On the state’s western slope, in the outskirts of Grand Junction, Stone Cliff Views offers exactly this. The 5,000-square-foot custom-built luxury home is a hop and a skip from the iconic Colorado River, and the red rock cliffs of Colorado National Monument tower above. The location alone is enough to inspire awe, with expansive vistas and easy access to the often-overlooked national monument, but the home is a wonder unto itself.

What’s the difference between a house and a home? A house is a simple noun, a place, a structure. But a home is harder to define, tied more to a feeling. A home is a place of spirit and soul, a vessel for the human expression of those who live within it. A house is empty and indifferent — but a home contains life.

We hear it all the time that a luxury kitchen is an investment, but how much value do they actually add to a home? We sat down with...