessel sink: When you see an interesting sink in the bathroom of a nice home, it’s probably a vessel sink. This type of sink sits on top of the counter instead of flush with it, creating an interesting piece of décor instead of simply a necessity for washing your hands.
Vessel sink
10. Wainscoting: This refers to wood paneling along the walls. It usually only covers the lower portion of the wall. Much like the crown molding you see near ceilings and along windows, wainscoting is just a decorative accent that is meant to add visual interest to the room.
If you’re looking for any of these features, it’s time to start looking at luxury homes in Scottsdale. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions about these or other luxury home features- there is plenty of inventory available for you to take a look at!
Don Matheson
Realtor | Founder
The Matheson Team – RE/MAX Fine Properties
21000 N. Pima Rd., #100, Scottsdale, AZ 85255
480-360-0281
don@scottsdalerealestate.com
