Like Jan said, a good designer can help you figure out what you need. They can also either encourage you to let your freak flag fly, or rein you in. Just because I commissioned a custom Princess Bride themed art piece for my backyard and built a dining table with a streambed and waterfall built into it, that doesn't mean that's right for you :)

not unique- but my favorites include heated floors, storage storage storage, use of natural elements (exposed rock walls, beams etc) but quite frankly my favorites are very unique pieces I have acquired through auction houses and finds that are re-purposed ie an antique armoire now used as my kitchen pantry etc. NO KITCHY HOME GOODS STUFF !! BUT as mentioned above your question is too broad

I don’t think it’s a broad question at all. I grew up in a house with a laundry chute and can’t tell you how many times I went down that thing as a kid. In my new build I’ve tried to think of things that will be memorable to my kids- things that don’t take a whole lot of $ but do take planning. We are doing a small (6x 7 I think) “secret room” between the two boys’ rooms- a place for forts, flashlights and other mischief. We’re also doing a hidden tube slide in our kitchen island that goes to basement. These are very kid specific examples, but hope it gives you some ideas!

I'm trying to visualize the existing house and site but nothing's happening.

It isn't a lecture. It's the smart way to begin any home, build, remodel, simple re decorating. Half the problem for most? Too many ideas!! Billions of visuals and opinion with the click of a mouse or tap of a finger. But yes, you have to begin somewhere indeed. You do that with how you live now.....is it easy living? What do you love about what you have, or hate? What works for you, and what does not.

When or IF you get a designer? Same thing. That's a one on two relationship. The designer and the homeowners. It is not helpful,or even wise, if and assuming you have found that person you trust.............to send her ideas and interpretation of YOUR wishes and dreams, out for a thousand differing opinions , or even the opinion of your girlfriend : )

Design is a thoughtful process, one of editing, and editing some more. Until your loose dream becomes concrete ideas, and a lovely reality.

For us, our home has a sunroom across the back of the house - windows on three sides and a wonderful view. It's large but not fancy (prefab type) - and contractors have looked down on it as not being upscale enough for the area. The previous owners installed it, not us. It is sunny with a wonderful view and it is our favorite place to be. Our cats have their cat trees, we have a daybed and pillows to flop down and read a book, house plants, string lights along the tops of the windows, our pcs. It has no air conditioning or heat, so it gets too warm in the summer and cold in the winter, but it is the room we go to when we want to relax and unwind. We spend a lot of time in our other rooms as well, but this room has the most windows :)

Well...here's what I would strive for:

--a house which fits its site and is appropriate to the site;

--a floor plan which is efficient, and offers spatial variety;

--an interior where natural light is a major element;

--an exterior of genuine architectural character, which is of a regional vernacular;

--simple use of appropriate and durable materials on exterior and interior;

--an energy efficient house which employs passive solar strategies.

There's probably some other criteria, hopefully my point is clear: forget the gimmicks and trendy and focus on things of true, lasting value.

I don't think it's particularly unique but we have a walk-thru pantry from our back door/mud room into our kitchen. It became the natural choice as our house design developed with our architect. It makes for easy grocery unloading and drop zone but is pretty and can be used for a drink station for a large party. And since it leads not only into the kitchen but also the hallway to our living room, it can keep party traffic out of the kitchen And that leads into another feature that we borrowed from our old home - multiple circulation routes for living spaces.

Windows on at least two walls in every public space and in all bedrooms. Especially the bedrooms

A house that has great circulation so there are no dead end or awkward spaces. This is even more important in a reno as I can’t begin to tell you how many houses we looked at where by their renovation they ruined the flow of the house

A house that doesn’t try to be what it’s not. Meaning you don’t create an open floor plan in an older craftsman, victorian, etc house or you don’t get rid of what makes it have the style and charm of the house

IMO to broad a question but I think you need to find a designer that you like their work because they work to make your home unique. I never wanted to be one of those designer that did a house and everyone who walked in knew who designed it. Your home needs to be for you not anyone else and that includes thinking resale. The most impportant room in all my homes has always been the kitchen with the best appliances I can afford. Any other ideas will come from you sharing pictures and a bit about you.

We added a lean-to greenhouse on the back of our house. We've had fun growing orchids, begonias, cactus, citrus, and other plants (with varying levels of success) out there. For the front of the house, we researched old Better Homes & Gardens magazines from the 1940s to find landscaping ideas that were popular when our home was built.

