Home Gyms Rank Second for Today’s Homebuyers
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Home fitness exploded during the pandemic. And it’s only accelerating. After all, there’s a lot to love about no commutes and no crowds — not to mention no excuses to skip your workout.
The numbers speak for themselves. Forty-seven percent of homeowners deemed home fitness rooms essential, second only to offices as the most popular “specialty room” request, according to a recent National Association of Home Builders’ “What Buyers Really Want” survey.
For Bryan Green, founder of California-based Fitness Design Group, it’s no longer about a piece of equipment here and there.
“Home gyms are here to stay. People want the environment.”
Business was so brisk during COVID that Green created a separate division to service the home market.
The intent is simple: Create energizing spaces where people can train their bodies and minds.
“We’re functional designers. Our goal is for you to be motivated to work out every day,” Green says.
Variety is key. Every project is tailored around the needs and preferences of the household. “The most important thing is guidance. When there’s a myriad of different users, it needs to work for the family.”
“We help people determine exactly what they will use. It’s an exploratory process. We’re excited we can do that.”.
FDG’s multifaceted approach includes floorplan design, equipment specification and supply, flooring, artwork, mirrors, and more. In addition to California (which Green calls the “fitness epicenter”), the company has expanded nationwide.
In this Dallas contemporary home, a custom acoustic treatment keeps sound from bouncing off the glass and concrete during training sessions. The gym also features an integrated wall system and custom storage for attachments, free-weights, and recovery tools.
Other DFG projects include a Chicago high rise (think amazing views from the 22nd floor), a Scottsdale luxury garage gym, and an outdoor Miami space complete with specialized training turf.
Prices range from $12,000 to upward of $80,000, Green says. And while an investment, it “pales in comparison” to, say, a custom kitchen.
Cost no object? Check out these extravagant home fitness options featured in Architectural Digest.
This Houston contemporary fitness room has everything you’d need for intense training. A lap-length in-ground pool is also on one of the tiered terraces.
In this Edwards, Colorado property, a separate glass-encased cabana-gym offers views of the pool and the surrounding landscape. The Annabelle Selldorf–designed estate also boasts a pond for hockey and ice skating.
And in Palm Beach, this state-of-the-art gym has a sound system and plenty of room for equipment. The pièce de résistance: an underwater window with views into the pool.
