Luxury Housing Trends & Home Improvement Ideas

Sitting on your deck and enjoying the beautiful colored birds that visit your property can be a relaxing experience. However, when winter sets in, certain species can be hard to spot when they’re nesting in the trees.

The Allied Precision Heated Birdbath enables you to bird watch all year long. It features a heated bathing bowl that has been tested in -20 degree Fahrenheit conditions. It also has an ez-tilt-to-clean deck mount, so the birds will come right within your vision.

It requires 150 watts to power the 120 volt thermostat, but the power cord can be stored away during the summertime. If you want to preserve the biodiversity in your backyard and keep your feathered friends hydrated through the rough season, this heated bird bath is a great gift you can give them.

Adding elements to your home is a fun way to take your space to the next level as well as bring in some Feng Shui. Backyard fountains are amazing features, and if you entertain family and friends often, it’s an outdoor must have for all seasons.

The Fire & Water Zen Bowl Table/Floor Fountain from Serenity Health is an interesting take on water fountains, which makes them more eye catching than they already are. Along with fire and water, this outdoor fountain brings slate, rock and metal together in one beautiful piece.

The water cascades down the slate tiers, and the fire can be brought into the picture by simply lighting the oil burner. There is a calming, peaceful balancing act between fire and water that can enhance your backyard patio or pool area.

Don’t you hate it when you check your local weather station and then go outside to find that the weather is nothing like the meteorologist reported? It can definitely be annoying. However, instead of relying on the local weather stations, you can get a more accurate weather report on your own.

The Konus Double Wall Thermometer and Barometer is a convenient accessory to install on your home’s exterior. It can go on a deck or patio, but it’s best if you place it outside where you can view it from inside.

This blue weather instrument can tell you the temperature as well as the atmospheric pressure. When the pressure outside falls rapidly, this is usually an indication of an impending thunderstorm, but when the pressure rises, you can assume that the weather will be calm and stable.

Don’t have enough room on your patio or deck for a built-in grill or freestanding version? No worries…you just have to invest in a more portable one.

The Folding Portable Notebook BBQ Grill from Grill Showroom has a simple two step set up, and it measures 14.18” high when assembled. Now when you’re ready to store it or carry it, you can fold it back down and it becomes 1” thick!

With this portable grill, you can cook food anywhere on your property, which is convenient when you’re entertaining. Currently, this model is on backorder until 10/14/2010, but that date is just around the corner. The list price is 455.82, but it’s being sold for a steal at $39.07. Now you can enjoy fall with some BBQ.

Sometimes a private backyard deck isn’t already built into the house of your dreams, but this shouldn’t discourage you from creating a cozy retreat on your own. All it requires is some optical illusions.

If you only have enough space for a front yard deck, you’re going to have to work on separating the space. For example, in order to keep the driveway out of view, erect a a stucco wall and plant bright colored flowers along the side of it. For the rest of the deck, use cedar and redwood lattice to define the space.

If you’re yard slopes dramatically in the front, cover it up with a deck along with a low, hidden retaining wall. Then you can add more landscaping and walking paths to designate part of your front yard for patio purposes only.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have the deck of your dreams? Maybe you envision an outdoor family room or a larger space to barbecue and enjoy friends and family. Whatever you have in mind Trex decks can transform the most hideous spaces into a functional, beautiful retreat.

What makes Trex Transcend decks so amazing is that 95% of all materials come from those plastic shopping bags, reclaimed wood and used pallets. Surprisingly, the material is resistant to staining, fading and mold. Plus, you don’t have to worry about pesky splinters either.

Whether you want to create a quiet backyard atmosphere or play soccer on your deck, Trex deck products can make any design happen. With a fireplace, outdoor couch, barbecue and projector set, you can live like your inside but enjoy the breeze and nature sounds.

There’s no doubt that a fireplace can set the mood; it can create a romantic ambiance or a relaxing environment. If you live in higher altitudes where it’s colder, a fireplace is an essential. However, having one inside and outside of the home is the ultimate luxury.

In case a patio heater isn’t enough to keep you warm during the autumn and winter, you can upgrade to the Napolean 42” Outdoor Vent Free Fireplace. This fireplace can be installed almost anywhere outside, because it doesn’t require any venting. Just imagine your outdoor patio being as cozy as your living room!

This vent free fireplace gives off up to 65,000 BTU’s, and it has brushed stainless steel double doors. With the realistic gas logs, it will look like an old-fashioned fireplace. For safety measures, there is a 100% SAFE GUARD gas control system, which will automatically shut off.

When the leaves start changing, the weather on your patio might not be so comfortable to have appetizers and drinks in the evening. But simply because fall is coming doesn’t mean you have to give up that outdoor enjoyment.

The Deluxe Patio Heater from Frontgate is designed for backyard patios, so you can enjoy a 15′ radius of warmth—this is definitely better than wearing sweatshirts and bringing blankets just to relax outside. The 20” base even rolls so you can set it wherever you need the heart, and you can always adjust the warmth using the heat control.

Adding a beautifully designed high-efficiency burner system to your patio will allow you to take advantage of the patio during the cooler months. Even though it might be fall, you don’t have to start your indoor hibernation just yet.

Before you know it, you’re going to start seeing autumn furnishings, flowers, etc. in all of the stores, which is why it’s important to finish your summer shopping now while the sales are going on. Even if you don’t have a pool, every patio can use a stylish chaise lounge, especially when you have sun worshipers in the household.

The Martha Stewart Living Palamos Collection Chaise is way more classier than a plastic or fold up lounger. It has a steel and aluminum frame, which has a hand-woven texture. The cushion is made from Oelfin fabric, and it has a brushed raisin finish.

What makes this chair so great is that it has wheels on the back so you can roll it to wherever the sun is shining. Also, the back/head rest can recline too.

Outdoor lighting is important for safety reasons, and deck lights are a good idea if you do any backyard entertaining that runs into the dusk hours. One option is to install post cap lamps that brighten things at waist height, but you don’t necessarily want glare in your eyes when you’re maneuvering outdoors. That’s why in-deck lighting that installs into the floor boards themselves can be wise.

These versatile, flush-mounted lights are from Rockler Woodworking & Hardware. The 3″ diameter, sturdy lamps can be walked on or even driven over (just in case your teenagers feel the urge to park the family car on the deck).

The in-deck lights come in kits of 10 or you can buy them individually.

$17 each or $145 for the set of 10.