Melbourne developers have made their predictions for the top interior design trends for 2015.
Theatre rooms and spas have been snubbed on the must have interior design trend list.
Once only found in the wealthiest homes, butler's pantries, mudrooms and karaoke suites are becoming the must-have features in Melbourne homes.
A growing number of buyers, from all walks of life, now want a second kitchen.
Experts have suggested that this increase can be attributed to the ongoing popularity of reality cooking shows.
A modern butler's pantry is used for everything from concealing cooking mess to collating household bills.
Hodges Real Estate director Campbell Cooney said the butler's pantry was an aspirational feature.
"We're seeing more houses with rooms with a second dish washer, sink and preparation area," he said.
Intrapac Senior Development Manager Max Shifman also said butler's panties were in fashion, as were larger ovens and stovetops.
World of Style Senior Interior Designer Catherine Valente said tap ware was becoming more streamlined, and colours and finishes were making showpieces of practical items.
Mudrooms and Dressing rooms are emerging as functional additions.
Mr Cooney said underground multipurpose rooms for games or wine storage were increasingly popular, while traditionally popular home cinemas were on the way out.
Plus Architecture Design Director Ian Briggs said communal herb and vegie garden, shared sheds and libraries with free Wi-Fi will also be features of apartment living.
"It's all about providing places where people meet and the sort of facilities that you would normally find at the back of a quarter-acre block," Mr Briggs said.
In latest apartment developments, shared facilities such as private dining rooms and karaoke suites are outshining the basic gym and barbeque area.
Eq Tower on A’Beckett Steet in Melbourne’s CBD is one apartment block that is planning to take advantage of modern tastes. It has private dining rooms and lounges where residents can book for parties, as well as karaoke suites which are a growing trend in Melbourne high-rises.
Finance director and development manager Matthew Khoo, of Eq's creator ICD Property, said apartment amenities in Hong Kong and Singapore influenced the building's design.
"When people want to entertain their friends but their apartment is potentially too small, they can book out the private dining room, which has a commercial-grade kitchen to cook from," Mr Khoo said.
"The karaoke lounges are an Asian-guided trend, which we saw carrying through the future."
Image courtesy of http://plainfancycabinetry.com/