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michaelsaunders.com | 11 The Modern Chef's Kitchen The kitchen is the heart of a home. Even in homes with abundant living spaces guests will be found hovering about the kitchen. Chatting and tasting, seated at tables and islands, it is the gathering place for families to enjoy food and make memories. Designing a comfortable space in a contemporary kitchen embraces ways to simplify preparations for nightly dinners, but also allows people to engage in cooking and conversation. Today's gourmet kitchens feature restaurant- quality appliances, refrigerated and warming drawers, multiple meal prep stations, various beverage refrigeration and well-organized pantries. While form and function are a primary concern in contemporary kitchen design, the ingredients themselves have become a focal point. Embracing the local trend in cuisine, creating indoor greenhouses, living walls, herb gardens, and functional vegetable garden is becoming common. Homeowners find satisfaction in serving dishes made with personal produce, confident in their aesthetic quality, taste and nutrition. Outdoor Living Opening up indoor spaces to extend living areas outdoors brings a resort feel to the backyard. Lagoon pools, outdoor kitchens and screened porches provide cozy environments for entertaining and relaxing. Summer kitchens now offer various cooking options, such as pizza ovens, multi-fuel grills and refrigeration to simplify dining preparation. Elegant outdoor furnishings and rugs, enhanced by fire pits, water features, and artwork, provide a tranquil setting to enjoy Southwest Florida's pleasant year around weather and tropical landscapes. The Master Suite The private retreat of the master bedroom has always found purpose as the place to refresh and recharge. Creating a luxurious, spa-like experience within the master suite has benefits beyond the obvious. Simply knowing that a relaxing sauna, blissful multi-head steam shower, and Jacuzzi awaits, earns the master suite a coveted niche on even the most difficult of days. Adorned with stone, glass, polished metals, free-standing tubs, open showers, and luxurious furnishings, these spaces are truly some of the most appreciated by owners. Personal Preference Each home expresses its personality through unique characteristics. Whether it is a meditation garden, a tennis court, a music room, a wine cellar, or a grand library, the features form the framework of the lifestyle lived within its walls. Privacy is a prominent feature often illustrated by the long, winding driveways leading to many estates or gated access surrounded by lush, mature landscaping. Understated yet elegant, these privacy features command security and safety for family and friends. Convenience, with emphasis on the ability to walk to restaurants, shopping, and cultural events, is fast becoming a priority. The most interesting trend of all might be that toward conscious living. Expressing concern for where and how products are made, creating a sustainable, healthy environment for a life lived with enthusiasm, passion, and an eye on the future, has certainly gained an edge. That, in addition to maintaining turnkey arrival, defines the complete package of the luxury home trend experience. It would seem, then, all that is needed is a toothbrush.

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