BACKYARD “RESORTS”

October 23, 2007

According to a recent article in Forbes magazine, “outdoor living” has taken a whole new meaning in the luxury home sector. With the cost of travel and security concerns on the rise, people have been choosing to stay at home more and are spending their vacation budget on creating a home away from home….at home!

             What used to be a place for the occasional grill and beer get-together, the backyard is turning into a mini resort outfitted with state of the art kitchens, plasma screen TVs, Japanese infinity spas, waterfall showers, and even outdoor bedrooms.

               Last year homeowners spent almost $300 billion dollars in home improvements and Harvard’s Center for Housing Studies predicts that improvement spending will increase by 45% over the next 10 years. While much of that money has gone to standard kitchen and bathroom upgrades, some has been spent on outdoor fireplaces, $20,000 four person hammocks, designer tree houses and pergola covered living rooms.

            Forget all the hassle with luggage, jet lag and those tiresome details that accompany planning a vacation. Create a vacation spot in your backyard and you can step out your door into your own little piece of paradise and enjoy it any day of the week!