Home Decor

Many private sale sites sell clothing and accessories, One Kings Lane is a site that specializes in home decor. The site, which runs three-day sales, sells furniture, home decor and other items for 50 to 70 percent off their original prices. Unlike some other private sites you don't need an invitation code, anyone can join. The site sells brands including Moleskine, Riedel, Vera Bradley, Rosenthal and more in designated sales. Members also receive decorating tips and hints on combining some of the items up for sale.

The NY Times reports that the new site is already booming, the site membership has grown 50 percent in the past two months. Sales are driven by a certain sense of urgency, knowing that the good deal will only be available for a few days. This time of year especially the site is particularly tempting offering small items that would make great gifts. Currently on the site until December 10, Moleskine notebooks are available for deep discounts, Cunhill silver frames are available for around 50 percent off the regular price and a gold and velvet Bliss Studio pillow which normally sells for $363 can be had for $129.

Granite countertops add beauty, functionality, and value to a home. But because granite is a natural product, it requires special care to protect it and keep it looking its best.

To be sure granite countertops stay in nice condition after a hard day's work, take a few minutes every evening to clear them of clutter and gently wipe them down. Usually a soft cloth or sponge with hot water will be enough, but for a little extra cleaning power, a specially formulated stone cleaner can be used. Look for eco-friendly or "green" cleaners, as these will be gentle yet still effective.

To clean a splatter, first remove the dried-on food with a razor blade. Then wet the surface with your usual granite cleaner, or this DIY, inexpensive, safe one: equal parts water and alcohol in a spray bottle. Gently scrape along the surface to remove any remaining dirt. Use a soft sponge to wipe, then buff dry to a shine with a soft cloth.

Do not clean granite with acidic ingredients such vinegar, lemon juice, or lime juice, as they can be abrasive, and avoid obviously abrasive products such as scrubs and steel wool pads. Also avoid cleaning products that contain bleach, degreasing substances, or ammonia. Dish soap should be used sparingly, because it eventually will dull the countertop appearance.

Avoid dropping hard items on granite countertops, as the countertop may nick or chip. And while you can place a hot pot or pan on granite, try to avoid doing so, as it may leave a mark.

Granite countertops should be sealed biannually for more protection. The Marble Institute of America is a good source for all things stone.

Peruse any number of luxury real estate listings we've covered and you might notice that along with rain showerhead, granite countertops and Eames chairs, you might often find a grand piano anchoring the corner of a gracious living room. Owning a piano has always been a shorthand for expressing a certain standard of elegant living. But of course it's more than that, it can be an entertainer, a stress reliever and the heart of a home.

Larry Fine, the author of The Piano Book ,recently released the latest edition of Acoustic & Digital Piano Buyer a twice-yearly publication devoted to the purchase of new, used, and restored acoustic pianos and digital pianos. The publication can be ordered in a print edition for $15.97 from the website or read there in its entirety. The publication contains a variety of articles, reviews and specifications designed to assist the buyer in making the big purchase. But just who is buying pianos these days? Luxist asked Mr. Fine a few questions of about choosing a piano.


1. I've noticed a few piano stores closing down recently. Has the economy affected the business?

Piano sales are in decline, as are most other "luxury" purchases. As home sales decline, so do home furnishings, and pianos often fit that category. However, this is good news for those who can afford to buy now. Piano manufacturers and dealers are discounting their instruments significantly in an effort to "weather the storm."

2. Do you hear of a lot of people buying a piano for looks, not for playing?

Most piano buyers either play or have children in lessons. A significant minority view it as an attractive piece of furniture that coveys a "cultured" image. For the art collectors, pianos come in many striking, beautiful, and unusual furniture styles that double as both musical instruments and works of art. Acoustic & Digital Piano Buyer contains a number of examples of the piano as art.

Many of the non-playing buyers purchase a piano with an electronic player-piano system installed. Far from grandma's old "pump player," these new systems not only play the piano, but also add the entire orchestra or band as accompaniment. You can even have a video of Billy Joel playing and singing in your living room while the piano plays his music. These systems, which can be retrofitted to existing pianos, use CDs, MP3s, iPods, etc. for their input. Some even come with an optional video screen. Acoustic & Digital Piano Buyer has a section on choosing an electronic player-piano system.

Tableware company Ink Dish takes two disparate worlds, tatttoos and porcelain dishes and combines them in a unique and gorgeous way. Tableware designer Caroline Pople and Paul Timman of Sunset Strip Tattoo have created lines of dinnerware set composed of plates, bowls and mugs. The first collection, the delicate blue and white Irezumi which features Japanese-style fish has been wildly popular. Two new lines, Cherry Ink and Tribal Lines, shown above, are set to launch on October 15. Prices start at $14 for single pieces.

Love the look of classic wooden boats? Barina Craft brings the look of classic wooden runabout style boats to customizable indoor home bars that would be perfect for a beach house. The bars are all handcrafted in the U.S. from solid steam bent mahogany and other hardwoods. The beautiful bar can be ordered orientated port or starboard and with stainless steel sinks, bottle racks and wineglass holders. The bar can be customized with a gold leaf monogram. The base price is $15,109.

