Macassar Ebony, About $150 per square foot
Having Macassar ebony milled into flooring will no doubt set your home improvement budget back a ways. Truth is, most people who can afford to use this exotic hardwood aren’t too worried about budgets. hearnehardwoods.com (ThisOldHouse.com)
Enameled Lava, $370 per square foot
Pyrolave is a lightweight and extremely durable volcanic stone with a tough glass coating. The countertop material comes in 32 colors, and is extracted from a volcanic crater in central France. It’s then cut into slabs, processed and glazed to create a unique—and uniquely pricey—product. pyrolave.fr (ThisOldHouse.com)
Julia Bridge Faucet by Waterworks,$3,400
Started as a plumbing supply company in Danbury, Connecticut back in 1925, Waterworks now sells some of the finest kitchen and bath fixtures on the planet. All of the fixtures made in artisanal factories in the U.S. and France, and are often inspired by traditional periods. For example, the Julia faucet in antique brass finish (shown here in chrome), gets its inspiration from 1920's French country kitchens. waterworks.com
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Toto Neorest,$5,460
At more than five thousand bucks, the Toto with a built in night light, air freshener, and motion detector that allows the lid to open as you approach, is still the king of the porcelain thrones. totousa.com (ThisOldHouse.com)
Louis XV Pet Pavilion,$23,990
Modeled after an 18th-century French Rosewood commode, this is a … really friggin’ expensive dog house. petgadgets.com (ThisOldHouse.com)
Pietra Firma,Approximately $1 million per 10 sq ft
These tiles from the Italian company Pietra Firma are handcrafted using the priciest of pricey materials, including black onyx with mother of pearl insets and—oh yeah—diamonds. Lots of diamonds. Of course, precious stones would be expected when one is paying around a hundred thousand dollars for every square foot of flooring. pietrafirma.com
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