Did you know that an oak wine barrel can only be used for three to five years during the course of its life for wine making? After the flavor is lost they are no longer of use to a wine maker and must be discarded or transformed for another use. Furniture design company, Native Trails, has scooped up some discarded wine barrels and turned them into their latest gorgeous home decor and furniture line, The Vitner's Collection. More

Throughout the years churches have proved to be some of the most stunning and long-lasting works of architecture, so can you imagine getting the chance to call one 'home'? We've featured churches-turned-residences before and one of our own writers, Sarah Rae, is even tackling her own church renovation, so it's no surprise that the flood of light and intricate details of this project make us swoon! More

Turning on the faucet or hose may be the easiest method for watering indoor and outdoor plants, but there are plenty of ways in which household water can go directly into the garden and not down the drain, saving both money and resources.

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It's becoming impossible for me to ignore my shaggy front garden with its hodgepodge of plants, bricks and abundant weeds that don't give much curb appeal. Forever obsessed with xeriscaping, I'd like to balance the charm of my 1923 wood frame home, whilst adding some modern (and low-water) touches. More

On the subject of rethinking urban density and living small, we love the idea of transforming garages into homes. It's the ultimate small space upgrade, and this example is quite charming. Artist Michelle de la Vega turned an unremarkable garage into her 250 square foot dream home, all for only $32,000! More

Underneath the stairs lies a great abyss known as unused space in most homes. Check out this list of 13 inspirational ideas to kick-start how to use your stairs, steps, and angles to your best small space advantage! More

Living small means being not only creative with your home, but also resource efficient. That means using every last drop and squeezing every last bit out of all your lotions, detergents, toothpastes and even cookies! Don't let packaging get the best of you; instead save money and reduce your waste by following these great tips from Consumer Reports: More

Although improving the efficiency of our homes really does start with just a few small steps, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with what products to buy and how to install them. That's why I love the idea of Boost Boxes, well-designed DIY kits for tackling specific rooms or systems in your home.

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That icon, the Sears Tower (now known as Willis Tower) is about to get a very high-profile makeover (as if the name change wasn't enough!). She (I'm going to call it a she) is part of a pilot program that will replace the windows on the south side of the 56th floor with a new type of photovoltaic glass.

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Have you ever seen the sprinklers go on while it's raining outside? Automatic sprinkler systems on golf courses, industrial parks, and large lawns aren't necessarily in tune with the natural environment. A new techy solution by Cyber Rain connects automatic sprinkler systems to weather forecasts, landscaping, and the touch of your fingers, remotely. This is a great tip to pass on to help your business, community, or neighbor save water and money. More