THE MASCULINE TOUCH
LUXURY LIVING HOME u
THE MASCULINE TOUCH
Men are shaping the luxury home amenity landscape as never before: From intimate retreats for smoking cigars, playing poker, or enjoying a prized rifle collection to elaborate rooms with billiards as the centerpiece.
BILLIARDS
A pool or billiards table can be a work of art. Little wonder, then, that they now command prime space in an estate’ s main living areas.
CIGAR ROOMS
The same cannot be said for other fraternal nooks, which are happily relegated to intimate spots on the estate property, rather than a main living area. Take the cigar room, for instance.
One person’ s“ perfume” can wrinkle another family member’ s nose. A cigar’ s aroma is often an acquired taste. That’ s why cigar rooms are intentionally located in an estate’ s out-of-the-way corners and are equipped with elaborate filtering systems to scrub the smoke before extracting it outside. These smoking dens are designed with rich paneling, leather furnishings, wooden blinds, and stone fireplaces— stereotypically male materials that don’ t absorb smoke in the same way cloth and upholstery does. In cigar rooms, upscale humidors, cutters, lighters, and ashtrays are, of course, de rigueur.
SPORTING DISPLAYS
Likewise, masculine enclaves such as poker rooms( with sports memorabilia front and center) or rooms showcasing, say, a rifle or hunting collection, are frequently tucked away on the estate.
The elegant designs of these retreats prevail, with comfort being the main design driver, and conversation pits to encourage taletelling and bonding among friends.
“ It is no longer about storage, but rather entertainment and enjoying your collection with like-minded friends. My client is passionate about his guns. You wind down a fantastic staircase with walls of stone to an area with the wine cellar, a wet bar, and the secure and paneled gun room with a seating area. At this level of high end real estate, individuals create the environment that reflects their personality.”
Tom Drougas, Sun Valley Real Estate, Sun Valley, Idaho
232 LUXURY LIVING