First off let me say that decorating your home with large, artificial gems is a delicate task that is really hard to pull off. That being said, though, used sparingly and in the right ways artificial diamonds can be a great way to satisfy (somewhat) your craving for sparkly gemstones and add a touch of glamor to your decor. Chiasso offers diamond sculptures in a couple different ways, miniature ones (above) and a large paperweight version if you're really looking to make a statement.

Via Wists

I came across this gem while browsing pictures of unique children's rooms. Named The 1984 Fishbowl, this revamped design by Danny Cheung putts a modern twist on the age old glass fish bowl. It's quirky shape is eye catching, the windows are made of magnified glass providing a detailed look at your goldfish, while the opaque walls provide refuge. I love the retro look of this funky little fish bowl, it would make a stylish addition to any room, and I imagine kids would go nuts for it. Available online for $430.

As with so many of the treats we find at Dean & Deluca these are probably too precious to actually eat. The polar bear Santa and his three penguin helpers are hand-sculpted in marzipan by pastry artist Rebecca Russell. Of course they can be eaten but why not have them as a table centerpiece first at a holiday party so everyone can appreciate them. The set sells for $45.

Today's estate comes from the LA Times Hot Property section. It represents Cher's work as a house flipper. She bought this house in 2004 for $650,000 and completely renovated the home. Local architect Steve DeChristopher Jr. worked on the redesign turning the 1938 Spanish-style home into a new luxury pad. The four-bedroom home is now double the size it was with a new master-bedroom wing with his-and-hers wardrobe rooms, a fireplace and a wet bar. The home has a large pool and spa area and is walled and gated. It is listed at $2.495 million. After the jump, do you believe in beige after beige?

Can a floor covering still be considered to be a rug if it is made of wood? West Elm's Wood-Block Rug is an indoor-outdoor "rug" made of natural dark ebony-colored wood. It comes with a poly-PVC coated pad to prevent the rug from slipping against other surfaces.

It actually reminds me a bit of those orthopedic wooden bead car seat covers that were popular for a time, so it probably feels nice against your feet when you walk on it. Sizes and prices vary, but a 5' x 8' rug is $299.

Few things in nature are more beautiful than the early morning sunlight glinting off a tree that has been kissed with dew in the night. The little drops of water are like nature's ornaments and the only way you're going to reproduce the effect inside is with multiple sets of Glass Raindrops. Each of these drops is 1-inch long and is sold in a set of 24. A few sets, along with a string of lights, would make a Christmas tree look amazing. Price: $15 per set ($12, on sale).

[via cribcandy]

Our continuing search for the perfect holiday decoration leads me to the ornate works of Vivian Alexander. The Louisiana-based company creates intricate handcrafted egg ornaments. Their Christmas 2006 ornament is made of red and green enamel with silver ornamentation over a fine silver egg base. There are just 200 of these numbered pieces available and they are each handmarked 2006. According to this article in the Daily Advertiser, three artisans create 12 ornaments per day while working on other eggs and designs and nearly six hours of work go into each ornament. The heirloom ornament sells for $150.

I know, I know it's far too early to be discussing Christmas when Halloween hasn't arrived yet even if the stores are already readying the holiday displays. But Season Dreams has a tree that can straddle the two holidays. This 7 1/2' PVC tree is an Ashley Spruce that has 1500 clear lights and black wire that blends in with branches and leaves. The tree also comes in bright red. Perfect for the "Nightmare Before Christmas" fan or anyone looking for the nontraditional. The black tree sells for $299.99.

I really love the Gnome-be-gone but I'm sure that if I had gnomes in my garden like these Urban Gnomes from Vitamin, I wouldn't want them gone. The 21cm high porcelain creatures come in a half-dozen different designs that can suit all tastes, unless your tastes are for very traditional gnomes, of course. Think of them as very obedient pets, which can make a fashion statement just like the real thing, but don't require pampering in luxury hotels. The gnomes are £49.50 each and can be used both indoors and out.

A Seattle architect and his wife two bathrooms that needed to be redone in their 3-bedroom and it was no small task - even though the spaces were. Both of the bathrooms measured 5x8-feet and the couple wanted to create showpieces to show to clients, as well as to create an easily accessible shower for washing their four golden retrievers (hopefully not all at the same time) and add a soaking tub that would accommodate the architect's 6'4" frame. In other words, they wanted to update and maximize the space they had available.

Ultimately, the renovation cost $25,000 and the couple did almost all the work, including pouring the foundation for the 28-sq. foot addition, themselves, though they did bring in an outside plumber and electrician. The master bathroom was done in Brazil green slate with limestone tiling and has a glass-block wall and his-and-her sinks. The guest bath (above), was slightly more utilitarian, with a rubber floor, granite countertop and an open shower design.

Click past the jump to see the "before" picture.

[Images Seattle Times]

A Chinese businessman, Zhang Cheng, bought a Soviet-made MiG-21f fighter jet  fighter jet on eBay. He paid $25,000 to the seller, located in the US, though it is not yet clear if he will even be able to import the plane into Beijing, let alone what it will cost. The plane is in excellent condition and, according to the seller, was last flown in 1995. Cheng plans to use it to decorate his office, stating that  "I have the buying power and my company has an empty space where I can display the plane."

Clearly, Cheng has a very large office, but I still want to know how he intends to get it inside.

[Image Cavanaugh Flight Museum]