Uncomplicated–The new word in luxurious home remodeling

This week I met with a couple I have worked for in the past- we did a beautiful kitchen remodel in their current Wellesley home over 10 years ago, and now they have decided to buy a home that they can transform completely. This project entails a whole home remodel with a pretty good size addition, complete with a larger kitchen and master suite. Fancy-right? It will be beautiful I am sure and of high quality also, but while we were talking about what the couple wanted to include- the word “uncomplicated” was used.

It dawned on me that this is really where our busy lives are headed, and the word “simplify” that became popular in the Great Recession looks like it will be replaced in the improving economy with uncomplicated. I believe this is trending because one of the significant changes in the recession was that we had to work as a society even harder to keep moving forward, and that busy lifestyle isn’t slowing with improved economics- it may be the new normal (another phrase coined in more difficult times). So here are the items that we are going to focus on, in the clients own words, which we have also heard from many clients all year:

1. I want a pantry- so I can have everything convenient, and not in another room or closet or downstairs… nearby. The working space in the kitchen does not have to be huge- no need for a large amount of cabinets, but the space should be large enough for entertaining- maybe some soft seating.
   
   
2. A large mudroom that multi tasks would make life easier coming and going with all the sports and other activities. I would like to add a second smaller laundry to take care of the things on the first floor… and we would also like a powder room off the mudroom as well so the kids don’t traipse across the house with muddy shoes if they are playing outside.
   
   
3. A proper dressing room with everything in it so we can get ready without walking into the bedroom for socks in a drawer and back to the closet for the pants. It would be great to have everything together- and one side for each of us.

When the client used the word uncomplicated in the meeting- I told them it would be my next blog, because I really do get to see firsthand the influence of our busy lives dictating todays household. The luxury in all this is more time to focus on what is really important- and that is today’s real luxury.