Embracing luxury can significantly enhance our emotional well-being. Jean Lush, in her book “Women and Stress,” emphasizes the universal accessibility and importance of beauty in our daily surroundings. She writes, “beauty and a sense of order in your home are functional. Creating beauty around us gives us a sense of accomplishment, charges us with energy, and reduces tension... Beauty is a right for everyone and fundamental to emotional health.” Another expert, Dr. Cuyler, says luxuries “can trigger the release of feel-good neurotransmitters, improving overall mood.”
These high-end homes are curated to provide an extraordinary living experience, one that instills a sense of pride and satisfaction in their owners. The materials alone can be relatively inexpensive, but the choices of each minute detail come together to create the final product, which significantly increases the value of a home from ordinary to luxury.
That is the job of Gary Sheivert, a local expert in Media’s luxury real estate since 1993. His insights offer a look into the emotional and psychological benefits of these exquisite houses. He says, “at an early stage of my career, I learned about tile and marble and pulling colors together and feelings and sensations that people are looking for. Now, I sit down with each vendor and go through every detail.”
A significant part of Scheivert's success lies in his ability to predict what need, knowing current trends in interior design, and the ability to make the choices that have the highest satisfaction among buyers. “It's the challenge of pulling it all together and making it right. We need to put features in that will attract attention to the community that they can’t get elsewhere. People want different. High-end buyers want every convenience available.”
Fixtures and finishes make a luxury home. Sheivert says, the kitchen is the most important; it is the heart of the home. The trend in luxury home kitchens includes built-in refrigerators and high-end ranges, creating a seamless flow with an open floor plan. "You want beautiful cabinets, but more importantly, you need top-notch appliances to create a certain feeling," he notes.
For Scheivert, the ultimate reward is seeing the joy on his clients' faces when they realize their dream home. "It's the satisfaction of seeing someone walk through the house and be happy with all the choices they made," he shares. This emotional connection underscores the true essence of luxury homes—they are spaces where memories are made, and well-being is nurtured. By surrounding ourselves with beauty and allowing ourselves the pleasure of luxury, we create a life that is not only visually pleasing but also emotionally fulfilling. Luxury may not be something you need, but it is something that makes your day extraordinary – why not make every day extraordinary by living in a luxury home?