1) Candles in jars make us happy. Katie D.’s jar chandelier DIY has lots of fans, like Tiffany, who says: “These are so lovely! It reminds me of when I was little and we’d collect lightning bugs in jars. This is a much better option!”

2) The forecast for organic bedding is positive. Cindy says: “115 for a queen set still isn’t too bad for organic bedding. you can definitely find them for much more. prices will continue to drop though, this is still sort of a new find for people.” See the organic bedding that Erica wants here.

3) We can leave Earth without leaving Peoria. Rachel says: The world’s largest model of the solar system, with the sun [is] located in Peoria, IL. It’s like a scavenger hunt to find the other planets, scattered across different buildings in Peoria, and as you get to the planets further out, you leave town and take it out on the road!” Click for more quirky roadside destinations.

4) You too have tricks for using leftover herbs. Katie says: “I freeze fresh rosemary to use later. I do the same thing with fresh ginger, but I grate it first and put it in little 1 tablespoon bundles.” For a great simple syrup recipe using rosemary and lemon, click here.

5) Skull-and-crossbones ice cubes? The possibilities are endless! Katie wanted to know what to celebrate with her Bone Chillers ice cube tray, and you had answers. Lea says: “I made soap with mine, not just ice.” Great idea! See the original post for more.

Paola at mirrormirror has a delicious use for summer’s grilled corn: roasted corn soup.

Last week it was True Blood, this week it’s Mad Men: Casa Sugar has a slideshow of the best design ideas from the show.

Want to find out the best stores near you for sustainable seafood? Ask Casson Trenor on Twitter — he’s the author of Sustainable Sushi.

At NPR, taming the prickly pear.

Lemondrop has a weird one: the best places in the world to pee.

Interesting discussion at Cakespy: Where’s the line between inspiration and infringement?

The New York Times has the history of the gyro.

Ten fantastic wind turbine designs at Renegade Futurist.

My mission this summer has been to transform my tiny breadth of a patio into a backyard retreat by any means possible. The most successful element that I’ve added to my urban terrace has been these hanging jar chandeliers. It was an easy project that only took a little bit of time and less than $30.

I collected a handful of jars (some purchased for a dollar or two at thrift stores and some from chips-and-salsa marathons) and wrapped 20 gauge wires snugly around the lip of each jar with needle nose pliers. Then I attached a U-shaped hanging wire around the top of the jar. I straightened out a few paper clips to use to hang the jars. I bought a length of chain from a hardware store and attached it between two posts to hang the jars from. Drop a votive candle inside each jar and, as the sun sets in your backyard, enjoy the romantic glow. –Katie D.

Remember the Color-Helper contest? We just heard back from one of our winners. You may recall that Carrie J. submitted her jumble of bad bathroom and guest room wallpaper, saying, “We need to repaint, lest our friends quit visiting us.” Well, Carrie put the Color-Helper to work, and her results are great! Thanks for sharing your photos with us, Carrie.

Bathroom, before:

Bathroom, after:

Guest room, before:

Guest room, after:

Carrie writes:

Both rooms still have a little room for improvement — we need to hang a shelf above the toilet in the bathroom, and we need some artwork and a bookcase and a chair in the guest room — but they are leaps and bounds better than they used to be! You can see we also had a new vanity made for the bathroom (had to have it made because it is a much narrower space than pre-made cabinetry accommodates) — that alone was a huge improvement.

I used the Color-Helper to help me select a shade of white that matched the existing white trim we had in most of our upstairs (except for the bathroom). Not only did we use it to touch up trim in the guest room, we also used that color to paint out the wooden trim in the bathroom. The Color-Helper made it much, much easier to choose one of the thousands of shades of white!

I also used the Color-Helper to help me analyze all the shades of gray I considered. I used the feature where you can compare two shades, and the Color-Helper tells you that the second one is more yellow (or blue or red or purple or whatever) than the first. I wanted a very clean, true gray without beige or purple or yellow undertones, and the Color-Helper really helped me narrow my choices down.

Feeling inspired? Learn more about the Color-Helper here.

I’m a big fan of Marimekko prints, and so are some of the other writers on this site. The wonderful graphics and vibrant colors really add pop wherever they end up. While I appreciate Marimekko bedding, I’ve always veered away from super bright colors for my sheets and comforter. I like to keep my bedroom in a more neutral color palette to promote relaxation and, of course, sleep. Well, finally, my worlds have collided. I’m in love with the Tuuli tree print bedding on sale now right here! It’s still a bit pricey, but the simple two-color design and organic image are perfect. I might just have to splurge! –Erica P.

One of those simple, obvious, yet easily overlooked solutions caught my eye the other day. Blogger Cjane gets so many questions about her style, she started a little side blog with answers. One was about her gloriously long red couch. Turns out it’s two KRAMFORS love seats from IKEA pushed together. Nice look! –Mary T.

