Let’s Talk Real Estate: A Designer’s Perspective on What Makes a Home a Can’t-Pass-Up

Take a moment to envision the home of your dreams: when you close your eyes and take yourself on a little tour, what stands out to you?
While one person’s dream home might include a primary bathroom suite that rivals any five-star spa, another’s might be grounded in finding the most interesting architectural bones and details. Every dream home looks different, but after years in the design industry – taking note of what elements were forever cherished by clients, and which were maybe not the most useful – I’ve got my fair share of house-hunting tips to share.

Making a home purchase is a big decision, and sometimes it’s hard to know what’s worth it and what’s not. Today I’m breaking down my designer insights on what makes a house a can’t-pass-up home.

Striking Architecture

There is a lot you can change about a home, but are the bones good? If you’re not planning on doing a gut renovation, make sure you fall in love with the heart and soul of the house. Challenge yourself to look past the dated wallpaper or the less-than-desired landscaping choices and dig into the architecture of the home. Two can’t-pass-up architectural details for me: a welcoming entrance and sky-scraping ceilings. 

A grand entrance immediately sets the tone for a home, and followed by beautiful, high ceilings – you’ve got yourself an unrivaled sense of luxury. Tall ceilings make a space look so much larger, and also adds to resale value – win now, win later! Plus, high ceilings often come with tall windows, resulting in all-the-more natural light, perfect for creating a serene, uplifting space. No one can deny an extra six feet of sunbeams shining through is nourishing for the mind.

Open Layouts

There is luxury in space. Open-concept layouts are a designer’s dream and so versatile for designing and living. This isn’t to say you need a home that feels like one big loft space, but having a few designated open-concept areas can make a home feel larger and more welcoming. I love working with layouts that have open-concept areas near the kitchen, dining and living rooms, perfect for entertaining.

Quality Cabinetry and Appliances

Undoubtedly, custom cabinetry can transform a kitchen from a cookie-cutter set-up into a home chef’s dream workspace, or a traditional bathroom, to a spa-like serenity. 

That said, it’s a big investment to redo a kitchen or bathroom, so finding a home that already has beautiful custom cabinetry and luxury appliances not only will save you money, but time.

Flooring That Matches Your Design Vision

When you think of dream home-worthy touches, flooring may not be the first thing that comes to mind, but it’s actually one of the most important elements in your home for setting the design scheme. For example, if you love warm tones and vintage character, but the home has cool, grey-toned, modern wood, you might just be left with an undesirable contrast – and changing your flooring up is not only expensive but time-intensive and move-in-prohibitive.

Useful Living and Entertaining Spaces

While it may be tempting to seek out everything from a home-theatre, to a basement bar, to a tasting room, I often see these spaces being very underutilized by AKD clients. I challenge you to really think about how you and your family live day-to-day. If you love to spend Saturday evenings with a big bowl of popcorn, checking off another chart-topper on your movie list, then maybe a home theatre is a perfect fit for you. But if you can’t remember the last time you gathered for a late-night film, you might be better off investing in a home that puts those precious square feet to better use.

Always think about your lifestyle first before prioritizing luxurious and exciting, but potentially unnecessary rooms.

If there is one common theme that ties this all together, it’s to think big — but not necessarily as it relates to space. Consider the bigger picture, the bigger costs, and the bigger hassles. The details of a home can always be changed to make it feel like you, but when you’re on the house hunt, prioritize which layouts make sense, how the bones work for your vision, and how well the biggest luxuries like custom cabinetry and appliances fit your style.