apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

What makes my home luxurious? Owning it, for the first time in my life. I took advantage of the down market, incredible interest rates, and a CRAZY good deal on a co-op and just bought my first apartment. I'm finally out of the rent race. Yay!

After ownership (which is the biggest luxury for me, because I never, ever thought this dream would be attainable), some of the following things probably seem normal to other people but to me feel luxurious:

* being able to paint each room whatever color I want, instead of having to keep the walls institutional white

* having enough space to live and work at home comfortably

* a tree outside my window

* a fab, comfy, funky couch I got for free on Craig's List

* a full library wall (assembled out of cheap, second-hand Ikea bookcases)

* NO MORE ROOMMATES!!!

All the other luxuries (like furniture I really want, the perfect curtains, etc.) will have to wait, because I can't afford anything beyond the mortgage at the moment. But just having the place itself is all the luxury I need.

My lovely little walled garden.

Luxury in a home to me- in Chicago- was finding an apartment with a garage, a patio, huge south facing windows and an in unit washer and dryer. Granted there are some trade-offs; busy streets below, noisy neighborhood, longer commute to work. But on those -20 degree mornings, the garage makes it all worth it.

Privacy is my idea of luxury. Not easily obtainable for many.

Privacy, privacy, privacy.

And a bathroom large enough to put a comfy chair and a towel cupboard in.

Architectural details for me. I grew up in a home with original tin ceilings, they were so unique, ornate and beautiful. Wood floors, vintage moldings etc... make every place I've lived seem far more luxurious than it really is. Currently we're renting in a 100 yr old victorian and it's fantastic.

That first photo reminds me of Green Acres, complete with the telephone pole right next to the house.

Peace and quiet, a lovely view from my living room, lots of storage space, the ability to paint my walls (I rent), fresh flowers, no roommates!

my pets.they are comforting. It wouldn't be home without them!

Privacy, quiet, cleanliness...

The biggest improvements from my previous residences are a flat driveway (not uphill, like the last one where I fell seriously every winter) with a two car garage, and a laundry room near the bedrooms. (If I can't have a housekeeper, making my cleaning and mobility more effortless definitely qualifies as luxurious.)

I also like high thread count Egyptian Cotton sheets! ;^)

Congrats on the new house, JPLee!

I agree that of anything else, the freedom to make your home as you wish, plentiful storage and privacy are absolute luxuries.

To me, luxury is about details. Even more, its about the details that make us happy and content within ourselves.
Luxury should be comfortable, like your treasured slippers.
Some think that ultra-modern amenities constitute the meaning of luxury, but for me, its saving just a little longer for those items that make my Sunday morning relaxing and calm. My true luxury is my treasure collected over many, many years.

Luxury in the home for me is about stimulating the senses:
-integrating juicy colors in my decorating
-scented linen spray
-varied lighting and candles
-good music
-soft luxe sheets and pillows.

My luxury is leisure... peace and quiet, and somewhere comfy to lounge for as long as I like. Unfortunately I haven't cultivated much of it in my home yet. So thanks for the reminder to create more of it.

Thanks, bepsf! It's an apartment in a pre-war building in a boring, out of the way, no-frills area, but it's all mine... and I'm pretty sure it' going to feel luxurious for a long time.

Oh, and storage -- I forgot, storage is a major luxury. I'm trying to figure out how to maximize storage space...

For us, it's AC on and comfy chairs. I love sitting there with a good book and not sweating. That may sound silly, but I grew up in the deep, deep South, and I appreciate AC so very much.

The little details of a home that show the extravagance of love constitute luxury in our home. Door panes filled with little finger prints, beds brimming with sleepy heads, and tables teeming with "art" from a budding Picasso. Another luxury: the quiet of a room filled with lots of natural light in an early morning.

Anything that I buy that I don't really need. The new 500 thread count sheets, the Flatscreen TV, the overstocked closet.

Luxury......
I concur with much of the commentary already provided. Privacy is a resounding yes as an example of luxury. Storage, of course. In my case, I would add green space or having a connection with nature. I enjoy a very large private wooden green space that is uniquely mine. No window treatments on the back side of my house. It's not 500 thread count egyptian cotton sheets but it feels luxurious in a different way.
Other examples of luxury: great sheets, great towels, really good bath and skin care products. Yummy lavendar smells. Clean spaces. and the freedom to define my aesthetic however I damn well please. (with good advice from AT of course).

Any idea where the bedding is from in the photo?

