In a leafy suburb of Buenos Aires, in a neighborhood full of classical homes, architect Alejandro Sticotti and graphic designer Mercedes Hernáez have built this modern masterpiece. Indoor and outdoor spaces blend almost seamlessly — Mercedes calls it 'a garden with a roof.' Surrounded by all this greenery, it's easy to forget you're in the city. 

This is my niece, Lu, who is about to turn three. She also just became an older sister, so her mom (my sister-in-law) isn't exactly in party planning mode with a newborn. To help her out, and because I'm a nerd for all things fun and pretty, I volunteered to throw Lu's birthday party this year. 

Stripes and brights are no stranger to summer. Crisp white and navy are a classic nautical combo; neons and look-at-me brights have been big for a few seasons now. When their powers combine, a happy outdoor space packs punch without breaking the budget. Here are some favorite bright striped pieces under $100 for your patio or garden:

My backyard is the size of a postage stamp, and filled with dog poop and sorrow. Redoing it, however, is for another day. I'll get there at some point, and will then be all over these DIY outdoor tables. In the meantime, if your outdoor space is in better shape than mine, follow the links for instructions on how to make one of these yourself.

When a friend told me he was considering planting two trees to celebrate the birth of his friends' new baby twins, I must admit I swooned. Birth-trees! Such a sweet idea, but there are a few things to consider...

This morning, bright and early, Maxwell visited the crew at GMA Live and shared simple yet soul-enhancing ways to bring a little green goodness to any size space. Check out the video and then jump below for info on the featured ideas...

We're big fans of furoshiki, the Japanese art of fabric wrapping. While it's often promoted as an eco-minded method for wrapping gifts, we can't think of a better way to put some colorful fabric to use than as a carry-all for a little vino and a simple picnic!

If your home is small (under 1000 square feet) and cool (of course it is!) then you know what to do. We invite you to inspire us - and impress our new-for-2013 judges panel - with photos of your compact home along with your real-life tips for living well in stylish small spaces. 

The recent discovery of aphids camped out on the big rose bush in my backyard got me Googling "organic pest control." While I read about many different methods (beer, ladybugs, strong sprays of water), I was intrigued by this spray concocted by the editors of Organic Gardening.

A few weeks ago Jason wrote about blue outdoor furniture to match the springtime of his dreams, and now that it's finally sunny here in Chicago, I've decided to compile a roundup of yellow furniture to match mine. Here's a list of ten sunny tables, bistro sets, chairs, lounges, and rockers, all for under $200.