Luxury Housing Trends & Home Improvement Ideas

I love reading in the bathtub, but at some point you have to set the book down and get to washing. Then you face the question of where to put your book. Porcelain ledges, toilet seats, and the like tend to get steamy and damp, and you’re relegated to tossing your treasured paperback on the floor (where it’ll probably get wet anyway when you climb out). The answer? Dornbracht’s Melt table, a part of their Interiors collection, might do the trick. I’m not sure if the Melt side table is specifically designed for the bathroom (although Interiors is slated as a furniture collection dedicated to bath and living areas), but it looks like a handy spot to hang your towel and set a book or magazine. At the very least, the natural maple finish shouldn’t collect condensation as badly as most bathroom surfaces.

http://www.dornbracht.com/

Technically, andirons are just for keeping the logs from falling out of the fireplace when a fire is burning, but metalsmiths and designers have long been adding style to functionality in order to make andirons that suit the personality of the homeowners. If you’re looking for elegant and stately, these cat andirons from ShoppersChoice may not be it, but if having a pair of critters peering out of the fireplace sounds cool, read on. The cat andirons are made from black cast iron and have reflective glass eyes. They are 17 inches tall and weigh just over 18 pounds. They cost about $60 (not including shipping). ShoppersChoice also features andirons shaped like cacti and owls, along with more basic antique and modern styles.

Cast Iron Cat Andirons

Luxury showers with multiple spray angles are more popular than jetted tubs these days, and the trend is toward a sleek style that eliminates visual clutter and protrusions. Kohler’s WaterTiles are brass 5″ x 5″ showerheads designed to blend in with the rest of the tiles. You can install as many as you want. They sit almost flush with the ceiling, wall, or intersections between those places. Once installed, you can still adjust the spray to target you whereever you wish. They’re relatiavely inexpensive at $119-$199, but expect to redo the plumbing in your shower to install these body sprays.

http://www.kohler.com

If installing new kitchen cabinets or resurfacing the olds ones isn’t in the cards now, you can give your kitchen a new look by installing new cabinet hardware for a relatively low price. Stores like Home Depot have the basics, but for something unique (and environmentally friendly), try visiting Green Sage; they specialize in “sustainable building materials and furnishings.” These recycled glass drawer pulls run about $12 a piece and are available in numerous colors and styles. They even have cabinet hardware shaped like fish, gears, shells, and stars for those looking for the whimsical.

Green Sage Hardware & Pulls

For those who enjoy McDonald’s egg and English muffin breakfast sandwiches, a new toaster from Back to Basics allows you to make them at home. The Egg & Muffin Toaster can simultaneously toast your bread or English muffin, cook an egg (poached or steam-scrambled), and warm a pre-cooked slice of ham or sausage, all in about 4 minutes. The toaster will be available at major retailers starting in September. MSRP is $49.95.

http://www.eggandmuffintoaster.com/