Family: Amanda, Marcos, Gavin (10), Dylan (8), Emily (4) and Melia (1)
Location: Winter Springs, Florida

My husband Marcos made a back yard splash pad for our four children. It is made out of beautiful (non slippery) Travertine tiles… More

Family: Eric, Sandra, Gus (9) & Bea (4)
Location: Wichita, KS

One day, my husband and I were reminiscing about the rocketship slide we used to play on in our hometown when we were growing up. He made the mistake of saying out loud: "I could probably build a rocketship slide out of wood." More

Family: Amy, Allan and Dane (8)
Location: Marquette, MI

We run a small family home daycare and have been transforming our outdoor space into a great place to learn and play.

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Rugs and carpeting are an important and often underestimated key element in making a substantial transformation to your space. As an investment piece, the right rug can last you quite a while and work across various styles as your tastes change over time. Whether you are seeking budget-friendly solutions, kid-friendly options or handcrafted statement pieces, we've got you covered with the these standout guides to floor coverings from 2011.

TOP ROW
• 1 ICFF Rug Roundup: 10 of our Favorites
• 2 Rugs on the Cheap: 12 Good Sources
• 3 10 Sources for Stylish, Kid-Friendly Rugs
• 4 Chevron: One Pattern, Ten Resources
• 5 8 Green Stores with Fabulous Felt More

No other shopping experience can compare to that of slinging your market bag over your shoulder and setting out, determined to unearth the next great treasure at the flea market. Though some of these thrifting adventures have been hit-or-miss, the thrill of the chase has always kept us pulling off the side of the road whenever we spot those tables and tents, and planning ahead to visit local markets on our vacations. Because some of the best pieces in our homes were discovered by picking through tables of old stuff and haggling for the lowest possible price, we thought we'd give a shout out to our favorite flea market resources from 2011.

• 1 The Brooklyn Flea Moves Outdoors!
• 2 10 US Flea Markets Worth a Trip
• 3 Destination Flea Markets: Five Must-See Markets
• 4 Best Carry-all Bags: For Flea & Farmer's Markets
• 5 Help! How to Get My Paris Flea Market Finds Home?

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Whether you are in search of low-VOC interior paints, sources for green housekeeping or designers with an environmentally mindful eye, our green guides from 2011 serve as great references for the conscious consumer. Take a look at these eco-friendly shopper's guides filled with useful resources for everyone, regardless of what level of green living you may practice.

TOP ROW
• 1 Organic Modern Living Room: Get the Look
• 2 How to Shop for Green Cleaners
• 3 How to Shop for a Green Roof
• 4 10 Green Designers to Watch in 2011
• 5 A Green Guide for Back-to-School More

Thanks to the nature of the ever-changing world of technology, we are constantly exposed to solutions for keeping us well-connected in our daily lives. 2011 brought a swarm of great new shops specializing in gadgets, clocks, and desk accessories for the home and office. Not just for the technologically advanced, the resources throughout these shopping guides and store profiles will appeal to anyone with a fondness for well-designed tech. See the full list after the jump.

TOP ROW: Shopping Guides
• 1 Gift Stores for Smart & Small Gadgets
• 2 10 Sources for Green Tech
• 3 The Ultimate Tech Guide for Foodies
• 4 Five Super Stylish, Tech-Friendly Bags
• 5 Best Resources for Gadgets & Gizmos More

As we reflect on 2011, March stood out as brimming with disparate ideas on what makes a perfect children's room. It was a banner month for custom bunk beds, industrial chic, mixing patterns, and vintage charm. Take a look for yourself through the best of March archives. Do you have a favorite style?

TOP ROW:
1. Minimalist Bunkbeds for Four
2. An Indoor Treehouse Bed
3. The Essence of Hyggelig
4. Industrial Style in a Big Boy Room
5. Poesy's Eclectic Vintage Nursery

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If you are one of our daily visitors, then you probably look forward to Maxwell's Daily Find. Everyday, Maxwell gives us one gem of an item he's come across in his daily design adventures, and his picks have come in many forms and varying price ranges. From bean bag chairs and floating bike racks to IKEA tea towels and tantra sex chairs, we sifted through Maxwell's 365 products from 2011 to find out which were the most popular, month by month. Read on for the full list.

• 1. January : Vintage Coffee Bean Bag Chairs
• 2. February : Tantra Sex Chair
• 3. March : Ultimate Bed by Anderson
• 4. April : Stanley Console by Gus Modern
• 5. May : Skyn China by Ehlén Johansson More

Last month we wrote about our favorite gifts for home renovators and fix-it-uppers and just this past week the folks at Young House Love put together a comprehensive collection of their favorite DIY tools. More