4 Ways Luxury Homeowners Can Embrace Small Home Living

Smaller homes are trending up for luxury homebuyers, especially near city centres where a more modest footprint can offer greater access to desired locations and amenities. But a smaller property doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the luxury lifestyle, especially where keen design principles are employed to make the most of every square foot. 

This verdant and vibrant 1952 construction in Los Angeles’s Laurel Canyon neighborhood demonstrates this with aplomb, showcasing why high-end homeowners are reclaiming the “less is more” mindset and aesthetic. 

Here are four ways to embrace a more minimal home footprint.

1. Access the Essentials

A well-designed home can have everything a luxury homeowner desires without a multitude of enormous rooms. Streamlining a living space can cultivate a more intentional and convenient way of inhabiting that space. 

This property boasts a newly-renovated chef’s kitchen complete with custom cabinetry, countertops, and luxury brand appliances such as a Viking range, illustrating that bigger isn’t necessarily better. Thoughtful design can enable more compact living without the additional maintenance and upkeep that a larger estate would require.

2. Cultivate Inner Peace

There’s a synergy between internal and external states, and there’s no doubt that exquisite surroundings can enhance inner clarity and tranquility.

That’s why inner peace perfectly captures the attitude and ambience at this home—both indoors and outdoors. The fact that it’s set on a rare double lot means that it really does feel like a faraway refuge. The backyard sprawls leisurely across the sun-drenched landscape, where native flora proliferates alongside terraced patios and scenic outlooks that retain the pared-back beauty of the interiors. 

3. Enjoy True City Living

The trend of luxury homeowners abandoning downtown cores is waning. Post-pandemic, people are rediscovering that venturing out into the world can be endlessly fun and fulfilling. Increasingly, people prefer to delineate their lives inside and outside their domestic space, where home is a place of refuge and the city is a site of adventure.

Because the home is a place to rest, refresh, and rejuvenate, it doesn’t need to be burdened with too many belongings. Though it doesn’t seem like a classic pied-à-terre at a glance, this residence’s proximity to downtown Los Angeles puts it within casual driving distance of a global capital for fashion, culture, and cuisine.

4. Augment Charm

In many of the world’s most prestigious metropolises, space comes at a premium. Therefore, large properties may sacrifice both the quality of their indoor flow and the opportunities for outdoor living. But smaller homes can bring together the best of city and country living, provided that their interiors are thoughtfully designed.

This is brought to life in Laurel Canyon as the property unfolds in a series of well-designed, light-filled spaces that feel capacious despite being comfortably compact. And though they have their own one-of-a-kind character, with custom craftsmanship and thoughtful artistic flourishes, there’s a sense of continuity that unifies and elevates the residence.

A minimalist luxury home isn’t just a stereotype with chic white walls and sparse modern furniture. It’s a sanctuary that facilitates leisure and relaxation while prioritizing the essentials of daily living. 

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This article was originally published in Sotheby’s International Realty Extraordinary Blog in August 2023.