The reason people are asking for more info (not lecturing) is we don’t know if the OP wants Hurst Castle or Madonna Inn unique. Does she want Fallingwaters or Scotty’s in Death Valley unique.

Op is not asking for suggestions. I think she’s asking for people to post what they think are unique features in their homes and she can either use some ideas or weed out things that she does not like.

Op, I’m building an elevator shaft for future installation or resale since the master is upstairs.

In my childhood home, there was a council ring tucked into a corner of the yard. You walked a flagstone path through a (very) small rose garden to get to it. Very classic, Jens Jensen Midwestera feature! This isn’t ours, though. Our fireplace in the middle had two slabs on either side of the fire, so you could sit or place a plate of marshmallows.

A feature of my folks’ house is a stone Wall in the living room with the fireplace, and next to it the hearth continues as a step up, through double wood doors, to a paneled library. It feels “Secret” But really isn’t. (And yes, it’s true that double doors are a pain when it comes to light switch placement, but it’s still cool).

For other landscape features, if it suits the house a curved walkway that travels through a garden or a grove of trees, even if it’s only a ”grove” of two trees, makes for a lovely approach to the house.

Of course, I’m a fan of a wet bar in a family room. It’s great for entertaining. Small fridge, small ice maker, everyone stays out of the kitchen zone. Dad’s is down two steps, very cool. You can simply pull up two chairs to the bar if you want, no barstools necessary.

You should not begin a renovation with features. Its a difficult problem solving exercise that requires a careful systematic approach. If it is a major renovation, you will need measured existing condition plans drawings.

A good architect will identify opportunities as you proceed through that process.

Show us some photos and describe why you are renovating and something about your family, your lifestyle and budget.

Our butler’s pantry with the hidden (behind cabinetry) walk-in pantry is my favorite feature of our reno...

We also opted to get rid of a hall closet to put in a mudroom/bench as we need somewhere quick and easy to put shoes on and dump our stuff...

Ill also advocate for smarthome stuff... leak sensors in the laundry room and under the dishwasher are security features for us...

We had an upstairs loft space that we would NEVER have used and our architect designed wall-to-wall bookshelves and we're going to have a library ladder, converting basically a hallway into a library. It's one of the features I'm most excited about.

And, one of the doorways to the guest bedroom/playroom is underneath the stairwell, so it's a 7.5 foot high ceiling (in comparison to 10 feet everywhere else), so we are converting that doorway into a bookcase door to make it into a secret playroom. That's the feature my daughter is most excited about!

Have a look at The Not So BIg House by Susan Susanka. She has plenty of ideas on how to make a house more versatile and inviting. Those things transcend styles and will add value. Also Renovating the Not So BIg House.

A half bath for visitors is worth its bang for a buck. You can have a fun time decorating it and it is always pristine for the unexpected guest.

Quality interior doors with attractive hardware lends that extra touch.

Quality interior paint with appropriate finishes will last you years.

Sound surround with speakers outside, as well, and put one in that guest bathroom. Everyone appreciates it!

Bottom line…no builder’s quality anything. The important basics are not the place to try and save money.

One more super important addition (depending on where you live) install a generator at construction and figure out with the electrician what you need should there be an extended power outage. Get the one which self tests once a week.

unique features I've seen in homes

roof monitors
Oculus
enclosed courtyard
cantilever
faux cantilever
window wall
funny roofs
unusual cladding like corrugated steel or exposed block or corten steel
fancy exterior lighting
fancy house numbers

etc etc

I think you're looking at this backwards. You're going to a site and asking people, "What's something neat you like?" Instead, consider what you would like. What doesn't work for you in your current home? What has always bothered you that it doesn't have? What is something that would make your life simpler or better to add or subtract from your home?

Always, always start with function. Think about your day, your habits, your goals, and build a home from there. Do you exercise? Do you wish you exercised more? Maybe you would benefit from a home gym. Do you have trouble relaxing? Maybe you should start with a meditation room or a sauna.

I know it's fun to look at other people's lives as inspiration and try to replicate them, but ultimately you will be disappointed if you start from there. Start instead with your values, goals, lifestyle, and "wants." Then you can ask for specific advice (what sauna system do you guys recommend? Which direction should I face my meditation room for the best light?).

