Archive   |   April, 2009

grow decor with a living wall

Posted by in decorating, gardening


Living walls have gone to the masses and frankly, I’m psyched. When I saw that Smith & Hawken is now offering a version of a vertical garden, I sighed with contentment. The trend is catching on and that means I’ll find an affordable option in no time. I’ve been dying for a living wall in my own little urban space since I first saw them. Not sure what I’m talking about? Environmental Graffiti has a great roundup of some much larger scale projects to get you excited. Then, check out the photo gallery at ELT Easy Green of some living walls in everyday spaces. I dare you not to want your own! –Erica P.

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strangely appealing: street banners as wall art

Posted by in decorating, living green


I knew I wasn’t the only one who ever mused about recycling a huge, bold street banner into art for my home, and BetterWall proves it. The company sells street banners that once promoted shows at museums in nine major American cities. You can search for banners you like by color, artist, and style. It’s a neat way to reuse and to make a huge graphic statement in your home. But they’re not exactly cheap — most are in the $300-400 range, and a few go up a few hundred from there. –Mary T.

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real life test kitchen: mac & cheese with cauliflower

Posted by in cooking

Do you remember the February cover of Real Simple? It featured a gorgeous photo of a healthy version of my favorite comfort food: macaroni and cheese with cauliflower. Though the “with cauliflower” part gave me pause, I had to give it a go anyway. And, I have to say, the results were pretty darn good. I barely even noticed I was eating one of my least favorite vegetables. This is mainly due to a sauce made of sharp cheddar, onion and some Dijon mustard. Also, low fat sour cream and milk are the base. Toss in some whole wheat pasta (unlike me, who went for the traditional stuff) and you’ve got yourself a healthy meal that hits at the heart. Click here for full recipe. — Angela M.

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gearing up for april showers

Posted by in decorating

As psyched as I am for the warmer weather, I could live without the rain that comes with it. Since there is no avoiding the grey skies, to gear up for the wet spring months I’ve pulled together some of my favorite rain gear for you and your house. To start, take a look at the amazing collection of umbrella stands over at Design*Sponge. My favorites are the Marcello Umbrella Holders from Z Gallerie. You’ll want a great umbrella to store in your stand, so why not pick up this bright polka dot number from Target. Or, go for a more aerodynamic pick with this super sleek Senz umbrella. According to the site, the smart design will not invert even in the strongest of wind gusts. Don’t leave home without sliding on some rubber rain boots like this pretty blue Tretorn pair. — Erica P.

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ebay find: vintage sunset books

Posted by in crafting, decorating, fixing, gardening, reading

If you like decorating with vintage style, why not expand it to your home and garden DIY projects, too? Sunset magazine has been publishing how-to books for several generations, and you can find a surprising number of them on eBay. Starting at just around $3, you can learn how to build 1960s-era patios and gardens, add a deck, and landscape with lawns and groundcovers. And check out the amazing-looking book on patio roofs from 1974. You can find a lot of vintage Sunset books on topics like cooking and crafting, too. As you can see from the photo above, we’ve collected a few Sunset books for DIY inspiration ourselves. –Mary T.

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