Photo via Cjane

My little visit to the Walker Rock Garden got me thinking about those off-beat and off-the-beaten-path destinations that can add some fun to any trip. For instance, the giant Jesus statue above is rather close to my hometown, and so huge that it’s quite easy to spot from I-75 in Monroe, OH. I love perusing Roadside America, but I want to hear from you — where are the mystery spots and duck-shaped diners that you recommend visiting? –Mary T.

Photo by Lisa Bewley

Congratulations to Diana, Margot, and Jennifer, the three winners of our Target eco-giveaway! Thanks for all the entries, and don’t worry — more giveaways are on the horizon as always. Thanks, Target!

By now you know that Shelterrific sponsor One Kings Lane is offering amazing savings to Shelterrific readers on designer home decor. Sign up if you haven’t already for access to exclusive, three-day online sales of designer home goods, plus an instant $20 credit. Every item for sale is perfect — these aren’t seconds or extras, but top-line items from leading designers. That’s why the sales don’t last forever. So sign up now!

Now through 8 a.m. Thursday, July 16:

Jamie Young: Garden pots at a roadside stand in Mexico were the inspiration for artists Jamie Young Jeter and David Jeter to build their home decor collection together.
Shown: Plum Jars Mercury Set of 5 (top photo). Original Price: $805, One Kings Lane Price: $329 — Savings of 59%
Galen Round Drinks Tray. Original Price: $207, One Kings Lane Price: $89 — Savings of 57%.

Urban Nature: Inspired by the juxtaposition of modern, clean forms and the intricacies of the natural world, landscape designer Troy Silva founded Urban Nature to bring chic design to outdoor spaces.
Shown: Aged Bronze Refined Bowl, Small. Original Price: $50, One Kings Lane Price: $19 — Savings of 62%

Now through 8 a.m. Friday, July 17:

Ricci: Since 1840, Ricci Argentieri has been one of Europe’s most respected and renowned silversmiths, handcrafting each piece of flatware to exacting standards from the finest materials available.
Shown: Renaissance 5-Piece Hostess Set. Original Price: $130, One Kings Lane Price: $75 — Savings of 42%

Now through 8 a.m. Saturday, July 18:

Vellum Lighting: This offering of Vellum Lighting’s collection of traditional Murano glass is exclusively for One Kings Lane. A design partnership based in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood, Vellum is known for mixing materials, patterns, and textures, bold use of color, and a whimsical yet opulent aesthetic.
Shown: Venetian Glass Palazzo Chandelier, smoke glass with red. Original Price: $9,500, One Kings Lane Price: $5,700 — Savings of 40%

Bagni Volpi Noemi believes that luxury linens should be counted among one’s prized possessions. Designed and manufactured in Florence, Italy, Bagni Voplpi Noemi products are some of the finest bed linens available.
Shown: Piombo Fan King Duvet, Egyptian cotton 300tc sateen.

Going live Thursday, July 16 at 8 a.m.:

Armand Diradourian: The name Armand Diradourian is synonymous with modern cashmere accessories.
Shown: Pompeii Red “Make Love Not War” Pillow. Original Price: $429, One Kings Lane Price: $159 — Savings of 63%

Going live Friday, July 17 at 8 a.m.:

Versace by Rosenthal: The House of Versace has expanded its unique aesthetic of regal Italian opulence in a line of vibrant, colorful tabletop pieces crafted by artisans at Rosenthal.
Shown: Treasury 3-Arm Candleabra. Original Price: $495, One Kings Lane Price: $259 — Savings of 48%

Bussolari of Italy: Founded in 1939 as a workshop for the production of wooden picture frames, by the 1980s and ’90s the Bussolari company was known worldwide for precise, stylistic frames and, more recently, a rich collection of small furniture.
Shown: Pompeo Side Table in Gold and Silver.

Sign up at One Kings Lane now and enjoy 50-70% off these perfect designer goods. Remember, each sale runs for just three days, and you have to be a member to access the savings!

Most of the time when I buy fresh herbs, I use a handful or two and then, sadly, they go back into the vegetable bin, A.K.A. the graveyard. I almost never go through a full bunch, which is so wasteful it makes me feel ashamed. So I started thinking about what to do with leftover herbs when they are still fresh, other than eating parsley salads or making a ton of pesto. And I think I came up with a pretty cool solution: herb-infused simple syrups. You can use the syrups to fancify cocktails, sweeten iced tea, or make your own (Super cheap! All natural!) soda with some fizzy water. My current favorite flavor is lemon-rosemary, but you could substitute any fresh herbs you already have on hand. Don’t like lemon? Try lime, blood orange, grapefruit, or leave out the citrus altogether. It’s a pretty foolproof recipe and livens up so many different types of drinks. –Lisa C. Click for the recipes for rosemary-lemon simple syrup and cocktails!
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