I don't think anyone is trying to lecture you, but I believe there's a lot of wisdom on this site that points toward open-ended questions as being self-defeating. Instead, make a list of what your day is like, or what your home is like, or what your goals are, and post that, then ask for advice on how to best renovate in that direction.

Great example: I would LOVE to have a screened-in porch. I live in Missouri. If you're in Colorado, you probably don't need a screened-in porch.

I hope this is helpful! Good luck!

I don't know how unique this is, but I put backlit address numbers on my new front porch and I love them. Now people can find my house at night!

When we did our addition, I wish we had put pocket half doors between the mudroom and kitchen and in a few other openings as well. Now that I have a dog, there are times I'd like to confine him to certain areas of the house without using a gate or needing a whole door to close.

I'm a form-follows-function type, and I think unique ideas are best when they give you some functionality in a clever way. I spent last night on a friend's boat, and I love the way boat builders maximize space.

When I was young, my dad designed our house (yup, architect) so that my sister and I had adjoing rooms that were separted by accordian doors all the way across the room. We could either have one big room to play together in, or close it off and have our own rooms.

Hey,

Thanks everyone for your input!

I understand that some may think this was a broad question, but as some have noted, this was just a place for people to post what they like.

My question was leaning more towards ideas on how to give the house character (i.e. custom cabinetry, wet bar ideas, as someone mentioned fire pit seating...etc).

I'm not asking for someone to design my house for me, I just thought it would be cool to see what the Houzz community likes and has found unique and useful.

I am open to all styles and suggestions. I don't limit myself to a particular style-genre, that's why all of your opinions have been helpful :)

I appreciate all of the responses! You guys have definitely given me some awesome ideas!

Also, for those wondering, we live in a ranch-style home in Southern California. We have a sizable backyard for our location.

Thanks guys!

A few links that might be of interest.... :-)

Things You Wish You Would Have Included

Tips for Building with Large Families in Mind (good ideas, not just for big families!)

Favorite Nuances

House dreamin':

I love an eat-in kitchen, and I'm not talking about an island. A kitchen table makes the space feel like a home, a place to sip coffee and gossip, play cards or sew.

Multiple connections to the outdoors -- places to step out to small patios or balconies for a breath of fresh air, private seating areas for the family to gather, a dining space right off the kitchen, etc. Consider doors instead of windows where possible.

Always loved the idea of a house built around a central courtyard.

Lush landscaping can turn a simple house into a fabulous wonderland.

Gas fireplaces are worth every penny in chilly locations. Flip the switch when you wake in the morning, flip it off when you leave for work. Repeat in the evening.

Real hardwood floors beat everything else. Mine are 90 years old and still going strong. If you're really flush, look at some of the intricate designs found in European homes.

Beautiful ceilings can elevate a room.

Windows and doors of the best possible quality -- tall windows, clerestory windows, lots of windows. A statement front door. Substantial interior doors. Personally, I'd opt for a smaller house and better windows and doors.

Beautiful handrails.

Built-in drawers, cabinets, etc. provide stylish storage without a lot of bulky furniture.

Love soapstone countertops -- wish I could afford them.

That's it for now. Happy house building!

Aaaaahhhh.... A central courtyard.... Fully enclose it, make it a huge atrium, toss small trees, flowers, etc., in it... and... don't pinch me, because I don't want to wake up! :-D

Keep accessibility in mind and energy needs, also. I would love to have solar panels and am thankful that our master is downstairs.

I too love the idea of a house built around a central court yard!! Awesome!!

Some things in my last house were purposeful, such as a round counter that extended from the normal counter...a perfect place for baking/decorating cookies, doing homework, grading papers, playing cards, informal meals, dumping grocery bags, etc. A dedicated cabinet for trays, cookie sheets & racks. A counter below a pass-through into the dining room that was the perfect place to roll out pie crusts or prepare an electric skillet dinner, with an open space below for dog bowls. A tall cabinet at the kitchen entrance whose upper 1/3 was shelves for cookbooks, middle 1/3 swivel TV set that could reverse to dining room & bottom 1/3 liqueur cabinet on kitchen side and wine storage on dining room side. Also in dr, a built in china hutch with drawers/cabinets below and glasses cabinets above. Linen closet across the width of the loft (12 ft) and adjoining 6 x 10 cedar closet. But what I truly loved were the various angles at which the ceilings of entry, dining room, living room, loft and open hallway met—I could lie on my back for hours and admire how the shadows changed.

