Homes & Estates Florida Collection December 2016 | Page 11

“We have seen a trend in building for people to create a resort atmosphere so
that they can ‘cocoon’ in their own homes,” says Thorn. “With travel getting more
dangerous, more people are wanting to stay in their homes in a relaxing situation.
Even empty nesters and particularly grandparents are creating homes with resortlike qualities for their children to return home to and enjoy visiting with family. Many
homes provide different areas with spectacular views, as well as areas where
homeowners can relax and enjoy their home.”
In Miami, Jill Hertzberg and Jill Eber of The Jills®, Coldwell Banker’s No. 1 real
estate team, have witnessed a similar focus on creating residences that are
intimate yet private.
“This hotel-to-home look has gained traction, because homeowners who invest
in luxury homes love to entertain, and they want their experience at home to be
better than any experience they can have elsewhere,” says Hertzberg. “They want
an intimate environment that fulfills all their needs.”

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Many sophisticated homeowners in resort marketplaces like Miami, Largo and
Naples are also paying close attention to the guest suites in their home. In the
Naples custom home, for example, a guest suite on the first floor was created to
accommodate overnight visitors and provide all the privacy and luxury of a hotel,
says Shafran.
“When we do a VIP suite in our clients’ homes, we look to the hotel as a guide,”
she adds. “We specify sofas instead of chests, so guests have a place to hang
out. We’ll also integrate bars, so they can have cocktails in their private suite. I
always look to the five-star hotels, because I think people relate to the feelings
they have when they are staying in these destinations.”
Savvy real estate marketers have caught on to the phenomenon. Key words
such as “Four Seasons” or “hotel” are finding their way into property descriptions
for luxury listings around the United States. It’s a way for local luxury real estate
agents to attract the most sophisticated buyers and appeal to their lifestyle needs.
Lenahan believes the trend is driven by people’s emotional response to hotels.
It stems, he says, from homeowners’ desire for “the cohesion of resort design.”

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“People will say they’re attracted to the aesthetics of a hotel, but I think it’s
something much deeper,” he notes. “When a client comes to me and says, ‘I want
my home to be like a fine hotel,’ I’ll ask them: ‘Where do you stay?’ And usually,
it’s not necessarily the best hotel. It’s the overall feeling they have when they stay
at the property. They’re responding to a deeper subset of things. In a hotel, for
example, you feel cared for. Everything is rolled out to you, and you are tended
to and anticipated. Who wouldn’t want to experience that same feeling in their
home? They want their home to feel hospitable, gracious and inviting.”
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