Gil Shapiro, founder of Urban Archaeology, began his journey into home design by searching through the artifacts of homes, hotels and office buildings that were about to be demolished, “rescuing” items such as light fixtures and bathtubs to refurbish them.  The results were beautiful new treasures that could add antique glamour to any home. 

In 1978 Shapiro founded Urban Archaeology to expand his business, and now offers not only vintage pieces, but also beautiful replicas of a number of home items – from mirrors to medicine cabinets and mosaics.

This light fixture is a gorgeous example of Urban Archaeology’s salvaged offerings.  The collection includes statues from Paris, wrought iron gothic gates from St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York and an antique copper bath from London.

“Going green” is the trendy thing to do these days, but Italian kitchen company Valcucine has had an environmentally friendly stance since its founding in 1980.  The company quickly established itself in the design world, setting the green standard for the industry by manufacturing products with the lowest possible impact on the environment without sacrificing functionality, ergonomics or safety.  Valcucine also gained recognition for its harmonious aesthetics and innovative technology in kitchen design.  Their graceful designs utilize light and space to express the universal language of art and architecture.  Whether you’re seeking a high-tech contemporary kitchen or a rustic, traditional one, Valcucine is the place to turn - and you can rest assured that your kitchen will be Earth-friendly!

Handcrafted from natural wood, the Madera bathtubs from WS Bath Collections bring a unique sophistication to the modern bathroom.  They are functional works of art that certainly display what WS calls a “pleasure of beauty, design and elegance.”  The wooden tubs are available in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be sculpted from a variety of woods, from beech to walnut.  I just hope there is some sort of no-splinter guarantee (ouch!).

Theoretically, the Madera tubs could also be used to toss an extremely large salad or hold a ridiculous amount of fruit.

The glow of a full moon can add an air of elegance to any outdoor evening get-together.  Unfortunately for those planning a nighttime soirée around the pool, the moon isn’t always a reliable mood-setter; it goes through its phases (as well all do, I guess) when it just doesn’t shine.  But who needs the moon when there is Moonlight?  This Germany-based company offers an innovative lighting product that creates the illusion of the moon’s glow.  The handsome globes are available in four different types and multiple sizes.  Made of sturdy UV resistant materials, the lights are shatterproof and waterproof- perfect for setting around, or even in, the pool. 

Check out their gallery for many more…wait for it…illuminating ideas.

I have a surround sound setup in my basement that I think is pretty good.  If I sit in the right spot on the couch, the explosions from action movie DVDs or the screeching guitars from the stereo flow smoothly from the booming 6.1 channels of sound into my soon-to-be-damaged ears. If I sit too far too the right or left however, the sound can be a little distorted.  With the Sonic Chair, you’re always in the right spot to get the best sound.  The unique chair lets you be immersed in the middle of an audio system with integrated speakers surrounding you.  The open design creates an “acoustic island” that produces crisp, quality sound inside the chair, while not disturbing those nearby.  Input jacks allow you to plug in various devices, including laptops, stereos, iPods, X-Boxes and even those ancient things called CD players.  Until I update my home with (and can afford) Sonic Chairs, I guess I’ll have to keep assaulting my ears with earbuds and fighting for the best spot on the couch.

Pool tables, often the main focus of game rooms in fine luxury homes, usually lack a dramatic design that should exist in a room’s centerpiece.  Whether particle board or fine carved mahogany, most pool table frames are simply four legs covered with a bed of slate and billiard cloth.  Sure, you can alter the color of the cloth from the standard green and get some funky balls for a customized look, but the design remains largely the same.  Rustic Mountain Furniture of southern Utah has filled the void in pool table design with their custom built log billiards tables.  Each table is handmade from an Aspen tree, ensuring no two are exactly alike.  If the 8-ball sitting on top of this table was of the magic variety, and you shook it and asked ‘is this log billiard table a true showpiece for my game room?’ the answer would surely be “without a doubt.”

I recently installed ceiling fans in the bedrooms of my house, and unbelievably, there haven’t been any short-circuits or flying sparks since I put them in.  They actually look quite nice; much nicer than the stock white fans that precariously dangled from the ceiling of my first apartment, but certainly nothing like the ultra-stylish Duplo-Dinamico from Matthews Fan Company.  I’m guessing “Duplo” refers to the unique design of the “double” motors and fans on opposite sides of the rotating axle.  The exact translation of “Dinamico” is probably “really cool looking.”  The rare form of the really cool looking double fan is for more than just aesthetics; the rotational fans help circulate heat and air conditioning more effectively than traditional fans.  Maybe I can improvise and get the same effect by duct-taping a couple of those plastic desktop fans to the blades of my ceiling fans…maybe not.

I once made the mistake of buying one of those affordable (cheap) tabletop water fountains from the department store - the ones in aisle 5, right between the scented candles and CDs of mood music.  Unfortunately, to hear the “soothing” sound of the water cascading over the faux slate terraces and river rock you had to put your ear within six inches of the fountain, while the not-so-soothing hum of the water pump could be heard from the other side of the living room.  That surely wouldn’t be a problem with a fountain from Spirit Elements, based in Boulder, Colorado.  They have a wide selection of Water Art Features, which are on display around the world in galleries and luxury homes.  Pictured is the “Maui Falls Wall Waterfall,” part of the Semi-custom Collection.  Customers can choose from a variety of materials to create a one-of-a-kind waterfall for their living room, office, bedroom, etc.  - certainly one that wasn’t found in aisle 5.

Spirit Elements also offers a number of high quality products in addition to waterfalls, including playhouses, pergolas and gazebos.

Tiger Woods finished second at the U.S. Open yesterday, one stroke behind the winner.  He missed a number of opportunities, including a four-foot birdie put on the 13th hole that he pushed past the cup.  If even the best player in the world has occasional trouble with his short game, what does that say about the rest of us?  It says we need to practice.  A lot.  Turf America takes some of the pain out of practicing by bringing the putting green to your home.  No need to pack up the putter and irons for a trip down to the country club, just step out to the backyard and put and chip your way to lower scores.  The greens are made up of durable nylon fibers that create a natural roll.  Turf America has been installing quality turf products since 1986, and has been the choice of club manufacturers and PGA Tour players.  Maybe someday all the practice on your putting green will help you handle the pressure on the back 9 of the U.S. Open.  Or, it may even help you shoot the ball straight through the windmill on the 18th hole of your nearest miniature golf course.

They say art imitates life.  Great artists in every field put a little bit of themselves into their creations to help define their unique style.  If you are artistically challenged, a distinctly personal masterpiece can be created for you, thanks to DNA ART.  Instead of a brush, the implement you use is a cotton swab to collect your DNA.  Then you ship your genetic material to a Dutch lab where your unique string of DNA will be identified.  After the DNA is visualized through the use of a special gel, a picture will be taken that is then transferred to a high-quality canvas for a dnaPortrait (similar to the one at left).  In addition to the portrait, you can have DNA ART fabricate a UV lighted photo of your string, or a glass block etched with your DNA code.  When guests ask you about the fabulous artwork hanging above your couch, you can tell them that the piece really captures your essence without sounding (too) pretentious.