You’re in Southern California? Can you do an H shape? Two courtyards, lots of windows!

Have a house designed so it fits the site, that is a unique feature compared to most of the houses I have seen posted here on Houzz.

Depends where you live and $$$.

Screen porch, or a simple porch that could be easily screened

Walkout basements - with spancrete garage floor, to allow garage below car garage

Heated garage floor

Terraced floor theatre rooms

Actual climate controlled wine rooms

Creative outdoor living spaces. Ceiling heaters, outdoor TV's, outdoor fireplaces, building a deck up around a hottub/pool so it's flush entry

Flex rooms that make sense. In a spot where loudness doesn't disrupt the entire house, something that makes sense for everything to gravitate toward (function with outdoor living...?) kind of like how everyone usually usually gravitates to the kitchen

Do people hang out in their garages in your area? I've seen cool mancave setups with TV's and full living room sets in the garage. Showcase a classic car etc... A Den with windows overlooking garage with car collection...

Need more specifics from you I think, to keep going

some cool things ive seen: built-ins for storage, built in fish tank (as in, in a wall, I so want to do this), koi ponds, attached greenhouse, lanai (common in florida, but was new to me when I saw one)....

Hidden room.

I love large double openings with pocket doors or glass frenchdoors separating otherwise open rooms. It allows for the option of having open space for entertaining and quite more intimate spaces for daily living. Laundry shoots and dumb waiters are so nostalgic and seem so special now a days. I also adore front vestibules. The transition from a buffered tempature space between the exterior temps and room temp is a nice transition when entering or exiting a home.

Fun question!

If $$ wasn't an object and we were building a pool strictly for us, my hubby would incorporate some type of fun, wacky slide.

http://feelitcool.com/crazy-cool-home-pool-slides-you-should-have-to-check/

Check this out:

https://hiddenpassageway.com/

A library nook.

Book Nook · More Info

Colorful Elegance · More Info

Sometimes very small changes can have a huge impact.

Before and after of the front of my last home with trim color change and addition of the single trim board on the garage:

I will suggest that you consider the part of the country you live in and look at features that occur in your local vernacular architecture. For example if you live in the south a porch addition might make good sense as it allows for living space and can take advantage of breezes. If you live in the southwest a cooling water feature might be appropriate and very enjoyable. That's what I have for you this morning. Pretty general but offered as sincere advise. Good luck!

My favorite unique feature in any home that I have been to is my sister's idea of having the kitchen counter open up to a counter in the laundry room/pantry. She keeps all her small appliances that she doesn't use every day in the laundry room/pantry

My parents had a 40' long hallway going from the front of the house to the bedrooms. Typically hallways are an utter waste of space, but they had hidden closets the full length of the hallway till you reached the last 10 feet, where there were 3 stacks of drawers with a shelf for displaying beautiful objects. Great use of space. Who couldn't use an extra 30 linear feet of closet space?

Sounds like money’s no object, so let’s have fun.

One word of caution:

After total house Reno, neighbor looks like Wally World in the neighborhood and stands out in a really negative way. Keep in the character of your neighborhood and house or move to a new area.

********

@rara171 If you celebrate Christmas, my long time dream feature would be a lazy-susan corner wall that spins or a closet with roll out floor to keep your Christmas tree fully decorated and hidden out of season and in the spot you want to display it. No moving the tree.

***********

Exterior

- Get a landscape architect and lighting designer

- Outdoor kitchen w/fireplace and ample seating

- Outdoor poolhouse cabana with shower

- High end chaise lounges and umbrella around the pool

- Sport court: tennis/bball and if you have the land do a chipping and putting green

Interor

- Double front doors

- Highest ceilings you can do on every floor with attention to ceiling moldings and finishes

- Wainscoting/board and batten/moldings trim

- wide room transitions with arched transitions or interesting lines

- Huge kitchen island for entertaining with honed marble or high end quartzite

- Kitchen scullery/butlers pantry where all your small cooking appliances can be left out

- Large single sink with awesome faucet

- Double oven and high end appliances

- Mounted TVs and hidden cable boxes etc, stereo surround

- Smart systems controlling lights, temp etc

- Biggest windows

- Gym

Garage

- Built in open shelving, plenty of floor space under shelving

- Overhead car wash stall

- Floor finish

-

OK, have to run so that’s all for now...

