Luxury Housing Trends & Home Improvement Ideas

Looking for a more contemporary dining table? Maybe you need to mark the new dining area with an ‘X’, literally.

The Simon X Table Base from Pier 1 Imports is a fun way to do dining. This table base features a classic graphic design, and it’s available in both white and red, depending on how colorful you want to get. The base measures 33” W x 33” D x 29.5” H, and it’s made to fit glass tops measuring 36”, 42” or 48”.

Add upholstered or wood seating to this table base for a beautifully simple yet elegant look. You can seat four to six people with the largest glass table top option, so it’s perfect for immediate family, or you can use it as the kid’s table for holiday meals.

Fortunately, there are many ways to optimize the storage space in your home. From adding shelves to choosing multi-functional furnishings, you can conceals anything you want from books to pillows and children’s toys.

The Winsome Wood Mesa Storage Cube functions as an end table and a storage bin. It’s made from beech wood with a walnut finish, making it a rich accent that can complement any home decor. It features a unique, tapered cube shape, and the removable top enables you to store reading material, phone books, throw pillows and blankets.

If you’re tired of seeing your kid’s toys laying around the living room, reserve this end table for toy storage only. When you’re expecting guests, it will be easy for you or your child to clean up.

Garden fountains can really add some tender, love and care to your outdoor living space. If you’re interested in enjoying the weather and soaking up some rays with friends and family, you need the calming atmosphere to make lounging even more comfortable.

This 3 Tier Wall Fountain is hand painted in a classical burnt orange finish, and it features three tiers for the water to flow into. The garden fountain is made from weather-hardy, sturdy resin, and one pound of decorative stones are included, which can be arranged in the middle tier. The pump is also included, making this piece easy to setup and start.

Add a wall fountain to your patio area, and place it next to a cozy conversation set. The sound of flowing water can be so soothing, and it can serve as a nice backdrop to dinner and drinks.

The front door is an all important accent, so you better choose wisely. If you’re looking for a unique entryway door, consider The Dynasty Door.

This series is comprised of doors made from either Antique Douglas Fir or Kotty Alder, and they feature a heavy-duty, weathered exterior. The fir is an eco-friendly option, because the wood has been reclaimed from old buildings. These doors are handcrafted so no veneers are used. In addition to the two wood options, you also have two height options: 36” and 96”.

Create beautiful curb appeal with an amazing door that makes a presence and complements your home well. Consider embellishments such as beveled glass and wrought iron to finish off the look.

Summer is on its way, which means you need to update the inside of your home and bring a little sun into your decor too. Adding color and flowers can enhance your current decor, and might even put you in a better mood too.

In 1964 Maija Isola designed the Unikko (“poppy”), and this beautiful and popular Marimekko pattern has been brought back to life. The Marimekko Pieni Unikko Lime 20” Pillow is big and bright. It’s made from 100% cotton with a feather-down insert, and it has a zipper closure with knife-edge finishing. You can machine wash the cover, but it needs to air dry.

This patterned pillow is also available in other colors too, so you can accent your decor perfectly.

When you work at home, you have the ability to pretty much work anywhere you like. However, if you don’t have the right equipment, you can be confined to typing at your desk or kitchen table.

This stylish Laptop Support from IKEA enables you to type, read emails and surf the web from the couch or while you’re enjoying the weather outside on the patio. This accessory provides a tilted surface so you can put your computer on it and have it perfectly angled for easy reading. Also, the legs fold out, which give you a sturdy surface.

This laptop support comes in black/white or white/beige, and it’s made for holding up to a 17” laptop. It’s made from birch/poplar plywood and melamine foil.

If you have a patio or similar foundation in place, but it’s not very attractive, you can spruce it up by laying interlocking deck tiles on top. We’ve looked at snap-together bamboo and wood deck tiles before, but there are other options now too, such as slate, granite, and sandstone.

The perfect project for a DIY-er, these do-it-yourself deck tiles can be assembled quickly, and you can have a new look for your yard in a single weekend.

The tiles shown below are part of the Slate Series from EzyTile. They are comprised of natural slate bonded to an interlocking plastic base.

The slate deck tiles can be installed on porches, balconies, rooftop decks, and other flat surfaces. They snap together, and no tools or grout are required.

Cats are good pets to have in apartments and condos where space is at a premium, but you might not have room for big “cat condos” or climbing trees that sit on the floor. The SmartCat Multi-Level Cat Climber is an alternative option (by the way, if you have as many cats in your apartment as are shown in the picture below, “space” may not be your only issue!).

“The SmartCat Cat Climber is the perfect choice for small homes or for pet owners who don’t want to swap a handy end table for a traditional cat tree. The Cat Climber hangs on virtually any standard door using a spring-loaded bracket system that makes it easy to move from room to room. The durable wood unit features a natural sisal post ideal for scratching. Great for climbing, playing, and sleeping, as well as scratching. Plus, it looks great in any room. Easy assembly.”

$60 at Amazon: SmartCat Multi-Level Cat Climber

When it comes to choosing a new floor for your home, you aren’t limited to carpet, hardwoods, and ceramic tiles. While those options are just fine, there are plenty of more unique offerings on the market too.

Such as glass.

These textured tiles, which are available in different colors and styles, were crafted by UltraGlas. Apparently walking on glass isn’t as slippery as you’d think:

“17 Standard Surface Textures may be combined with any of 31 standard Solid Opaque Colors, or 10 standard Color Patterns. Custom single colors, as well as size, shape and thickness (up to 3/4”) may all be specified. Coefficient of friction requirements, for dry environments, are met by all of these surface textures, though a non-slip coating is recommended for installations in wet environments.”

Always on the go? Well, maybe you need to make your kitchen more efficient for your lifestyle. If you don’t have time to sit down at the table, you can make yourself something quick right at the kitchen counter and eat there.

Add Swivel Bar Stools to your kitchen counter or island, and enjoy quick breakfasts, lunches or dinners right where you prepare the food. Kitchen bar stools are ideal when you have kids too, because you can have them sit right at the kitchen island for breakfast, prepare the food, have them eat it and rush them off to the bus.

Adding bar stools to the kitchen also increases the seating capacity too. So you will have more chairs for guests as well as family.