Luxury Housing Trends & Home Improvement Ideas

Are you a talented piano player? Or are your children passionate about playing? Then it would probably suit you to have a piano in your home that you could play any time you wanted. A baby grand piano can be an amazing piece to add to your sitting room, and it’s even better if you or a family member plays it.

Even if you don’t play, you can still get use out of this particular model. The Suzuki Gp-7 Digital Baby Grand Ensemble Piano serves more than just a piano you can play. You can get family or friends together and sing karaoke. You can also play pre-recorded music from floppy disks. Or if you’re talented, you can compose, record and store your own songs, so if your friends come over to visit, you can entertain them on the piano and socialize at the same time.

Before school starts and summer ends, catch up on your movies with the Popcorn Hour C-200. You can watch a variety of media from this one box that’s about the size of a DVD/VHS player, so you don’t have to worry about it cluttering up your entertainment center.

The Popcorn Hour enables you to watch media from your computer, digital camera, USB drive and Internet. Since it has Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, you will be able to download media files quickly when you want to share your recent vacation videos with friends.

You can also add a Blu-ray player, and you can easily share media with friends and family over the Internet.  Another feature is the myiHome Media Server, which enables you to organize your medial library. This gadget support most high-def video and audio standards, and you can play almost any digital media file right on your home TV screen.

When it comes to lighting your entertainment space, there are so many options. Depending on the ambiance you want to achieve as well as what aspects of the room you want to highlight, you’re sure to find a perfect fit.

Wall-mounted track lighting is ideal over paintings or pictures on the wall that you want to enhance. Plus, these mounts are flexible and easy to mount close or away from the wall.

Light wedges provide geometric shapes of light on the wall, because they are mounted on the wall. These fixtures look best in a room with modern furniture and décor.

Wall sconces are versatile and can match almost any décor. Although they are meant for accent lighting, you can put halogen bulbs in them for maximum brightness.

Other lighting options include variable-color light fixtures (colored filters create colors), programmable entertainment lighting effects and limited-edition lighting fixtures (works of art).

A jukebox makes a great addition to a basement filled with entertainment. Picture you and your friends serving each other drinks behind the bar, playing pool and listening to any music your heart desires.

The iPod Bubbler is a jukebox that plays music directly from your iPod, so you have a limitless music selection. This model comes in three cabinet finishes and is priced at $7,995.

Jukeboxes have an immense amount of detail down to the lighting. Some have different colored peacock plumes and leaping gazelles as well as a rainbow of colors. If you’re going for a classic tavern atmosphere in your basement, a jukebox can create the warm lighting and set the mood.

Modern jukeboxes have high tech electronics, dual amplifiers, surround-sound and remote controls, which make them easier to operate and more functional. Now all you have to do is download music onto your iPod, and you can listen to your favorite songs for hours.

Creating an indoor sports retreat can keep you, your family and friends entertained during those rainy summer days or cold winter months. Below are some games you might consider adding to your entertainment space.

A free-throw duel like you see at carnivals and fairs is a challenging game that also collapses for easy storage in the closet. Another game that can be stored when not in use is a tabletop version of air hockey, which can be fun for kids and adults. If you enjoy bowling, try playing a miniature bowling game.

Games that you wouldn’t be able to store but could fill a room include a soccer table, billiards table or Ping-Pong table. The standard pool table size for a home is 4′ x 8′ with a standard cue length of 57”. If you don’t have this much room, purchase a 3′ x 6′ pocket pool table with 48” cue sticks.

Hosting a dinner party is a classy way to present your newly remodeled home to friends and family. Plus, you can test out how functional your new bathroom and kitchen is too. Below are some tips on how you can host an eco-friendly dinner party.

Setup recycling bins in your pull-out garbage cabinet so your guests can sort their trash. A typed sign on the outside of the cabinet can help out your guests.

Use your good china instead of plastic or paper plates and utensils. Although you will have to do dishes, you will be reducing your waste.

Cook the meal with organic fruits and vegetables from your garden, and use any homegrown berries in your desserts. This makes for great conversation, and you can also show off your successful garden.

For decorations, create flower arrangements from your cut-flower garden and put them in vases you know you will use again. Or you these can be given away as party favors so your guests can enjoy them at home.

Even if you have an elegant sitting room with hand painted vases, rich wood tones and a large fireplace, it doesn’t mean that you can’t make updated technology work in the space too. Plus, it’s not like those puffy couches were meant for just sipping tea and reading.

Incorporating modern technology into a formal sitting room is possible if the equipment can be stowed away when it’s not in use. For example, a pull-down viewing screen can be installed above the fireplace, so you can pull it down when you want to watch a sporting event or movie. When the screen is put away, a traditional piece of artwork can fill the space and complete the look of the room.

Additional electronic equipment such as a DVD player, speakers, etc. can be stored in traditional glass-faced cabinets with interior lighting. This will create some contrast.

These are just some ways that you can have a balance of modernism and traditional style in one room.

Painting, sculpting, ceramics, piano, flute, guitar…whichever type of art you’re into, you should have a special place in your home for it. Even if you have to make ceramics out of your garage or play the drums in your attic, it’s comforting to know that your home welcomes these talents.

If you’re remodeling the attic so a drafting table and easel fits, a few skylights on the northern portion of the ceiling will provide ideal lighting. Also, make sure that there is enough room to be comfortable (at least 70 square feet of floor space).

The swanky piano room below has included a variety of textural elements, which can inspire your creativity. For example, there is a faux fur rug under the piano, patterned upholstered chairs and ornate wood detailing on the table.

Regardless of which room in your home you have available to convert into an art studio or music room, it’s important to have pieces of visual interest as well as a window into the outside world.

Adding little touches to the guest room can make your friends and family members feel more at home when they come to visit. If you have never tried out your guest room, this is the first step you should take.

Sleeping one or two nights in the guest room can give you ideas of where improvements can be made. For example, a mini kitchen with a small coffee maker, microwave and refrigerator stocked with beverages and snacks can ensure your guests have everything they need. It can be difficult to fall asleep when you’re away from home, but familiar items such as tea and cookies can help you settle in.

Other considerate touches include a private telephone, local phone book, full-length mirror, quality hangers in the closet, disposable cameras, the daily newspaper and books.

Details like this can make longer stays more enjoyable and relaxed, so your guests don’t feel like they need to rush back home.

When you’re flat screen television is off, it doesn’t do much for the wall. But what if you could turn your TV into a virtual aquarium or art gallery for everyone to enjoy?

Plasma Window has created a useful and easy to use accessory for your television. All you have to do is insert the DVD and watch fish living in an underwater coral reef come to life. Or you can make your TV look like a painting by putting up your favorite work of Van Gogh or Monet. The revolving artwork on your screen can be your own virtual art gallery.

There are many backgrounds to choose from. Some are calming and relaxing while others are more entertaining. For example, Plasmavironments features a couple different fireplaces, ocean scenes and waterfalls. If you have an event coming up, the TVLightbox can provide a light show to compliment your party. These DVDs are like screen savers for your plasma television, and they can set the right mood in your home.