My parents had vanities with sinks built into each of the bedrooms in addition to having something just in the bathrooms. You had a place to sit and do your hair and makeup and didn't have to worry about someone else wanting to use the bathroom. It was 1963 when we moved into the house, so people didn't generally have a bedroom and bathroom for each kid. We had 6 kids and one kid's bathroom. But having the vanities in our bedrooms made mornings and bedtimes work without fighting.

I created a makeup vanity area in my master sitting room, but it does not have a sink, just a closing makeup vanity. Looks like a narrow desk or table, but when you lift the top it has a mirror and all of my makeup and hair supplies inside.

I also loved that my parents had a secret hiding place - the headboard had a latch and opened up if you knew how to open it.

I think it was Lindsay who posted a picture of a trough kitchen sink a while back, it was HUGE and awesome!

And was it Joe who posted a pic of that amazing industrial pulley wheel faucet?

Yeah.

That.

Rather than a standard closet door, we opted for a Murphy bookcase door to access some extra storage in our attic space. More interesting than yet another door and you'd never know there was a room behind it. My daughter says that will be her hideout in the case of the apocalypse. ;)

We're doing a total rehab of a 1970's ranch on a farm. We were super fortunate to find one a well known luxury builder had built, then decided to live in it himself for 10 years. Problem was it was built in 1970s and not updated. The bedrooms are huge and each has its own large bathroom. The things we changed that made a huge difference: we removed some pointless closets in a hallway to add space to the Master bathroom and closet, this in turn gave us room to use the husband's small master closet for a desperately needed powder room (there was none and people had to use a bedroom bath). It had a 3 season porch between the kitchen and garage and behind the Master bedroom. In St. Louis three season porches are pointless because it's always too hot or too cold to use them. We changed the one behind the Master to be part of the Master which gave us room for a large sitting area and windows all the way around it. the Master had ONE small window before and was VERY dark and depressing. We raised the living room roof above the windows another half story to add more windows and light. We removed the walls between the kitchen, eating area, and into the 3 season porch to make a large open kitchen, eating area, and family room. and added a fireplace. We took half the existing garage and made a mudroom that goes from the front to the back of the home, with laundry room, powder, and desperately needed walk in closet. That gave us space to use the previous pantry (they had to put the only freezer in, because it wouldn't fit in the kitchen, and they had the washer/dryer in there). Now it's a wonderful huge pantry. We added a very deep 3.5 car garage with a storage/work room above it. That was the only space we actually added on, in an attempt to not get slammed with taxes (except they'll hit us for the 2 half bath. We offset it by walling over 2 closets in the library and turning them around into the front hall and bathroom, to decrease the house by a bedroom, since we didn't need it. It can always be changed back if needed LOL) Since the house is 1970's it was woefully depressing with windows. All are too small. Since we were replacing all, and roof was stick built, it was easy to raise the roof in the kitchen to add a row of windows up high for more light, then add dormers in bedrooms to let more light into rooms. All the windows were increased in size. The outside brick got painted a much lighter color and porch got new half stone columns. After having a completely custom home built and re-designing this one, I can say a really good architect and an interior designer are not negotiable. My tip with designers is to find one that works straight by the hour ONLY. Mine charges a set hourly fee and gives me wholesale (actually gives me the invoices sent to her) for everything (plumbing fixtures, electrical, furniture, and windows) She will go anywhere to help with furniture and is much better than the first one I used that wanted to sell me a 30K oriental rug for under my kitchen table, for a family with 8 children LMBO She is the most organized person I've ever met and keeps everything for our two homes in boxes. The construction people call her for the tile layout, samples etc. It's worth every penny! In the kitchen, I HIGHLY suggest a real kitchen designer, not letting the architect do it. In our first custom home, all the neighbors let the architect do it. We got a kitchen designer. they have 10 FEET between the counters and island! It should be 4 ft ish. At first it seemed odd that the freezer and fridge were on opposite sides in our kitchen, till you cook with it. I've had women's groups with 24 people cooking in this kitchen and we are not tripping on each other. Worth every penny. Did the same thing in design of new home. The kitchen designers know what really works when cooking, except I nixed the microwave drawer in the island. My kids would have it broken in a month and it was at least a $1,000. Hope you get your dream home!