Knowing that I'm on the lookout for luxury items, my friend Cliff told me that I just had to look at Frontgate. So I did! Now that al fresco dining season is here, I decided to peruse Frontgate's grill offerings and came upon this 405-lb. beauty: the Barbeque Grill Island, made with O.W. Lee craftmanship. The wrought iron body has a black suede finish, the feet are cast iron and ceramic briquettes are included. The cooking-related facts:

• 50,000 BTU and a "Sure Start" electronic ignition
• 540-inch square grilling area, 200-inch square warming rack
• Rojo honed marble countertop with 1,300+ square inches of space
• Stainless steel cooking grid and rock grate
• Stainless steel barbeque grill w/a 14,000 BTU rotisserie w/motor
• Storage cabinet for ingredients or tools
• Available in natural gas or propane

Start saving now ($6,667) for the winter gift-giving season, and order early -- shipping takes 8-9 weeks, and the grill is only available online. You might be a little late for Father's Day, but if your grilling guy has a late summer birthday, you might get one in time.

They may not make the most practical deck, but they're certainly going to prevent cheating at your next poker game. These Stainless Steel Playing Cards come in a full-sheet and the individual cards can be punched out to make a standard-sized deck. They can also be left in the sheet and framed. The updated, but recognizably classic, characters and card designs are lightly etched into the steel and the back sides of the cards have a zebra pattern. Price: $351.

[via boingboing]

For most of us, stability is the single most important factor when building a deck or, in the event you're house shopping, examining existing structures. After all, there is no sense in something that looks pretty if it is on the verge of collapse. A great solution is to build a basic, sturdy deck and dress it up. These Wood Deck Tiles give the appearance of a uniquely finished outdoor floor in a snap. The 18" square tiles are finished with a water-resistant chocolate stain and simply snap together. They come in sets of four, so you can cover an area as large or small as you like. Price: $99.

It's too bad that the Mercury News didn't run a whole set of photos on this spectacular deck, but since it was featured on the show Designing Spaces, perhaps they didn't feel that it was necessary. The deck was an addition to a San Francisco Bay Area Home that the homeowners, Jeffrey and Toneh Thompson, added to make better use of their wooded, hillside lot. They liked the natural beauty of the property, but wanted some space for playing and dining out. The multi-level, 1,300-sq. foot  deck certainly fulfills their needs and its price of about $150,000 meant that they added the size of another house to their existing home, without shelling out for a big move.

It is made out of a Brazilian hardwood called ipe, which has one of the highest durability ratings of any wood and the same fire rating of materials like steel and concrete. Ipe is the perfect decking material because not only is it strong and long lasting, requiring minimal upkeep, but it is resistant to warping, decay and termites. The highest level of the deck is 25-feet above the ground, designed to provide views along with a dining area and a spa.

The final cost did include landscaping and work on the retaining wall, but the bulk of it went into the deck itself.

 [Image Mercury News]