New England may currently be covered in more snow, but this lousy March weather can't stop me from fantasizing about April and May flowers. Lately, I've been drawn to window boxes, especially when they aren't your average perennials, or your average containers. When planning your plants, here are 5 inspirational ways to think outside the (window) box.

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Today, March 20th, is the spring equinox, the official start of spring in the Northern hemisphere. To celebrate, this post features some truly inspirational pieces inspired by the flora of nature, especially the tree sofa in the main photo. Designed by La Chance & Noé Duchaufour Lawrance, it's a sofa I can't stop looking at. More

When cement tiles turned out too pricey for designers Karen and Guy Vidal at their East Hollywood apartment complex, they decided to create an outdoor "carpet" on a budget — using stencil and paint. More

I'm ready for spring, people. Bring it on! And with it, let's have some outdoor fun, especially if it involves bowling. Check out this tutorial on how to build your own outdoor bowling alley. More

Tim and D'arcy's backyard makeover is a great example to keep in the back of your mind when buying a house without landscaping. It is a case of turning "nothing into something" illustrating looking beyond what's there and the potential of an outdoor space... More

I recently introduced you to Madame Ganna Walska and Lotusland, the dream garden she created in California. As I've been thinking about my 2013 garden plans and resolutions, I keep coming back to my virtual visit to Lotusland and how this might be influencing some of my design decisions this year. More

Rebecca and Staffan have been hard at work building an extraordinary terraced garden in Sweden since 2007. In such a short time they have carved out six terraces and built an unimaginable series of walls to hold it all in place. And then there is this one (comparatively) small piece — an outdoor kitchen with an extraordinary view. More

Steve Martino is arguably one of the most exciting (IMO) landscape designers currently working. Even though he works in a climate that's nearly the polar opposite of mine (Arizona — and I am in New England), he is on my shortlist of colleagues that I study for inspiration and ideas. This project makes me want to pick up and move southwest — to a deserted grocery store. More

I think we all probably have one of these laying around somewhere — a simple wire basket for hanging plants outdoors. Double them up, and you've got yourself the makings of an awesome outdoor hanging light! More

Name: Caroline and Jose Vasquez-Corbalan of Paloma's Nest
Location: Austin Texas
Size: 1,000 square feet plus 600 square feet of studio/office space in the back.
Years lived in: 10 years

Caroline and Jose embody the true spirit of creativity. They spent their first date drawing furniture design ideas on the back of their dinner napkins — after realizing they both shared the same dream of wanting to make things for a living. Years later, Caroline and Jose are still creating, most recently building two incredible outdoor studio spaces for themselves and by themselves. Come take a look inside a home and workspace built by heart and hand.

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