Home is certainly where your heart is, but it can be where your self-expression is too.

As interior design trends change over time, style-savvy enthusiasts can now feel right at home by brightening up their lives with high-end furniture. Whether you choose to purchase or rent your furnishings, retailers offer you more options to refresh your living space with the latest deluxe and stylish furniture.

You may think that furniture lasts for years, so how do trends and fashions come into it? After all, unlike clothes, shoes and handbags, the furniture trends don't change that fast. But adding new pieces can help refresh your living space - and your mind - while knowing that your choice is an investment; if you choose right, your piece could be in style for years.

Those who love to indulge in luxury furniture, to keep themselves surrounded by beautiful things, have another reason for splashing out on their d*cor: its added value. For no matter what the style, from contemporary or minimalist to romantic or vintage, high-quality furniture transcends the merely functional.

"Furniture is now more than just equipment," says Francisca Prandayani, public relations manager of Da Vinci Indonesia. "It's also a combination of fashion style and investment, something that can be handed down to later generations."

Da Vinci, one of Asia's premium furniture retailers, recently unveiled its special couture home line that brings the luxurious Versace Home, Fendi Casa, Kenzo Maison and Cerruti to Indonesia.

"Indonesians tend to be more adaptable to fashion trends than people in other Asian countries, which is why the market here is promising for fashion furniture," Francisca said.

In "fashion furniture", seemingly everyday items such as sofas, armchairs, ottomans and beds are perceived and interpreted according to the typical styles and philosophy of high-class designers such as Donatella Versace, Kenzo Takada and Karl Lagerfeld, bringing a taste of luxury into the home.

"The fabric used for the furniture is just the same as that used for the designers' wardrobes," Francisca said. "So imagine, what you see at the catwalk could be at your home, too."

The accompanying high price tag is because there is more to it than just, for example, a chair; connoisseurs, Francisca said, develop an art of appreciation.

"We don't just sell furniture to customers. We educate them about fashion and trends - the philosophy of the furniture brands," Francisca said. "When they know about the philosophy - the story behind the makers and the craftsmanship, they are more appreciative of the money they spent for luxury furnishings."

And since furnishings such as those in the Versace, Kenzo and Fendi lines are limited editions, Francsica added, owners can appreciate them even more.

It is thanks to this deep sense of appreciation for the craftsmanship and added value that premium retailer Piccadilly has succeeded in the luxury furniture business for 15 years.

Named after a major iconic street in London, Piccadilly matches its name with its stylish offerings: furniture designed in the English styles of the 16th to 18th centuries.

"The classic English-style is a timeless beauty; you can even pass it onto later generations," Thomson Siregar, general manager of Piccadilly, said.

"And in the case of our pieces, because all were made of the highest grade of solid mahogany, the older their age, the more precious they are. It's a matter of investment."

Piccadilly, located in Kemang, South Jakarta, manufactures its England-flavored furniture in Jakarta, but their exquisite pieces find homes in the United Kingdom, Korea, China and India.

"The funny things is, some Indonesians living in the UK bought our furniture there and then brought it back to Indonesia," Girie, Piccadilly's marketing executive, said, adding, "They thought the furnishings are made in the UK, while they can actually get them right here."

With only one Indonesian designer working exclusively for the company, Piccadilly ensures its pieces fully give a sense of luxury and exclusivity.

"It's not only the wood, leather or fabric - Piccadilly pieces also use the finest chemical substances. Take the varnish - it is the safest one, with no tangy smell that harms health," Girie said. "And to mark its authenticity, every piece of our furniture has a secret code in it."

Such elegant and luxurious furnishings naturally command a high price, although Piccadilly has a more customer-friendly approach to prices than some other high-end stores.

"In terms of prices, we're flexible enough because we're trying to satisfy every customer," Thomson said.

Among high-profile owners of Piccadilly furniture are celebrities and senior government officials, Thomson said, adding "But we can say most of our customers are embassies and expatriates."

Also finding plenty of customers among the expatriate community is Arbor & Troy, whose boutique in Kemang tempts people with the high-end furniture experience.

They offer a wide range of choices, from modern classic (all in black) and urban contemporary (earthy brown), to pieces employing traditional ethnic and exotic tropical themes.

"Our specialties are in the designs and the use of finest materials," the boutique's consultant Mellyza Zuladi said.

Customers can also customize their own furnishings through their personal selection of materials, fabric and colors.

"Whether modern and casual, or ethnic and colorful, customers can put their own touch on their pieces," Mellyza said.

As she suggests, whether your taste runs to rich tones of fresh green, deep pink and spicy red, or to more pale or neutral colors, you can always find a good reason to freshen up your living space and fulfill your dream of living in the midst of beauty and style.

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