You may live in the lap of luxury or perhaps you just like to go window shopping in the sense of looking into the window of luxurious homes in your area.

While many of the country’s finest homes are beyond the budgets of most people, there are many aspirational buyers who want to take some fantastic ideas from the most stunning homes and incorporate them into new purchases or investments.

What makes a home expensive is not just the cost of materials, but the artistry, and imagination can go a long way to create value.

Getting in Touch with Nature: The Razor House

Many of us would like to improve our connection to nature. Entrepreneur Donald Burns does that through ownership of the Razor House in La Jolla California that is actually built into the side of a cliff. The imaginative house takes the architectural of organic design one step further and doesn’t just fit into its surroundings figuratively, but literally. The razor house, designed by Wallace E. Cunningham provides breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean as well as revolutionary ways to make use of functional space.

The Razor House is constructed from concrete, steel and wall-sized windows that provide a truly panoramic view. The house is fully automated with many devices controlled by an iPad and through digital technology. The house has elegant stone floors, radiant heating, two master bedrooms, two additional bedrooms, four bathrooms, a gym a spa on the roof and a convenient place for barbecuing.

Copper Beech Farms

Copper Beech Farms in Greenwich, Connecticut is one of the most expensive and largest homes in the country. It has a 1,800-foot driveway and contains 12 bedrooms and nine bathrooms with separate quarters for the staff. The 50-acre estate sold for a record $120,000,000. It is a waterfront estate with a 12 sided swimming pool, a carriage house, a greenhouse, a grass tennis court and other extravagant amenities.