It is not uncommon for people to imagine living a high life. Penthouse apartments, luxury cars, and large homes are regularly seen on TV, in movies, and magazines. So, what drives some people to go for this type of lifestyle? This article can shed light on what makes someone live in a penthouse apartment. The term penthouse can be defined as any apartment or a flat located on the topmost floor of a building. The level of luxury that comes with the penthouse apartments is exceptionally high. It is no longer a dream to have the services of a full-time concierge.

Also, the penthouse unit is likely to have more than one bedroom. Sometimes, owners of these apartments rent out their units to other people. They are also expected to have all the modern facilities needed for the city's idyllic and relaxing lifestyle.

What Qualifies as a Penthouse?

The definition of what qualifies as a penthouse is entirely subjective. It depends on where one is looking for the building or unit. For example, a penthouse can be described as any apartment on the topmost floor of a building. Most penthouse apartments view the city from their veranda and balconies.

However, not just any apartment at the topmost level qualifies as a penthouse apartment. For it to be considered a penthouse, some other factors need to be considered. A penthouse apartment will likely have multiple bedrooms and bathrooms if several people reside in the unit. It is especially the case where there is the main bedroom and one or more guest bedrooms.

A penthouse unit will have an open plan layout. Unlike traditional homes, it is designed so that all living areas are contiguous. In addition, a penthouse unit will likely come with a luxurious kitchen, walk-in closets and an entertainment area.

In some cases, the penthouse is a single apartment on the very top level of a building, typically the roof. This apartment may take the entire area and essentially be the size of many moderate to large homes. These tend to be the most luxurious and have their own private elevators to reach them. 

Benefits of Living in a Penthouse

Several benefits come with living in a penthouse apartment. Some of these benefits include:

• Spaciousness - A penthouse apartment has more than enough space to accommodate several people, unlike traditional homes that are likely to be very small. There is a lot of space in the kitchen, bedroom or living room.
• Luxury and convenience - A penthouse apartment is likely to have everything that you could need. For example, some kitchens have modern amenities such as a microwave, dishwasher and ovens for baking and cooking. There are also bathrooms with all the hot and cold water fixtures and built-in toilets.
• Stunning views - Penthouse apartments have a great deal of space to showcase their beautiful views of the city from their veranda, balconies and terraces.
• Private elevator - It is not uncommon for people visiting a penthouse apartment to use the private elevator from the lobby to the penthouse.
• Natural light and fresh air - The penthouse unit will also have many glass windows that allow ample bright sunshine and fresh air. These windows are likely equipped with blinds to help regulate the light and fresh air flowing.

Extra Costs of Penthouse Living

Penthouses are not cheap. It is also not uncommon for some people to live in a penthouse unit, although they are renting it out because of the relatively higher cost involved with owning and maintaining it. There are several areas where extra costs are likely to be incurred compared to traditional apartment living. These include the following:

1. The costs of maintaining the building - Several costs are likely incurred to run a building and maintain it well. These include repair and maintenance of facilities on the building such as elevators as well as lobby areas.
2. The costs of utilities - Living in a penthouse unit will require a certain level of comfort. It will also require that one have a higher level of running costs.
3. The cost of cleaning - The size and layout of the penthouse unit make cleaning very difficult. Hence, one will need to hire a maid or cleaning personnel to come and do the job for them.
4. Additional costs for furniture and appliances - Moving into a penthouse unit will likely come with the bare minimum of furniture and appliances. Consequently, there will be a need to buy extra furniture and appliances to outfit the penthouse.

Penthouse apartments are likely to be the dream homes of many people. However, these apartments come with their own set of challenges as well. It is essential to consider the costs of these apartments before deciding whether to live in one or not.