Luxury Housing Trends & Home Improvement Ideas

As winter is on the wane and spring and summer approach, we’re starting to think of our yards and making them look good. If you’re the environmentally conscious type, you may feel a twinge of guilt from pouring water onto your lawn, but it’s no secret that a well-maintained green yard can increase your home’s value and make your neighborhood feel warm and inviting. So, what are you to do?

Water Timers are just one way to save water by only watering at the time of day when grass and foliage can most efficiently use the moisture (between 4am and 6am says “Green Yards: Less Water” in the March/April 2005 issue of Smart HomeOwner). These devices are easy to install as they simply fasten onto your outdoor faucet and turn on the water flow at preprogrammed times during the day.

For other tips on saving water while maintaining a green lawn, check out Landscape Watering Advice or Watering Tips by American Lawn Irrigation.

The Wall Street Journal’s Real Estate section has an article called Luxury Playhouses Are Too Costly to Play In that takes a look at the expenses involved with purchasing playhouses today. For wealthy buyers, $23,000 for a “Well Appointed House… its Summer Cottage, complete with a cedar-shingled roof and bay windows with flower boxes” may not be a big deal, but for those who have time to go the do-it-yourself route, I recommend Kid’s Places to Play. The full-color book offers instructions on how to build everything from treehouses, to skateboard ramps, to a frontier-style stockade fort with lookout.

Rubber roofing is gradually gaining acceptance as an alternative to more traditional roofing materials. Slate roofing, which has long been a sign of quality and style, is being imitated by surprisingly accurate-looking renditions done with recycled rubber materials. These artificial slate roofs are half the weight of their stone counterparts, less expensive, and tremendously resistant to the elements. They’re environmentally friendly as well, recycling land fill cloggers like tires and diapers.

More information at: EcoStar Recycled Rubber Roofing.

Tin ceilings, in the form of stamped-metal ceiling tiles, were originally popular at the turn of the 20th Century and are seeing a resurgence today. They go particularly well in kitchens and bathrooms; the sleek, metallic finish of the tiles complements the numerous polished surfaces in such rooms. Tin ceiling tiles come in many styles and are commonly available in 2×2 or 2×4 foot pieces from specialty manufacturers.

Source: Decorating with Architectural Details

Metal roofing sales have doubled over the last 5 years. What’s the appeal?

Metal roofs are a premium product that cost as much as a 20 year warranty asphalt/fiberglass roof, but they come with some perks. Metal roofs don’t crack, rot, or warp, and they are highly resistant to the elements, even hail and fire. The fact that they can usually be installed over existing roofs (reroofing) makes them good choices for people who needed to replace the roof anyway. Metal roofs typically come with longer warranties than other roofing materials as well.

More information: Better Homes & Gardens: Roofing Ideas

Keys are so 20th century… Once a high tech item for corporations, fingerprint door locks are starting to become more popular in the home security industry. If you’ve ever cursed lost keys, this one might be worth looking into for your next home improvement project.
Fingerprint Door Locks Information

Is it your job to climb up on the roof and de-leaf the gutters? Fun, isn’t it? Ok, not really… Leaf Guard is a product that clasps on to your home’s gutters. It allows water to enter but nothing else. Their website is located at www.leaf-guard.com and from there you can find dealers in your area.