Luxury Housing Trends & Home Improvement Ideas

Got a problem with rampant blackberry bushes, Scotch broom, ivy, or other bothersome weeds? Maybe the grass has just grown up too high to plow through with the lawn mower. Traditionally, you’d have to hire a crew or get out there yourself, ready to take on some backbreaking labor. Well there’s a way to save some time and effort…

Rent goats.

In many areas, the goat solution is becoming more and more popular as goat-owners rent out their herds to clear land for grateful customers.

When it comes to steep slopes covered in blackberry vines, goats are faster (and cheaper) than human crews or heavy equipment. While goats can’t compete with herbicides for speed, they can work in wetlands and alongside stream banks without posing a threat to water quality.

Most rent-a-goat operations are one-man or family run businesses, and not too many have websites yet, but if you check Craigslist or do a Google search for your area, you might just find someone willing to come out with a herd. Place your order well ahead of time, though, because many of these rent-a-goat outfits have a waiting list!

Source: Rent-a-goats gain a foothold (Seattle PI)

Once you’ve decided on hardwood floors, there are many species to consider. While they’re all arguably handsome, each offers different looks, and there’s a lot of variation along the spectrum from light to dark.

This solid wood eucalyptus flooring is a nice middle ground and offers a wonderful richness.

The stairs here were done with “Vida Grandis flooring” from the Environmental Home Center. The wood is made from Eucalyptus Grand, which is grown in the Northeast province of Corrientes, Argentina. It’s sourced from plantations certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

The eucalyptus species has a Janka Scale rating of 1150, which makes it slightly harder than Teak and therefore a great choice for a durable hardwood floor.

There are lots of ways you can go green when remodeling the kitchen and bathroom. You’re probably already thinking of cabinets made from reclaimed wood and countertops made from recycled glass or recycled paper, but there are lots of small pieces that can be made from green materials too.

For instance, this cabinet pull, which is part of the Masa Collection at Eleek, is made from 100% post-consumer recycled aluminum. The pulls in the line offer a sparse, modern look that embody the formal sensibilities of classic Japanese design.

They might go nicely with bathroom or kitchen cabinets made from sunflower seed husks.

http://eleekinc.com

For a truly stunning light fixture for the ceiling, check into blown glass.

The leopard colored Atlantis chandelier from Bear Creek Glass is made from hundreds of hand blown and shaped pieces. At 30 inches wide and 22 inches high (for the “small” version shown here), this light is going to be noticed! (A larger version measures 30 inches wide but 46 inches high and weighs in at 125 pounds.)

The funky chandeliers are available in a number of cool colors (with custom colors an option too). Prices run $4250 for the small lamp and $8400 for the large.

Bear Creek Glass

As long as you’re building the bathroom of your dreams, you may as well install the toilet (or in this case urinal) of your dreams.

Yes, even these functional pieces can be custom designed for just the look you like.

This custom-built copper urinal was done by the folks at Diamond Spas and features an “aggressive hand buffed finish.” I’m sure the lady of the house appreciates this too–with a urinal that big, chances are the menfolk are less likely to miss.

If you like that copper look, you can go all the way with a matching tub and bathroom sink. Browse the company’s site to see other cool metal bathroom and spa furnishings.

http://diamondspas.com/

Lots of folks have work benches in the garage, but garages aren’t notorious for great lighting.

If you find yourself working after dark and peering into the gloom to finish projects, you may want to pick up some shop lighting.

This 1200-Watt Pro Work Light from Lowe’s should have no problem illuminating the area.

It can stand on the floor or on a tripod and features two separate lights with four-way weatherproof switches. A spare bulb holder lets you keep an extra light on hand nearby.

Let there be light!

$55

If you always feel a bit wary when you’re flipping the garbage disposal switch with wet hands, then you may feel safer installing an air switch.

Enviropure Air Switches are remote control on/off systems that eliminates the need to operate electrical switches. This can be a smart idea around the sink, especially when operating garbage disposals, and they can be installed on kitchen islands or in bathrooms too.

How does an air switch work, you ask? Here’s the blurb from the site:

“The system works on a sealed air displacement principle. As the transmitter button is depressed and released, sealed air is displaced and transmitted through an air hose connected to a pressure sensitive switch, turning the disposal on. The circuit remains energized until the air transmitter is depressed and released again, turning the disposal off.”

Enviropure Air Switches

I’ve been house hunting the last few weeks, and I’ve seen some very scary basements. If you’re tired of using yours for nothing more than storage, then maybe it’s time to refinish it and turn the area into a useable living space.

With the traditional drywall process, refinishing a basement can take four to six weeks, but the folks over at Owens Corning have a system that can get the job done in 7-10 days.

Instead of using drywall, they install panelized walls that are moisture-resistant and can accommodate high-humidity environments (though they’re not flood-proof). They “breathe” so they don’t trap water, therefore they resist mold growth. The basement panels are also supposed to be more durable than drywall (no dents), and they can be moved easily in the future if you need to access pipes, wiring, the foundation, etc.

It looks like a relatively painless way to get your basement refinished.

Owens Corning Basements

If you would like to add wine storage to your home, but you’re crunched for space, a piece of furniture that fits into a corner is a possible solution.

The Howard Miller Piedmont Corner Wine Cabinet features a 13-bottle wine rack as well as lots of storage room for glasses, decanters, tools, and other wine paraphernalia.

The wood cabinet is finished in distressed rustic cherry and includes two glass shelves, a built-in four-level light switch, locking doors to keep unwanted wine samplers out, and adjustable corner levelers to provide stability on uneven and carpeted floors.

$779 from the Wine Enthusiast:

Howard Miller Piedmont Corner Wine Cabinet

Those who live in historic houses often choose to remodel in a manner that remains true to the time period the home was built in.

In the bathroom, you don’t necessarily want an antique tub that really is 100 years old, but you can find lots of companies offering reproductions. This gives the benefits of modern technology with the look of the authentic pieces. If you’re installing a clawfoot tub as part of your authentic bathroom remodel, you’ll probably want a faucet that looks right for the period too.

This antique clawfoot tub faucet from the Plumbing Supply Store has a traditional look and sports separate hot and cold metal lever handles. The built-in soap dish answers the question of where you put the soap bar when you’ve got a clawfoot tub.

The product description does note that the eccentric spout doesn’t meet modern building codes in many areas, so that’s something to check into before you put in any authentic or reproduction period fixtures!