Ultra Luxurious Features that you might like to have but are difficult to Maintain

By: Sumita Roy

Joys of home ownership can be multitudinous. Often when we dream of a house, it is nestled in vast measures of greenery having a front lawn and a backyard, a separate play area for the kids, sundecks, swimming pool etc. It takes the form of almost a villa or cottage with a sea beach at a walking distance. And so runs the endless wish list.

But in reality we need to cut down on our wishes, not just because it is beyond our affordability but also because it may prove to be difficult to maintain in the long run.

Here is a list of the luxurious features we want our homes to have. But is not such a good idea if we keep in mind the long term plan:

• Landscaped gardens
  

A natural setting is truly advantageous for your home. You can plant trees, grow them and reap their benefits. Even children love to play in big yards. They add a curb appeal to your home where you can arrange barbeques or just outdoor meals.

But the problem arises as it requires lot of maintenance which comes with a big price tag and much of your time. The lawns that are advertised in the magazines and papers are usually outdoor carpets. These are also expensive to maintain and are not pet friendly. Even if you maintain the entire lawn, naturally or superficially, you will not get even a good return for it when the time to sell your house comes. 

• Home Theatre

This is an ultra luxurious feature you would love your household to have. But an average working Indian does not spend more than five hours in front of the television set, everyday. You have to dedicate an extra space of the living area or convert an entire room just to make the experience of television watching more pleasurable. It will also cause your electricity meter to rise up. Also, you will also have to spend a lot of time and money to maintain and decorate the home theatre.

• Fireplace
  

Roaring or crackling of fire and its warmth is something you wish to have each winter. But this kind of indulgence can come at a great price once again. A natural fireplace always entails the danger of creating some serious havoc. It pollutes the atmosphere of your home, and, if properly channelized out via a chimney, it still harms the nature. 

Also think about the professional cleaning it requires. It calls for good expenditure as well.

• Wine cellar

Your refined tastes may demand vintage wines and Cuban cigars, but having these in a cellar may entail sharing it with guests and relatives, whoever chooses to visit you. A good idea would be to go for average drinks and beverages that would not cost you a lot. Occasionally indulging in luxury of vintages is a different thing, but having it available to all your near and dear ones is not such a pocket-friendly idea.

• Home utensils and appliances
  

Often in television shows and magazines we come across expensive dishes and cutlery sets that appeal us. When we go for home shopping, often displayed sets and appliances entice us and we finally end up buying them. But it should be kept in mind that designer wares, appliances’ models and colors change with time. The ones that are looking good in the kitchen presently will not look the same after a year or two. 

Therefore it is always advisable to think before buying. Choosing utensils that are simple and suit all occasions are better to buy rather than funky things that look good for a few months and then their color and design start to fade away. In case of appliances the same thing happens- if most of your family members do not like to have toasts for breakfast, then there is no point in buying a trendy toaster and then leaving it unused. 

• Outdoor Kitchen

Often we like to have outdoor kitchens to keep the heat and cooking smell out of the home and enjoy nature. The idea sways you to set your furniture outdoor, in the porch or in the lawn. But can cause you a lot of havoc if these get morphed out in the outdoors. It can also cost you a small fortune to restore them back to their form. 

Therefore if your city or area has a pleasant weather for at least three months you can chose to indulge in outdoor cooking and eating scenario, but if it is not so, keep your prized valuables indoors and preserve them from the tortures of harsh weather. 

• Dining setup
  

Formal dining space always adds grandeur to your inner set up. But in the present day this set up is, in most of the families, no longer necessary. Most of the families like to have their brunch or meals in front of the television set and eat on the sofa. So buying a dining table and chairs is an unnecessary thing. 

Those who have dining tables clutter it with other things which make the house look untidy. It is better to purchase it only if you think your family is in favor of formal dining. Otherwise it would be better for you to save your money and space for something more useful. 

• Library

If you are a lover of books then having a library in your home will be a good option. But beware of a few things: first keep the area clean and free of insects; make sure you use it fruitfully and if you want to sell the home in the long run, the buyer may not be very interested in the library setup and may not give you extra value for it. 

• Outhouse
  

Having outhouses in the same area as your home can make the entire set up look unattractive. These prove a good option when you are thinking of moving a huge amount of junk out of your house. But these are usually set in the same land parcel as your house. This can provide a very unappealing sight of your home as a whole. 

For storage purpose too these can dampen your belongings. So instead of these kind of sheds, look for homes having creative storage solutions like over head attic etc. 

• Water features
  

Swimming pool or ponds seem a good idea, often a luxurious feature when it comes to the look of the house. Sitting on your pool deck, having a sun bath or just reading a book at its side, seems a dream like feature your house will have if it has a pool in it.

In reality, you will not be sitting and enjoying its bounties but will be walking around it with a long poled skimmer taking out fallen leaves and trashes out of it. You will also have to spend time adding chemicals to it and doing required maintenance work. 

It is particularly dangerous if you have small children and pets around. Therefore, this may be a good option in theory but not so brilliant if regarded from a more practical perspective. 

Therefore, owning and decorating your dream home requires art and great amount of thinking. Do your home in such a way that it has all the necessary things that you and your family will need and exclude the archaic or only decorative accessories. Most importantly keep out anything that may affect your family’s health and safety issues.