Luxury Housing Trends & Home Improvement Ideas

Maybe you’ve been considering one of those under-the-counter wine refrigerators but don’t think it would provide enough space for your favorite vintages. On the other hand, you may not be ready to invest in the gargantuan GE Wine Vault. Marvel has a middle of the road model that may be of interest. The Chateau collection 6SMOD wine and beverage refrigerator is about twice the size of under-the-counter models with an upper and lower compartment. It can be configured as a 54 bottle wine cellar or a 24″ wide dual-temperature-zone refrigerator at the top or bottom, or with two separate refrigerators top and bottom.

http://www.lifeluxurymarvel.com

The Dyson Ball Vacuum Cleaner has been out for a while in the UK but is little known in the US. The vacuum tracks on a ball instead of wheels. This design is supposed to allow greater maneuverability around furniture and obstacles, making vacuuming easier and more effective. It also uses Dyson’s “patented RootCyclone technology, a centrifugal force suction that is always constant, unlike other vacuums that can lose up to 50 percent suction while operating.” The list price for the Ball Vacuum in the US is about $720, though you can find it at Amazon for under $600: Dyson Ball Vacuum (The reviews over there are all pretty favorable, so it might just be a product that lives up to its claims.)

http://www.dyson.com/

Just as new faucets and fixtures can spruce up the kitchen or bathroom, stylish glass or crystal doorknobs can perk up doors. Likewise, new hardware for kitchen and bathroom cabinets can add a unique look to those rooms. ER Butler & Co offers a wide selection of quality cabinet and door hardware. The crystal doorknob pictured below is from their E. & G.W. Robinson Collection.

http://www.erbutler.com/

Thinking about choosing quartz countertops for your kitchen? Here are a few of the benefits of quartz according to the May/June 2005 issue of Smart HomeOwner:

Quartz countertops are stain-resistant, scratch-resistant, heat/scorch-resistant, and don’t need to be sealed or polished.

Unlike granite, quartz countertops are available in hundreds of colors, and their color is consistent.

Quartz is stronger than granite and less susceptible to cracking or chipping. It has a diamond-like luster and is easy to clean with soap and water.

Lastly, quartz countertops are nonporous and nonabsorbent, so they are resistant to bacteria.

If you’ve ever thought about catching the morning news while you’re in the shower or relaxing in your whirlpool tub with a good movie, you may be interested in this product. The Aquavision LCD TV is designed specifically for use in the bathroom. Not only is it waterproof but it addresses something the bathroom mirror tv folks might not have thought of: steam. The Aquavision TV has a heated screen which ensures the picture doesn’t steam up. It comes standard with a waterproof remote.

http://www.aquavision.tv/

Looking for garage flooring ideas? Want something a little more interesting than concrete? How about interlocking garage floor tiles? They come in multiple colors, are made from durable polypropylene, and are easy for the homeowner to install (you just use a rubber mallet to snap the tiles together). Typical sizes are one and two foot blocks.

http://www.gladiatorgw.com

If you’re one of those people who wishes the microwave didn’t take up counter space, you may be interested in Sharp’s Microwave Drawer. This microwave goes under the counter and has, instead of a typical door, a drawer that slides out so you can put food inside. It’s designed to handle loads as big as a regular microwave, and Sharp says the drawer slides in and out smoothly enough that food won’t spill. The microwave’s control panel and drawer can be locked so children can’t fiddle with settings. You can buy the stainless steel model at Amazon for $800: Sharp Microwave Oven Drawer.

http://www.sharpusa.com

Any old light fixture will do if you’re just worried about brightening up the yard at night, but if you want decorative outdoor lighting that makes a statement, check out Ivalo Lighting’s unique Aliante exterior sconce. This 5-foot steel shell with an elongated double-tapered shape is made from .060″ thick steel with a polycarbonate shield. It uses an 80 watt fluorescent light to create a glow emanating from the shell. These decorative outdoor lights are available in silver, bronze, and custom colors. The fixtures are UL approved.

http://www.ivalolighting.com

Smoker grills are popular backyard additions because they allow you not only to grill those chicken breasts, but to smoke the whole chicken if you want. One of the more unique looking smoker grills out there is the Big Green Egg which is adapted from an ancient Asian style cooker. The Big Green Egg company has been around for more than 30 years and is one of the acknowledged authorities on smokers and grills. (Their site has a forum where you can ask questions).

Big Green Egg Smoker Grill
(Picture from The Big Green Egg: Smoker Grill in Action)

Paper lanterns can add a unique look to a room. They have a long history, but Isamu Noguchi is the one credited with redefining the lanterns and bringing them to Western awareness. Noguchi was a Japanese American designer who enjoyed fusing Eastern craftsmanship with Western modern design. In 1951, he was asked to help revive Japan’s paper lantern industry, and he created his first Akari Lamp (”Akari” is Japanese for “light”), more of a light sculpture than a lamp. The Akari paper lanterns’ delicate shapes seem to float above their thin wire legs. The bodies are made from a collapsible spiral bamboo frame and strips of mulberry bark paper. Of the original 100 paper lantern designs Noguchi came up with, over 70 designs are still in production. They cost between $80 and $850 today.

The Noguchi Museum of Light