When staging a home for sale, the seller, stager and realtor combine their talents to suggest a lifestyle. Whatever lifestyle it is that the property supports. There are some new things in the spec homes built around here that seem to be taking hold and catching on. Some have been around for a while, but are becoming a must have as opposed to a nice to have. My last suggestion is something the Robb Report lists but has yet to be seen everywhere here as yet.

1. Morning Kitchens

A space, formerly part of a closet, that holds a small fridge, a one drawer dish washer, a few bits of china and glass, a sink, a counter and most importantly, a really high-end, fancy coffee maker!! Is it just that rich people are getting older and their knees can't take all the stairs... or is this country disappearing into the caffeine addiction Starbucks has long hoped for?

2. Elevator

There are houses around here that have had these for a while, but it is only recently that I am seeing them in most new builds. It has something to do with having another generation come live with you and wanting them to be able to get to another floor for privacy, I think. See knee thing above.

3. Media Rooms

No longer the province of the mad sultans, stars and seriously uber-rich, media rooms are de rigeur nowadays. Even if it's just a projection tv with a super large screen and a plush sofa.

4. Mud Rooms with Cubbies

The only aspect of my firends homes I have ever coveted is mud rooms. Yes, my name is Juliet Johnson and I suffer Mud Room Envy. So, it is with interest that I note new builds having cubbies built in by garage doors and back doors. Plus, Pottery Barn has so many beautiful stand-alone units - I love the one for dog owners.

5. The Upstairs Laundry Room

We've long had this in $2 million + homes. I'm noticing, however, more and more folks building an upstairs laundry room in to a hall bathroom remodel. Almost as if this is the one millionaire feature that is realistic to incorporate in an ordinary home. And in New Builds they're getting bigger. Big enough to be a destination space - with a TV, a place to fold, iron and, God forbid, sew!

6. Closets with chairs, sofas,

Single, career women in NYC have long been written about for taking over a 2nd bedroom and creating a vast closet with a divan or chaise, books, yoga gear, etc. one of my good friends took over the room next door to her and added a wall of mirrors and a ballet bar. Now in the same way that a kitchen can't be too big, neither, it seems, can your closet. I dunno, I don't want anything nesting in my clothes, least of all me!

7. See Through Walls

This is from the Robb Report and I'd not have mentioned it had I not started to see more see-through gas fireplaces deployed in New Builds around here. The Robb Report article references Acquariums as a trendy room divider. It may be out west, it isn't so prevalent in the North East ...yet.

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