Need a little garden inspiration?  Look no further than local garden tours. They're a great way to get ideas for what grows in your area, get a chance to meet a neighbor, and nose around some pretty amazing places. This weekend there are lots of events sponsored by the Garden Conservancy, but it is worth keeping an eye out locally for other events as well. 

It was no surprise last week when Zaha Hadid was chosen to design the 2022 Qatar World Cup stadium. Far more interesting is that the country is planning floating hotels that can house upwards of 25,000 visitors for the global event. The hotels would sit offshore from Doha and be linked to the land by boats and new transit lines. 

In other news, robots allow you to virtually hang out in the office, and check out London Underground maps made of LEGO. See the headlines after the jump.

Purple, lavender, violet, aubergine, amethyst, lilac, plum, whichever shade of purple you prefer, it makes a vibrant statement. Purple is a color that shows confidence, as it was once the color worn by Roman Emperors and continues to be the color most associated with royalty. The color purple is used to attract attention — here are some bold and beautiful pieces that will become the focus of any room simply for their hue.

You can't compete with artwork drawn specifically for dad by his kids, but we found some close seconds. Here are a few ways to give dad a visual shout out that rank a bit higher in our book than a World's Best Dad mug. 

This project is so simple and quick, it doesn't even really necessitate a tutorial... but that's what makes some of the best ideas so great, right?

Along with the work by Terence Conran, the launch event for JC Penney Home Designer Collaborations presented the line by Martha Stewart. Her pieces for JC Penney are classic and understated. Soft colors and easy prints dominated the curtains shown, while lamps sported neutrals and barely there pastels. 

White Plates & Bowls by Mud Australia

• from $35

Walking by MUD's new Soho store this week, I saw that they had beautiful, flat, WHITE porcelain plates in addition to all the colors that are usually up front. This is my new style. Thin and slablike with slight variation and made of strong porcelain, this would be a stunning way to makeover your tabletop. MUD's Soho shop can sell to you, but you can also find a whole bunch of online retailers here.

Q: My husband and I recently bought a pair of chairs from a second-hand shop in Phoenix, and I'd like to know more about them before reupholstering. The bottom and back supports are exposed springs. (This is how the chairs were when we bought them.) 

This past week, we gave you all of our favorite pack-and-go meals for a long day of travel. If a car trip or plane ride is in your near future, take your pick!  Take a look back through all our recipes from this week for even more road food inspiration.

• New Recipes from The Kitchn
  The Kitchn