Think green design is just for brand-new homes? Think again.
Real Estate Millions
When Tesla’s Elon Musk announced the debut of the company’s Powerwall recently, the high-capacity battery joined a fleet of new products promising to green your luxury home, from solar-powered stereo speakers to home-management systems that track energy use. With traditional builders touting green home lines and eco-friendly custom design firms like Blue Heron enjoying increasing popularity, sustainable design is moving from the margins to the mainstream in Las Vegas.
Through the majestic gates of Henderson’s Roma Hills lies an estate like no other in Southern Nevada. It is thoroughly French in design and style and definitely has that “ooh la la” factor. And it is the former home of the late Strip headliner Danny Gans, who died unexpectedly in his sleep in 2009. He appeared for many years at The Mirage before moving to the Encore.
Southern Nevada is one of the top choices for retirement homes, particularly for those migrating from California. For Bob and Doralee Rae, his retirement coincided with her growing interest in poker, and the choice was clear: move to Las Vegas.
Less than a decade ago, most people probably would not have named Las Vegas as an outdoorsy American city, even though it is in the West. It was no Denver, Seattle, San Diego or Salt Lake City. It is too hot, dry, neon, cheesy and suburban. So said the naysayers.
Retired Defense Department employee Stephen Krebs says he doesn’t have a bunker mentality — with what he knows, who could blame him? — but he does have a recently completed “bunker” home on Grand Teton Drive in far-north Las Vegas courtesy of local builder Joe Whatley and TNM Construction.
Two of the great American cultural watersheds of the 20th century involved, perhaps surprisingly, kitchens.
For guys who loves to turn wrenches and get their hands a little greasy, building a spacious garage to accommodate the daily driver but as well as a few weekend fun vehicles has always ranked right up there with designing such focal points as the kitchen and great room.
Driving along West Sahara Avenue, many Las Vegans might not have much of a mental picture of what is behind the walls of Canyon Gate Country Club. Ponderosa pines rising above the property’s perimeter and a waterfall-lined grand entrance obviously signal that things are quite nice inside.
Rich Little, the man of a thousand voices, has lived in many Las Vegas and Southern California neighborhoods including Malibu, The Lakes, Turnberry Place and Queensridge. But the master impressionist declared the Red Rock Country Club to be his favorite, so last September he bought a five-bedroom bungalow on the golf course right across the street from his former residence.
Standing beneath an ornate chandelier in the circular, stone-walled foyer of his Canyon Gate dream home, broker Ken Lowman uses a description not common in the Las Vegas real estate scene. In a town filled with Tuscan and French-country references, he mentions a different region of the Old World.
Not everyone in the Las Vegas luxury home market is looking to purchase a mansion with finely manicured surroundings or a lofty tower apartment with cityscape veranda views. A certain set of well-heeled individuals is looking to live in just such amazing places for a limited time.
Shaded by voluminous trees on a quiet cul-de-sac in northern Summerlin‘s Trails village, a surprising home balances two essential aspects of contemporary upscale home living: entertaining guests and everyday life.
To crib a famous hit song refrain, Las Vegas "knows how to party " and some top-notch homebuilders have installed the best amenities in party-tastic places with luxurious aplomb.
Deciding whether to rent a vacation home or commit to owning one, and where to buy, is a big decision. Owners and real estate experts say your goals, budget and comfort level should factor in your choice.
