Although it's still Winter time around most of the country, a good portion of us (knock on wood) haven't had it as bad as previous years. It's almost as if Spring has sprung early and that means it's almost time to talk about the outdoors — almost. This quick project might have you making new patio furniture before the ground thaws, which at this rate, could be next week. More

When I told my friends and family I'd be spending a few months in Buenos Aires, the number one piece of advice I heard was, "watch your step!". Somewhat notorious for major potholes, loose sidewalk tiles and dog owners who might not bother cleaning up after their beloved pooches, taking a walk in Buenos Aires is no simple task. However, I quickly began to notice that despite the pitfalls, these are some of the most beautiful sidewalks in the world. More

Computer Keyboard Doormat
• $32.00
• Uncommon Goods

This computer keyboard doormat could only be better if someone hacked it to offer entry with actual input (Command+O?), but we'll leave that idea for all you Arduino geeks out there. Otherwise, all you need to know is the mat is made from coconut husk (coir) and is both compatible with Windows and OS X households... More

Q: We are putting our 1925 home on the market in a few weeks and with it being winter, can't use the typical 'plant nice flowers' approach to curb appeal. Any ideas on how to spruce up the exterior of our home without much cost? More

Is it a chair... or a trellis? Is it a table... or a birdbath? These simple yet multifunctional pieces from Swedish designer Eva Schildt are lightweight enough for even the smallest of gardens. More

People are quite often very surprised at the cost of putting in an outdoor living space and garden. Generally to create a patio, planting areas around it and paths to access it, you might be looking at paying the same as if you were doing small kitchen renovation. It makes sense since you really are creating another room on your house but it also makes sense to go the DIY path in the garden.... More

IKEA SOLVINDEN Solar/Wind-powered LED Pendant Lamp
• $29.99
• IKEA

Living in Los Angeles means perpetual sunlight and a pretty good dose of Santa Ana winds throughout the year, making the new IKEA SOLVINDEN Solar/wind-powered LED pendant lamp a pretty good fit for illuminating an outdoor front or backyard area. The efficient LED bulb provides light for up to 12 hours before needing a recharge; time powering back up is about 9-12 hours in sunlight (12 if it's cloudy) and it's also rated for charge up of 24 hours with wind speed of 4 m/s. It's also a great way to teach children about renewable energy in action! More

Bear with us here for a moment, set aside your pragmatic sensibilities, and check out the Cryoscope concept by Robb Godshaw. It's a fascinating piece of technology which communicates the weather forecast in a tangible sense, the all-aluminum cube heated or cooled to the exact temperature fetched from online weather data!
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No matter where you live, capturing rain to water landscaping or wash cars is a good way to use less potable water. However, depending on where you live, your rain water catchment system should be sized accordingly. Here are five questions to help you decide how big your rain barrel should be. More

When I'm digging in my garden, I feel happy. I love the smell of freshly turned compost and the sight of rich, dark soil teeming with worms. Something about all that life in the earth makes me feel alive. I've always known that gardening is therapeutic, but I never knew that it could also be...pharmaceutic? Is dirt the new drug? More