Luxury Housing Trends & Home Improvement Ideas

Sure, you’ve heard of wireless surveillance cameras, but they still have to be plugged in, right? So, how “wireless” are they? Smarthome is offering a 2.4GHz color passive infrared camera and receiver that is powered by the sun. As with regular surveillance cameras, this one transmits images and voices when motion is detected. The data can be stored on a tape or hard drive inside the house. Since there are no wires to run, the camera should be easy to install, even for a non-DIY type. The price for the system is $350.

Solar Power Motion Sensing Wireless Camera

Just looking at the picture might stump you, so we’ll help you out: it’s a lamp. The Snap Lamp from Property Furniture can be a suspension or table lamp. Its unique shape comes from 60 identical “injection molded components” (no, we’re not sure what that means either) that have been snapped together to form a cohesive globe-shaped piece. 12 inches in diameter, the Snap Lamp is available in Pearl White or Amethyst Red.

http://www.propertyfurniture.com

Looking for an usual flooring material that will set your room apart? Well, you may not have to get any more exotic than glass. Ann Sacks’ Lake Garda collection includes glass tiling flooring with pieces ranging in size from 2″ x 2″ to 12″ x 12″. The tiles are offered in forty matte colors with prices starting at $44 per square foot. Though not as breakable as standard glass, the tile flooring is recommended for rooms that see light traffic.

http://www.annsacks.com

The Maytag Cordless Iron is designed to make pressing clothes a little less cumbersome by eliminating the power cord. I know–true luxury is having someone else press your clothes for you, but if you’d rather handle it yourself, this iron can make things a little easier. It comes with a cradle, which is plugged into an outlet, that acts as a docking station to recharge it, allowing the iron itself to remain cord free. According to the company, the handle is designed so you can iron comfortably left- and right-handed, and a number of precise temperature settings give you the range needed to press different fabrics just right. The cordless iron is available for just under $100 at Amazon, where there’s only one review at the time of this posting, but it’s a five-star one: Maytag Cordless Iron

The Pullman Pedestal Sink from Vitraform is made from Laminated Starphire glass with a translucent finish that gives it a unique look for the bathroom. According to the company, the manufacturing process ensures strength, consistency, and reliability. The pedestal stand and sink are available in 12 colors–the polished bronze is shown here. For information on purchasing and price, visit their web site at: http://www.vitraform.com/

No, it’s not a picture of your children’s fantasy playhouse; it’s a bird feeder, and yes, it’s shaped like a castle. I know what you’re thinking–why would birds need a feeder as stylish as this? They probably don’t, but hey, you’re the one who has to look out the window at the thing. Why not get something snazzy? This “luxury” bird feeder from Naturally Wood is designed after the Kennebunk Castle, a home/tourist attraction in Maine. The company offers other New England-inspired bird houses as well. The price for the castle feeder is $185.

http://www.nlbbs.com/~natwd/

Portable kitchen islands are a solution for homeowners who want the added cabinet and counter space of an island but aren’t looking to remodel. They can also work in smaller kitchens where there just isn’t enough space for a built-in island. When not in use, they can be pushed out of the way against a wall. This compact island from Medallion Cabinetry has drawers and a shelf under a butcher block top. The company also sells wood range hoods, cabinets, moldings, and built-in islands.

http://www.medallioncabinetry.com

For those of us who live in rainy areas like the Pacific Northwest, areas under the backyard deck can turn into a swamp. Not a big deal if your deck is at ground level, but if you have a second story deck, that’s a lot of wasted space getting wet and soggy. Under deck systems are basically ceilings that get installed under the planks to keep the area under the deck dry, so you can use it for storage or a protected outdoor living area. Mason Corp sells a system with “E-Z Lok” aluminum pans available in white or ivory that can be customized to fit any deck. More information is available via their web site: http://www.masoncorp.com/

Mortarless bricks are gaining popularity with do-it-yourself homeowners who want to cover up their old house siding with the handsome look of brick. Since these newer bricks don’t require mortar, you don’t need a professional mason to install them. According to Haener Block, a company that sells interlocking mortarless bricks, they can be installed up to 10 times faster than traditional bricks, and the possibility of placement errors is virtually eliminated. An article from Housing Zone says: “Concrete bricks are cast in special shapes that can be installed by anyone with basic carpentry skills. The existing wall framing structure typically supports the weight of the bricks, so foundation ledges are not required, and retrofitting existing walls is possible. Because of its relative ease of installation, this system provides homeowners with the look of real brick exteriors at a more affordable price.”

http://www.haenerblock.com | Housing Zone

If you’re looking to add curb appeal to the front of your house, swapping out those old house numbers hanging crookedly above the garage might be a way to go. A company called Address Numbers sells a variety of decorative house address plaques like this “Acanthus Monogram Plaque.” It has an upscale look, but it’s actually made of recycled aluminum that helps it stay rust free. The plaque is designed to hold one letter in the monogram section at the top and up to two lines of text and/or numbers below. The price is $85, and it can be ordered online from the company’s web site.

http://www.addressnumbers.com