El Dorado Hills, CA - On tour I often see features in a home that really make me stand up and take notice. The other day though, the question came up as to what would be the best feature I have ever seen in a home? The best would be hard to pinpoint. I do have a few favorites though which, coincidentally, all center around warmth. (Maybe that's due to the current time of year, fall/winter!) Though I've never had one in any house I've lived in and very seldom see the feature used, I absolutely love seeing a fireplace in the kitchen or dining room. It adds so much charm and warmth, literally. In an early blog that I called "Best of the Best", I wrote about a home in Shingle Springs that had a wonderful fireplace in the nook which double-sided to the dining room. Shea Homes, located inside the guard gates of Upper Serrano, has a floor plan that features a double-sided fireplace in the dining room backing to a "Hearth Room" as they call it, or as I would describe it, a library or sitting room of some type.

Right along with the fireplace in the eating areas would be a fireplace in the Master bathroom. Also rarely seen, it just says 'wow" to me. Of course if I had one, it would have to be gas so that it would be easy to use and not messy.

Another favorite, which I actually do have first hand experience with is heated flooring in the bathroom. There is nothing like it in the colder months when I'm getting ready for the day in the morning or ready for bed at night. My husband loves not getting up in the middle of the night to use the rest room and being shocked awake by the ice cold tile floor. It is something that doesn't require extra space and can be put in at any time. If you're considering a remodel or are just building, treat yourself to this feature and if possible, your family and guests as well.

I'm really curious though as to what features other people consider to be the best. What is a great feature you've either had in a home you lived in, seen in a home you've been in, or designed into a home you've built? Please leave your comments here or if you're too shy, email them to me at driley@golyon.com. I'd love to see what ideas are out there and what to look for on tour.