Luxury Housing Trends & Home Improvement Ideas

Remember that rusty, creaky metal swing set you had as a kid? Wouldn’t you have rather had your very own climbing boulder? Or maybe even a set of climbing boulders? I suppose it depends on how you felt about heights, but I remember climbing everything from fences to trees to the neighbor’s outdoor fireplace. It probably would have been safer to have something actually designed for the purpose.

Playworld Systems builds boulders suitable for residential use. You can choose from several different styles, such as cliff (shown here), mountain, hill, and bench (the last two are much lower and would make good starter climbs). So, why consider a climbing boulder? According to the site, they not only appeal to the adventurous aspect of children, but they develop physical strength and coordination as well as mental problem-solving skills as climbers work out the best route to the top. Sure sounds a lot more stimulating than my old swing set.

Climbing Boulders

If you think concrete flooring has to be plain, gray, and industrial, think again. This decorative tile is an example of the concrete floor solutions available from Ann Sacks. The unique tiles use grout lines to create an overall patterned floor. A part of Andy Fleishman’s Speciality collection, the tiles can be purchased in a number of colors and styles, as well as in two shapes: square or hexagon. The one pictured here is called “maximus in creme.” Now, who says concrete can’t be friendly and inviting?

Ann Sacks

If you bake a lot of cookies, you may be accustomed to loaded cookie sheets sprawled out all over the counter. If you’ve got a massive kitchen with lots of counter space, maybe that’s not a problem, but if you’re feeling a little cramped, you can try a stacking cooling rack. This one can hold up to four hot cookie sheets (or cake or roll pans), leaving you a little more room for mixing bowls, ingredients, and utensils. The unit folds flat, so it doesn’t take up much storage space when you’re not using it. The price is $20.

Stacked Cooling Rack

Standing barefoot on a cold metal or plastic bathroom scale first thing in the morning is about as appealing as… reading the results. Apparently there’s no rule that says scales need to be made out of such chilly materials though. This one is made out of wood. The wooden slats look and feel warmer, and the scale itself is handsome enough that you won’t feel compelled to store it under the sink when company is coming over. At $40 it won’t break the bank either.

Wooden Bathroom Scale

Sure, you can head over to Walmart for a magazine rack or a storage bin, but if you want something with a bit of history, check out Rain Dragon Antiquities. The Seattle area company sells Chinese antiques, such as this dou. A dou was originally used as a measure for dry grains, but today people are buying the decorative wood boxes for storage. Some usage ideas include magazine baskets, knitting boxes, wastebaskets, fruit bins, or kindling holders. The dous come in two styles: small mouth (shown here–the opening is smaller than the base) and large mouth (opening is larger than the base). Either way, they’re a little more interesting than plastic baskets from the local big box store.

http://www.rain-dragon.com

If you’re looking for a way to get another month or two of pool use this year, but you don’t want to spend a lot on heating bills, these solar sun rings could help warm things up. They act like floating heaters; according to the company that makes them, they convert sunlight into heat at the equivalent of 21,000 BTUs per ring. In addition, the rings help keep the pool clean at night, since they reduce evaporation and cut chemical loss. The solar rings can be used in any in-ground or above-ground pool or hot tub. The price is $35 per ring.

Solar Sun Rings

Hot tubs for dogs? Our pet-pampering past time may be getting a little out of hand. But if you really love your dogs (or you just want them to get a good bath), you can check out MTI Whirlpools’ Jentle Pet Spa. Not only is this tub dog-sized for Fido’s bathing pleasure, but it comes with five massaging whirlpool jets. (I don’t even have massaging jets in my bath tub, grumble grumble.) Available extras are your choice of 50 colors and a Fill-Flush whirlpool cleaning system. I wonder if that takes care of the dog fur that doubtlessly gets stuck in the jets? The price for the Jentle Pet Spa starts at $1,700.

Jentle Pet

If you’re trying to save space in the kitchen, gadgets that have multiple functions can be helpful. The “Handyman” is a flexible, silicone rubber tool that can double as a potholder and a trivet. The cute little guy (er, hand) can also help you get a good grip for opening bottles and jars. The heat-resistant pot holder/trivet comes in three colors: blue, orange, and green.

Handyman