Normally I think Swarovski jewels encrusted onto household appliances look tacky and ridiculous, so I'm a little surprised to hear myself saying that the Swarovski Jewels Sink collection from Antologia is actually pretty nice. Simple, tasteful, and artistic, the basic white and black sinks aren't overrun with big sparkling jewels so much as they're accented and enhanced by them. Each piece is put together by hand with Signity jewels.

Any kind of jewels on a bathroom fixture are still completely impractical and difficult to clean, of course, but these are nice to look at nevertheless.

As I was browsing a home magazine I was stopped by an ad for Sherle Wagner doorknobs, I mean, "hardware." They were so beautiful, I wanted to know more. So now I share ... Sherle Wagner International, headquartered in NYC but with eight U.S. showrooms and one in Kuwait, offers a number of home accessories in these categories: finishes, stones and patterns; bath fittings; bath fixtures; accessories; hardware; lighting; furniture; textiles; linens; and wall coverings. All Sherle Wagner products are originals, made by the company from the design inception stage to completion. The company uses "old world artisans and timeless techniques, so that every piece is a true original." And the staff is experienced in working with architects, designers and clients on projects of any scale. If you browse the catalog, be sure to check out all the categories on the lefthand nav bar; there was much more on the site than I noticed the first time around. No prices, however, but I'm going to guess on the high end.

The Travelmate Portable Fireplace by Conmoto is made of black powder-coated steel and glass with an adjustable steel fuel-holder and burns on bio-ethanol liquid fuel (not included). Now you can put a fireplace where you want or need it for warmth or atmosphere. It's smokeless too. Safe to place on carpet, a table, near furniture, or outside. The glass pane is held on with magnets and only is removed in order to light the fire. Once the glass pane has been replaced, the fuel tank can be opened and closed, using the stainless steel slide at the front of the fireplace, so the flames can be regulated from the outside. I would love this in my home! Dimensions: 20" H x 28" W x 8" D, 55 lbs. ($3,300)

[via acquiremag]

Besides accessories, I am addict for magazines. The hubby and I have magazines dating back to 2002. Some may say that we are a bit obsessive over magazines but I describe us as collectors of fine publications. Ok, well maybe that might be stretching it, but it's a love for writing and discovering new things that keeps us going. I was in the neighborhood bookstore and came across Robb Report's newest venture - Vertical Living. A magazine that will satisfy your taste and curiosity for high rise and high luxury living. Vertical Living will cover "amazing architecture to ultra-pampering concierge services to spectacular design, interiors, technology and real estate on the market." The photography is breathtaking and the articles are informative. A magazine worth checking out.

Jay Strongwater's home accents are instantly recognizable for their stunning, old-world appearance. From the Papillion Collection, this sparkly butterfly rests of the stem of a swirled green and topaz glass pear. The butterfly and leaf are hand-painted enamel over metal, accented with hand-set Swarovski crystals. The richness and depth of the pear alongside the delicate butterfly results in a striking piece of art that appears antique and modern at the same time. From stem to base, the piece measures 5.25" high. $525.

I've seen plenty of companies that sell platters and trays made from used oak wine barrels but this is the first time I have seen a riddling rack used as home decor. A riddling rack is a bottle holder which is used in making sparkling wine. During the champagne-making process the wine bottles are set in a riddling rack and twisted each day to gradually send the sediment toward the mouth of the bottle where it is eventually frozen and then removed. The riddling rack, which is A-framed, holds 120 bottles and can make a very authentic wine bottle holder. The larger racks can cost as much at $750 for the intensive handwork and shipping. Vintage at Heart also sells beautiful old wood vineyard baskets from Moet & Chandon, wine barrel lazy susans and wine staves that have been turned into serving trays.

[via Dallas Morning News]

E-turn refers to eternity - as in an endless ribbon of gracefully curving fiberglass. Winding over and around, the handmade bench looks good from any angle and the bright lacquered finish sets it aglow. While it doesn't look particularly comfortable, there is no denying that it is striking. Measuring 72.8" long by 22" wide by 16.5" high, the bench is available as shown in white, orange, red or black. $3325.

Artist Daniel Pohl designs furniture to "create a rhythm for the eye." Using traditional paints made of powdered pigments, corn syrup, and vinegar, his hand-carved furniture designs are vibrant works of art. Constructed from pine and poplar found near his home in central Wisconsin, Pohl creates each piece using using traditional cabinetry techniques, with mortise and tenon joints and dove-tailed drawers. Each is unique and built to order. $12,800.

This sparse but elegant chandelier is part of the Jezebel Signature line. With hand rolled and colored glass shades suspended from gracefully curving 'stems', the piece looks light and airy. This one is done with Black-eyed Susan glass and a brown finish on the hand-forged iron. If brown seems a bit dull, you can choose from a rainbow of other glass colors and bases to coordinate. The chandelier is 120" high by 89" wide and each one is signed and dated. $25,800

Want a wine cellar but don't have a basement or a spare room to dedicate to your love of the grape, Closet Wine Cellars specializes in putting small cellars into a variety of places. You find the room, they'll make it work whether it is a closet, wall or storage space. The systems can be customized to your design style and refrigerated units are available. Their racking system makes it easy to see the labels. The company is based in Southern California, the land of no basements, so they have their work cut out for them. At least, given recent weather, they can start with the coat closet as seems to be the case in the picture here.

[via Luxury Housing Trends]