Luxury Housing Trends & Home Improvement Ideas

The Tiny Tumbleweed is somewhere between a vacation cabin and a recreational vehicle. Like an RV, you can hitch it to the back of your truck or SUV and take it with you when you go. Like a cabin, wood exteriors and interiors give the tiny vacation homes a warm old-fashioned feel. Prices for Tumbleweed homes start at $39,000 for 125 square feet plus a porch. At the high-end of the scale is the $70,000 “Fat Bull’s Eye,” which is 500 square feet plus porch and includes two bedrooms. Though the spaces are small, they’re designed to have everything you need, including built-in shelves, sleeping lofts, bathrooms, and kitchen areas. You can get the plans from the company to build the units yourself if you’re handy and want to save money.

http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com

If you’re going to install a home bar, complete with drink service, you’ll probably need a refrigerator, dishwasher, and a sink. Sure, you could go with some forgettable stainless steel job, or you could get something a little more memorable. This square, glass mosaic sink from LinkaSink features a removable tray with the drain hidden underneath. The dimensions are 5″ deep by 14″ on either side. If you order the sink, you can choose from one of many different tray designs, so you can find something to suit your tastes. The company also offers custom designs, if you like the idea of a personalized piece of art. Hey, who said sinks were just for dishes?

http://www.linkasink.com

Owning your own houseboat means having 360 degree waterfront views. For the ultimate in luxury, you can have one custom-designed and built to your specifications. You can get everything from oak cabinets to stainless steel appliances, just as with a home on land. Twin Anchors Marine is one company that specializes in custom boats. Though based in the northwest, they’ve delivered houseboats as far south as Texas and as far east as the Atlantic Coast. If you’re thinking of buying a boat of your own, they have floorplans and pictures you can browse on their site.

http://www.twinanchors.com

This isn’t your parents’ RV. Actually, the Becker JetVan isn’t an RV at all. It’s a Dodge Sprinter passenger van with just a few modifications. Examples include leather seats with “electrically deployed” leg rests, two wide-screen TVs (one for the front of the cabin and one for the rear), satellite phone, laptop docking station, high-speed Internet connection, and enhanced LED lighting. Designed to be the land equivalent of an executive jet, it might not be your first choice for a camping trip (although I wouldn’t mind wheeling up to the RV park in one), but if you’ve got business to conduct on the road and can shrug off the $250,000 price tag, you’ll want to check out the deluxe van.

http://www.beckerautodesign.com/jetvan/
via Business Week

Thinking of building a vacation home from scratch? Or maybe your next permanent home? Have you ever thought… castle? Well, maybe not. Moats and dungeons aren’t for everyone, but if the idea piques your interest, Castle Magic is ready to serve your needs. Based out of Idaho, the company will travel to your site and construct the castle of your dreams (complete with such modern amenities as garages and air conditioning). The price runs $154 to $274 per square foot for “basic medieval castles” and $300 to $600 per square foot for more elaborate ones. As with any custom-built home, land is not included, so you’ll have to factor that in as well.

http://www.castlemagic.com/
via Cool House Plans

For an environmentally friendly mattress that’s comfortable too, visit Lifekind, a maker of 100% natural rubber “OrganicPedic” mattresses. They use no synthetic blends anywhere in the manufacturing process. The company says several layers of Talalay natural rubber, made from the sap of rubber trees, give the mattress good support, while a five-zoned sculptured surface lays across the top for comfort. The rubber is supposed to offer no nooks for dust, mold, or mildew to hide in. For a queen-sized mattress, the price is $2,495.

http://www.lifekind.com

Maybe you’ve bought a piece of land out in the wilds somewhere with the intention of building your dream vacation home some day. But what kind of home will it be? Well, if you ever read/watched Swiss Family Robinson as a kid, you may still harbor dreams of tree houses. Just because you’re an adult now doesn’t mean you have to give that up. The TreeHouse Company builds custom tree houses all over the world. From simple (under $20,000) to luxurious (well over $100,000), the tree houses can be made to suit your whims (the one pictured here comes complete with Aga stove installed inside). You can browse their site for more information and pictures of tree houses they’ve already completed.

http://www.treehouse-company.com

‘Tis the season of cold nights, so I went out hunting for sheets that are meant to fight the chill. Flannel isn’t just for pajamas and lumberjack shirts any more; it’s making its way into the bedroom. Cuddledown’s Tartan Flannel Flat Sheets are made from 100% cotton flannel that’s supposed to make them extra plush and cozy. Colors include McLeod Tartan (looks like beige to me), Black Watch Tartan (green), and Kerr Tartan (that classic flannel red). If you want to treat your toes to these warm sheets this winter, the price is $30-$55.

http://www.cuddledown.com

What? You’ve never dreamed of roasting your chestnuts (or marshmellows) over an open… coffee table? Well, the EcoSmart Fire Frost Coffee Table gives you the opportunity you never knew you always wanted. Their fire pit is integrated into a glass table. Since EcoSmart’s fireplaces burn denatured alcohol (produced by fermenting things like sugarcane and wheat) instead of wood, gas, coal, or any of the usual culprits, it burns clean and doesn’t create soot. There’s no need for exterior ventilation (i.e. chimney, flue), so you can use your fireplace coffee table anywhere in the house. (Product not recommended for people who have a habit of propping their legs out on the coffee table when they’re watching TV.)

http://www.ecosmartfire.com

Sub-Zero is known for their high end refrigerators, and they know it. The company tag for their Pro 48 refrigerator+freezer is “a monument to food preservation.” Arrogance not withstanding, it’s a pretty snazzy fridge. Stainless steel covers both outside and inside. According to the company, two compressors and three evaporators keep your food fresher longer and keep odors from mixing and mingling. The appliance’s “intelligent controls” monitor and adjust to usage patterns to keep the temperature consistent (a display on the outside keeps you up-to-date on the temperature both in the refrigerator and freezer sections, just in case you need proof). Clear glass on one side of the fridge lets you see what’s inside without opening the door to waste energy (yes, now you can actually watch the mold grow on those suspicious leftovers on the bottom shelf). Expect to pay at least $11,000 for this monument to food.

http://www.subzeropro48.com