A gorgeous view of the back yard from the wall to wall windows in the bedroom. I love a light filled bedroom :)

Peace, quiet and privacy. If you are lacking those, nothing else can make up for them.

Privacy, quiet, and a home in good condition.

Currently, I have noisy neighbors who don't understand that some people want to be left alone, and my place really needs a few repairs. At least the landlord's coming by tomorrow to fix the last thing that fell apart.

I live by myself. In 2bdroom...no roommates :) I've never had a place like that for myself. I can do whatever I want, I can hang purple, red and cerise curtains if I want (and I do ;-), I can build my own haven here...

and also - very quiet and green view from two sides, relevant calm... and that I in walking distance to work.

good, high quality bedding. not many, but high quality pots and pans, decor items (buying because it looks nice, not because it's necessary/useful).

Did I mention no roommates? ;-)

and for dreams and future plans - higher quality furniture, Persian rug, great office and guest room, professionally made frames... and a car. not really part of the apt, but would make living in suburbs a bit easier...

Our yearly party in the back yard. 100-150 of our closest friends who are only required to bring their "fancy drink" makings. Live music, pounds of shrimp and lots of other delicious things on the three BBQs going. A bon fire and fireworks to end the evening. That's the life.

The bedding is from anthropologie and I've been in love with it for some time. Luxury to me would be to one day own that bedding set.

I really am still not in a financial place in my life where I can splurge on things like high thread count sheets or extra bedroom or anything like that.

But for me? Food! Maybe it sounds crazy, but to have a kitchen I can actually cook in with decent cookware in. Having the privacy to sit on the couch with my laptop in my underwear is also pretty luxurious to me.

I'd also really like a hammock. I feel like that would make my summer pretty luxurious.

All I want is a room somewhere, far away from the cold night air.
With one enormous chair; Oh wouldn't it be loverly?
Lots of choc'late for me to eat; Lots of coal makin' lots of heat.
Warm face, warm 'ands, warm feet, Oh wouldn't it be loverly?
Oh, so loverly sittin' abso-bloomin'-lutely still!
I would never budge 'til Spring crept over my window sill.
Someone's head restin' on my knee; Warm and tender as she can be,
Who takes good care of me; Oh wouldn't it be loverly?
Loverly, loverly, loverly, loverly.

Privacy
Big Yard
A/C
Heat
Comfortable Bed
Internet
Safety

An east-facing balcony where I can have a jasmin plant and have tea in a breezy summer evening.

So much so,that Im thinking of moving in another apartment that has fewer closet and worse floor than the current one.Should I do it???

I chuckled that so many people mentioned storage and privacy - two concepts that I can appreciate as luxury, but don't exist here in Hungary. What would be luxurious for me? Having a clothes dryer. Sigh. Someday....

My grandfather's paintings & sketches are my most treasured items. I moved into my own place just a few weeks ago (no more roommate - big plus!) and it wasn't my home until I found each one the perfect spot.
My antique claw foot tub
Clean high-end white sheets
A second bedroom transformed into a pretty in pink walk-in closet, just divine
Gleaming hardwood floors
French doors leading out to my porch decorated with my lavender & rosemary topiaries (my dog's favorite hang out spot).
These are a few of my favorite things.
Only thing missing is fireplace

No one mentioned stainless steel appliances; thank heavens. I guess that's why I enjoy this group and its sensibilities about true luxuries and other things.

i just moved from apartment living on and up to renting a house with my sister (having a roommate to split everything, especially the bills with helps!).

This move in and of itself is luxury for me. The fact that I have an outdoor space to relax in. All the luxury I need!

to inertia
you could macrame your own hammock
there are plenty of online free sites that show you how.

I don't own a car, but a parking space seems like a luxury to me, as does a good view, good storage space, more than one bathroom, a washer & dryer in the apartment, outdoor space, and a good deli right downstairs.

Art! Walls with art, art I love, art I can move, art I can share and art that is both a financial investment and a visual treat. I love my art.

A really great mattress - and time to spend on it!!

Fresh flowers, a huge harvest table and big serving plates!
I really like to entertain...

privacy, neatness, quiet, comfortable sofa, lots of sunlight, being surrounded by books, potted flowers on my stoop in the spring & summer.

i live in new york and paying cheap rent makes my life a luxury. i feel fortunate everyday when i come home from work because i love my apartment.

For me:
Stone in the bathrooms, a custom kitchen, and yes privacy, in 1 acre lot i hardly see my neighbors.
Would love:
Sauna & Greenhouse.

Sunlight! I live in a basement apartment, and I long for the luxury of natural light streaming through floor to ceiling windows!